Pim Schmitz – Scotland
After working as CEO of Talpa Holding for fifteen years, Pim Schmitz was serenaded early in the morning by the facilitators of his trail to mark the start of his 24-hour solo journey in the Scottish wilderness. “It was a special moment,” says Pim. “I woke up, packed my things, and headed into nature. I was pretty early, the second of the group to set off.”
Pim Schmitz, in addition to being a Rotterdam native, is a goal-oriented and energetic businessman with a long career in corporate finance. For years, he was the driving force behind Talpa, a company he built together with John de Mol. Always available and reachable. Despite all his professional success, Pim felt it was time for a change, a new phase in his life.
Not afraid of change, Pim decided to take a new direction after fifteen years in an intensive role as CEO. “I was 55, and hopefully I still have about 30 years ahead of me. Then you start asking yourself how you want to spend those years in a meaningful way.” A profound question. Pim decided to reshape his life and step away from the hectic 24/7 schedule. He transitioned to an advisory role and took time for himself to explore what the coming years could hold for him.
“How do I want to spend the next 30 years in an enjoyable way? What is important in that? How do I want to structure my life, and what priorities do I want to set?” With these questions in mind, Pim decided to embark on a trail with the Foundation for Natural Leadership (FNL) in Scotland. “I had to climb a little mountain,” he says with a laugh, referring to the transition from his busy life to the peace of nature. That mountain was not only figurative, as the trail literally took him into the Scottish Highlands.
The Scottish landscape played a crucial role in Pim’s experience. Scotland is known for its unspoiled and breathtaking nature—exactly the kind of environment that forces you to pause and reflect. Pim is not necessarily a fan of long hikes, as he admits himself: “I’m not a hiker.” Nevertheless, he appreciates the beauty of nature and finds peace during trips with his family to different environments.
In Scotland, Pim found that the simple beauty of nature helped him recharge and organize his thoughts. “It gave me the space to reconnect with myself, without distractions.” Back to basics. No phone. No contact.
One of the most special moments for Pim was the 24-hour solo. This experience, where he was completely alone in nature, gave him the calm and space to truly reflect on himself. “If it were up to me, I would have stayed there even longer.” For Pim, this trail wasn’t about searching for softness but rather a way to better understand himself. To recalibrate and look ahead with fresh clarity.
This newfound clarity stemmed from the insights Pim gained during the trail. “The long-term effect is that I gained many valuable tools to reflect on myself. How do I view my life? What can I do with it? And if I want to change things, how do I approach that? I still carry those tools with me.” It’s about small but meaningful changes: from easily leaving your phone at home to shifting your focus to what truly matters, like maintaining meaningful relationships with his children and loved ones.
Pim came out of the trail with a renewed sense of balance and clarity to thoughtfully and meaningfully shape the next thirty years. “It gave me exactly what I was looking for and wanted, and actually more.” The reaction Pim often received from people around him was, “Did you do that?” When Pim explained why, the response was usually: “I’d actually like to do that too.” You can already guess how Pim responded, an answer for many: “Then why don’t you?”
