Weird thought… or is it? I am actually kind of used to my current situation.
Around June 4th, when it all started, so MANY thing were going on, mostly work related and going well and about to change. Lets sum it up in three parts
Leaving RapidSugar
I was finishing up my time at RapidSugar, a great company where I had great times, with great people and was able to learn and do a lot. And after 4 years of working there I just started my own company…
One of the last big projects I did at RapidSugar with Sander van der Blonk and other people was to help develop the e-strategy for a very big retail firm here in Holland. A good combination of innovation, change management, smart project & account management, all in the field of modern marketing with modern tools. Combined with a very good relationship with their management. It was great fun and I was truly sorry to leave that project. Yet I know that the people whom are on the project now, internal and external, will do a good job.
On Leaving a Small Company
Leaving RapidSugar was weird. I never left a company on my own initiative. I thought it was just a process that you can manage. But no, I was wrong. Especially in a small company I learned it is important to leave as soon as practically possible. In good terms of course. It is just important not to stay to long. I learned it is like a relationship. If you have a new partner you should move out of the house where you live with the old one. Cause it is just complicated and confusing.
Starting SPRXmobile
SPRXMobile is the company I started with Claire Boonstra, Rhymo van der Klein and Yuri van Geest. We help companies make the step into the world of mobile. By sharing and creating knowledge and ideas though workshops, events and expeditions. And by developing concepts.
We launched on May 9th and we were finally able to announce two new major clients on the 3rd of June: Rabobank and Vodafone. Which made the week of the 4th even more exciting. And the next week I was finally able to join full time after almost two months of two jobs..
The one year anniversary of Mobile Monday Amsterdam
And last but not least: on June 3rd a Mobile Monday Amsterdam event was planned. MoMo in short. MoMo is an event we organize every two months. One of my roles is presentation of the event. Key for the events is the community that has grown around it and the inspiring and often international keynote speakers we keep on managing to arrange. So inspirational to do and so rewarding.
This Mobile Monday was a high point. It was sold out and our one year anniversary. All invited speakers said yes including the headliner Doc Searls. The Sunday before we had a speaker bbq at our house which was great great. A lot of work but perfect to get the mood right for a good event. And it proved its worth. Everything went well during the event and from the beginning there was an amazing vibe. MoMo Nr 6 had one of the best ratings ever. Here is a video of me opening the event.
Another good thing about this MoMo was that I was able to get to know Doc Searls better. We hung out on Tuesday after MoMo and had great dinner that night together with Claire. It was great and inspiring to exchange stories, ideas and what ever else that was on our mind.
And the next day I went to the doctor for a cough ….
Ok, so it is weird.
All the people around me and all the things that have happened in running up to the journey I am on now have helped me immensely. Lori of course being the hero!
I am not ready for conclusions of lessons yet. I can just experience now. What I can tell you that it is doable. I’ll get through it and will strive to become better from it for myself and the people around me.
PS That week i went into the hospital Doc got sick too. Just before he wrote this about me. He is out now though and by the looks of it doin well. 
Hey Maarten – it was some week indeed. And incredible that it’s only 2 months ago. So many things have already happened since.
But it is also sooo good to realize that you are already entering the final stages of your treatment! And of course going home tonight. 3 hospital treatments down, only 1 more to go!
Just keep up the good spirit, Cowboy! You are of immense value and inspiration to the SPRX team!
beste Maarten, erg indrukwekkend. Toen ik startte met Twitteren hoorde jij het nieuws en moest je ziekenhuis in. Ik ben je gaan ‘volgen’ en jouw verhaal (en de hartverwarmende reacties daarop) is (zijn) voornamelijk de reden geweest dat ik Twitter ben gaan waarderen.
Wens je alle goeds, met het gevecht tegen Theo en zakelijk met je nieuwe onderneming,
hartelijke groeten rob roef (@hoogtijd)
That’s been a hell of a week indeed. I’n very happy to hear that it’s doable! I have a great amount of respect for how you handle the situation. Good luck with the coming period!
so great to see that things are moving along and getting better (and easier), and frankly, a bit more entertaining with all of the dancing and whatnot. Shake it Lori, shake it!
