Hats off to this week's inspiration - Reimar Westerlind - a 94-year-old entrepreneur in the textile industry. Founder of ACG Gruppen AB, which he built from the ground up and which today consists of 12 subsidiaries with a total of 250 employees.

Weekly Inspiration - Reimar Westerlind

‍

Reimar, you have had the opportunity to work, and still do, building and developing companies; what drives and motivates you?

"I enjoy working, it's the most fun I know! And I only work with what I enjoy, and then I can work as much as I want, I never get tired. When the company was going through a tough period, I needed to clear my head, so I started playing the violin. I was over 70 then! I am motivated by having the privilege of going to work, sharing the joy with colleagues when we do something good, but also taking responsibility when things go to hell! Because that happens too..."

What is the secret to successfully building so many companies as you have?

"CURIOSITY! It starts with that... it's the most important thing of all. But it can also be a curse sometimes - I think too many things are fun - then you get a lot to do, but things also happen! And everything can always be a little better. If you are curious and want to make things a little better, then companies develop!

Equally important are PEOPLE - I am incredibly curious about people and keep in touch with "good people". And it has happened more than once that when I haven't had a job for a good person in one of my companies, we have started another company...! The people in a company are at least as important, if not more important, than both the products and all the processes!"

What advice and tips can you share to achieve a successful and "in every way" rewarding working life?

"Find a good wife to marry and live with" - Relationships are the most important and valuable thing we have, and relationships must be nurtured - both with the person or people we live with and the circle of friends we socialize with privately. But also our professional relationships. I have regularly celebrated New Year's with our very first customer - this year will be the 57th time!

And finally, some extra tips; don't change your bank, auditor or wife! And use lawyers as little as possible... what you don't really understand yourself - forget about it - otherwise it usually ends up with lawyers. But we have always had a good corporate lawyer attached to the company.

And finally; don't stress - increase the tempo instead!"

‍