Gerben Abbink – When success collapses — and something truer begins
Some stories don’t fit into a single episode.
Gerben Abbink’s journey unfolds across two conversations and one reflection — moving from extraordinary success, through total collapse, and into a quieter, more grounded way of living and leading.
This is not a story about “bouncing back.”
It’s a story about losing everything you thought defined you — and discovering what actually does.
From the outside, he had made it
Gerben built and sold companies.
He became a millionaire.
He bought his dream sailing boat.
He checked every box of what success is supposed to look like.
And then life dismantled it all.
Cancer.
Bankruptcy.
Burnout.
The loss of identity that comes when the title, the money, and the momentum disappear.
What followed wasn’t a clean comeback — but a long, honest reckoning with ambition, fear, ego, and the quiet question many high performers never stop to ask:
What do I really want — when nothing is left to prove?
The conversations
🎙 Episode 1
When Everything You Fear Actually Happens
In part one, Gerben takes us through the highest highs and the lowest lows — from early ambition and ego-driven success to illness, financial collapse, and identity breakdown.
We talk about:
- How success quietly becomes self-worth
- Why productivity can be an illusion
- What happens when your body forces you to stop
- The moment “making it” stops feeling like enough
This is the story before the fall — and the fall itself.
🎙 Episode 2
Rebuilding After the Crash
Part two begins where most stories end.
Here, Gerben shares what rebuilding actually looks like when there is no certainty left — only small steps, deep conversations, and a willingness to start over without guarantees.
We explore:
- Life after bankruptcy and burnout
- Letting go of the “how” and reconnecting with desire
- Redefining success beyond performance
- Building a life that feels true — not impressive
This is not about returning to the old mountain, but choosing a different one.
🎙 Reflection Episode
What This Story Reveals About Success, Identity, and Fulfillment
In this reflection, we step back and unpack what Gerben’s story mirrors for so many high achievers.
We explore:
- How identity gets tangled in performance
- Why survival mode becomes a default
- The hidden cost of always “pushing through”
- What clarity actually requires
This episode is for anyone who senses that success has become heavy — and wonders why.
Why this story matters
Gerben’s journey is not extreme — it’s honest.
It reveals what many ambitious professionals experience quietly:
- Success without fulfillment
- Fear of slowing down
- Identity tied to output
- The sense of climbing the wrong mountain
These episodes are for those who feel the tension between who they’ve become — and who they know they could be.
Read the accompanying article exploring change, identity, and redefining success ↓
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