It was intersting reading about your shift in work and the new company stuff. This is a bit hard to explain, but I particularly like when you can write about such “normal” things because it reminds me (and I hope you) that you’ll be back to the mundane and normal soon enough, but with eyes and big ole brain that’s been triggered into overdrive by this battle. I mean you didn’t exactly have a pea-brain before, but now its just more active and alive.
I read a great phrase last night, and its been stuck in my head and I think that you will like it: “curiosity is insubordination in its truest form”
KING!!
Hi Maarten,
it is amazing, but what amazes me the most is the incredible things you have done already!! So much and it is all so good, a chest of treasures that some people spend a lifetime wishing for or longing for or dreaming about and look at you, yuo just went ahead and did it, and it is just the beginning!
My hat to you and your talents and your spirit and your hard work, very impressive,
Hugs
Marta
Lens, I am very impressed by all of this. How you have handled all of this, the progress you have made professionally, and your personal growth through what will likely be one of the toughest moments in your life. You have done it all with humer and humililty. We should all be so lucky to have the friends (and family, of course
) , that have helped you through this. It has been a truly amazing journey to have watched.
Luv Luv,
Connie
I’ve always believed that things happen for a reason and your journey through this has helped not only other people but also allowed you to get to know yourself a little better.
Mom Mary
3 down 1 to go, what an achievement! I’ve been back at the Twitter thing hoping it will catch my attention this time (as per your comment in the hospital)
I am truly honored to be a part of your journey and am pretty sure your journey has affected many around you and probably long term.
Enough of the serious stuff, hope you are able to enjoy your time at home before you kick this bastards ass one last time
xx
Hey Maarten,
Echt te bizar als je het zo achter elkaar leest. En nog steeds heel indrukwekkend hoe je hiermee omgaat. Je bent en blijft een TOPPER!
Hoi Maarten,
Ik lees zojuist je blog wens je veel sterkte en succes. Goed dat je positief en vol energie in het leven blijft staan. Dat is het halve werk.
Ik volg sinds een paar weken Baldy’s blog. Net als jij een jonge man die uitgebreid over zijn reis in de wereld van kanker blogt: http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk/. Waarschijnlijk ken je het, de blogger heeft er al een aantal awards mee gewonnen. Mocht je het nog niet kennen, dan vind je het misschien interessant.
Zet ‘m op en verpletter Theo.
Groeten,
Chris
Hey Cowboy,
Mag er ook een traantje weggepinkt worden? Vrij vertaald de gevoelens die we in de afgelopen maanden voelden voor Lori en jou: Boosheid, Verdriet, Verwarring, Blijdschap, Woede, Trots, Gelukkig, Bang, Opgewekt, Ontroerd, Melig, Bedroefd, Warm, Verbaasd, Gecharmeerd, Vrolijk en ontzettend ontsteld over de enorme Positiviteit! Nou vooruit dan, ‘Ping’.
River deep, Mountain High. Er staat jullie een mooie toekomst te wachten.
@Streetcourt
Ik dacht dat je zou het op prijs dat ik kan gebruiken online vertaalhulpmiddelen, een geek en iedereen.
of course there is no telling if that translation is even close.
But I bet you get the gist of this one:
lens, waar de hel zijn dat u ons? Dit ziet er uit als een verlaten gebouw!
Okay, back to work now.
Ellen
Hey Maarten en Lori,
Quite impressive stories again. Wish there more connectivity ’round here so I could see the movies or send a Tweet. Well I just have to do with this and as far as I can read it’s going not to bad. You’ve made it to almost 75%, so the last bit should be easy.
Just took a glimps at Tweetlove and saw some remarks about UWV. Though getting online is hard, we are phonable, just in case of…
Anyway, have to go now. Take care, stay positive and see you IRL in two weeks.
Love Anita and Jos
[...] zelf hoe Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald (ofwel DutchCowboy) omgaat met de ziekte en alle bijbehorende gevolgen en hoe hij ons allemaal deelgenoot maakt; Kanker 2.0. I heart Maarten and wish him and Lori [...]
[...] back it still is so sureal. Most of it happend in one week. I summed it up before. Lori put it as follows: My beloved husband went to the doctor yesterday morning because he had a [...]