My personal review of 2019 and some hints for 2020.

Aleksander Gansen
7 min readDec 20, 2019

Getting started with my review wasn’t easy. Early 2019 has been a period of high stress, high expectations and some serious health issues in the family.

My mom was diagnosed with cancer and we fought it all together till early June. Fortunately, we won this battle with the help of amazing doctors and positive attitude. I am endlessly grateful to all those people supporting and helping our family with this struggle. Tiiu Sinikas, thank you for your help and support! It’s so great to know that you are OK now, mother. Thank you for your help and support in my journeys this year.

Lesson learned from that experience, I have even more focused on my health and wellness. This has been a second year in a raw with my relatively new gym habit, 3–4 times per week. I find it very energizing starting my days with power exercise at 8 AM on business days while doing some cardio over weekends. Since I have discovered an XS sports nutrition and supplements, I enjoy my morning routine even more. Healthy diet and protein shakes for breakfast give a great boost to my day. Kristina Kimber, thank you for being my coach inside and outside of the gym! Thank you, Jelena & Sergei Nikulin, for teaching us the healthy diet and building a healthy food business in Pärnu! God speed!

Throughout the year, I had an amazing opportunity to get coached and inspired by different business leaders from Network TwentyOne. I want to give my special thanks to Kevin & Tamsine Harris from South Africa (we met in Riga in February and I learned a lot about working with right people and getting 10x results), Irina and Artem Tuktarov from Russia (we met in Tallinn in March and I learned from you about the courage and goal setting), Hans Nusshold from Austria (we met in Tallinn in May and… I constantly learn from you and Eva about life, love and relations), Tanju & Beste Akcakanat from Turkey (we met in Tallinn in July and I learned a lot about positive expectations and work ethic), Stefan Alexov from Bulgaria (we met in Tallinn in September and you gave me the vision for a teamwork), Clarke & Diana Broome (we met in Tallinn in October and I remember very well your kindness and humility), Anne & Toivo Rande from Estonia (you are constantly a source of inspiration for us), Bob & Cale Andrews from USA, California (we met in St. Petersburg, Russia in November. You cannot know how often I am listening to your seminars while working out or driving miles. You are my source of constant inspiration. You are helping me to forge my values.), Les Hetnal from Poland (we met in Riga in November and again I was hugely inspired by your clear vision of the future of business systems). These are just a few names to mention, but there are actually much more of you out there affecting my life on a constant basis.

I need to mention my latest coach, a mentor in a John C. Maxwell Mastermind training program, Ragne Sinikas. Our relation is still fresh, but I have a deep respect for your skills and knowledge. More fun ahead! Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

This year I had a chance to deepen my relationships with several amazing people.
Thank you, Thomas Abraham, for those hours we have spent together. You are a great friend and I appreciate your support and kind words you always manage to find in your heart. Every time at your house, you’re spoiling my diet with tons of sweets. I love them. Your recommendations on books and movies had been very valuable for me.
Thank you Eddie Bairaktaris for being an amazing friend. Every time we meet, I can feel this sincere warm friendship. Thank you for caring about my family. Thank you for the best food you make in the best restaurant I know. Our mid-summer party in Hiiumaa was amazing. Mia casa e tua casa.

Old good friends are like an old good wine, only becoming better. Thank you Olari Miiter & Tiina Villsaar for being amazing friends and business companions for more than 12 years. Thank you, Maire Saks, for always being there for us. Thank you Marika & Urmas Tõke for being a great example and leading the path. Thank you, Reena Rist, for being a great friend and a wonderful colleague! Thank you, Irina & Dmitri Gainullin, for being our great friends out there in the UK. We enjoy every minute we spend with you.

This June, I have spent an amazing week with Shipitwise in Lisbon at the Bluetech Accelerator bootcamp. I have met there several amazing people I had a lot to learn from. Just to mention those whom I still follow for their great vision, attitude and character: Rui Martins de Almeida from Sevways, Darina Onoprienko from Evertrace, Bert Cattoor from Geckomatics. You guys rock! Meet you at the top.

In September, thanks to an amazing your lady Olga Kurdovskaja I found myself at a fabulous networking business event in Narva-Jõesuu — “Delovaja Ve4erinka”. As a result of that, I know have some more great people in my life.
Thank you Victoria & Andrei Anushkin for everything I have already learned from you. I know there is much more to come. The work you guys are doing is powerful and people need it!
Thank you Vera Zemcova-Rusmanova & Vassili Rusmanov for your valuable insights. We will build many businesses together, believe me!

