This happened in 2014. I was completely focused on Bisnode‘s transformation and was working almost around the clock. One day I had a visit from Henrik Engsner. Henrik was working as a senior headhunter at the time, with a lot of top-level assignments. I had met Henrik before and appreciated his genuine personality.
Henrik said to me, “Lars. I have been thinking about you. I think you should consider one day not being CEO. You have been CEO for so long and therefore have so much to give in a new role where you are no longer tied to a single company the way you are as CEO. You can help others instead.”
I thanked Henrik for caring about me – It was a completely new thought for me. I realised that Henrik had seen something that I had not, and I let this question grow within me while I continued to focus on the transformation of Bisnode.
It took another five years before I was ready to follow Henrik’s advice – more about that in a future column.
Do you have someone who cares about you?
(Henrik didn’t want to be pictured, so it became an illustration of how I see Henrik instead – a fairy godmother…)