Remote Profile: Stephan Van Duin — Remote Year

To shake things up. I like to sometimes throw over the nice little tower of blocks I’ve been building, and see which blocks I still like/need, and to start building a new, better one.

By creating contrast you see things clearer. As Alan Watts once said; ‘you don’t know what yellow is until you see something red.’ Sometimes you just need to learn what you don’t like to understand what you do value. And the other way around; discover things you like, so you can pursue that side of life!

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON FOR THE YEAR?

I am trying to expand my company The Online Scientist, by developing new products, entering new markets and creating growth in general. We make IT-products for the medical and scientific world, like websites, e-learning and data visualizations and design. At the same time I try to develop my own skills as an entrepreneur.

I’ve lived in various places in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Wageningen) and in Berkeley, California.  I’ve traveled to almost all European countries and Russia, half the US states and Canada, and a number of countries in Asia and Africa.  Never been to South America, Australia and New Zealand, so looking forward to the second half of my Remote Year!

HOW DID YOU FIND YOURSELF A REMOTE ROLE?

I already had one; I’ve been working from home and/or coworking spaces for 7 years.

DESCRIBE YOUR REMOTE YEAR EXPERIENCE IN 3 WORDS.

Positive, intense, detached