Together with my loving wife Airita, we have been developing businesses for over 15 years! I want to thank all those wonderful people from our business teams who have been loyal to us and stay with us at good times and not so good times. I cannot mention all of you here as this would be too long of the list. But I can’t skip those of you, who had affected our life the most this year. Thank you Priit Paide & Kaari Reimus, Tanel & Kirsika Kask, Kersti & Sulev Poska, Sirje Soopalu, Kristel Kesk, Anneli & Jaan Priske, Kartin & Ain Alvela, Meelis & Külli Tambur, Leila Haugas, Kristo & Helina Esnar, Elari Paimets, Olga Gudkova, Marina Poljakova, Vitalia Petrova, Segejs Tupicins, Lea Pisa (and your amazing son — what a young gentleman!), Nois Niin

And now, let’s move to the top events.
We have become semi-farmers by discovering a hidden gem — a 130 years old farmhouse in Hiiumaa, second largest Estonian island, our version of Bali.
We have spent every possible free moment there this summer and fall. This is our new passion and hobby. One day, there will be an amazing home for us and our friends. The happiest days of 2019 have been there, together with family and friends, counting stars and dreaming about the future. Thank you Niina Sepp (my dearest aunt) and Ingwar Holmen for giving us the vision and helping us to become islanders! Becoming a new members of this tiny community brought into my life several amazing people: Elle Muuga and Mall Freiman (I value our long discussions), Monika Kallas & Sander Eentalu (I love you guys! Monika, your cappuccino is the best in Hiiumaa), Andre Abner & Co (you guys have the best brunch spot in paradise).

This May 12, exactly on the Mother’s Day, my very best (and only) daughter-in-law had made us the most precious gift ever — my dearest granddaughter, little Scarlett Amelia. Thank you dear Lele Saarts-Gansen for being a precious part of our family. This little girl has given a new meaning to my life.

Thank you Daniel Gansen for being such a wonderful on loving son. I am so proud of you and wish you all the best. First of all, being happy.

My work plays a very important part in my life. Since 2014 my dream has been to change the experience people have when shipping goods globally. I want to do it through technology. I was blessed by an opportunity to meet some great people on the way who had joined my vision and stayed with me all the way through the great times and pitfalls. I want to thank my nr 1 business partner, partner in life and the love of my life Airita Aim for all the support she is giving me in that journey. You are my angel, not only in spiritual sense, but also my business angel, investing in my dream. I wouldn’t start it without you. Thank you!

I am almost sure that I wouldn’t be in tech without my second biggest supporter, my mentor and business partner, my dear son Sander Gansen. You inspire and challenge me every day with your high energy, great work ethic, hunger for knowledge and amazing attitude. Thank you!

I appreciate the loyalty and trust from my great friend and co-founder Olari Miiter. Yes, I now, I mention you a second time here. You are worth it. Andrus Randveer and Ivo Uutma, you are the best hackers in the Universe. I am grateful for you being part of our team!

When you know what you want, know why you want it and know what you need to achieve it, life will send your way the solution.
Jussi Peltola and Jouko Sipilä, you and the whole team of amazing people behind you are a winning combination to change the world for better. I love your attitude and the way you think. I am very proud to be a part of Speys team!

Do you expect some hints for 2020? Alright.

1a. Logistics will become digital anyway.

1. Love yourself and show appreciation to those loving and helping you.

2. Develop clear goals and put the date behind it.

3. Don’t forget to have fun. It’s your only life. Don’t spoil it on too serious stuff.

4. You got only one body. Take a good care of it. It’s cheaper than to replace parts. And less painful.

5. Genuinely care for people. Love your family. They are the best you got.

6. Spare your kids. This is the only way to get grandchildren. They are a bliss.

7. Do it know. There is no tomorrow.

8. Read. Read more. Knowledge will free your mind.

9. Watch good movies. Dreamers make them.

10. Life is too short to wear boring things. Bring more colors to your life.

11. You are enough.

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Aleksander Gansen
Aleksander Gansen

Written by Aleksander Gansen

Co-Founder of WOF Labs | Startup Mentor | WEB3 & Blockchain Evangelist | Business Trainer | Lecturer

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