NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: LYNNDELL MELLES

The average age of start-up entrepreneurs is falling. However, you have to have a lot of guts if you decide to start your own business at a young age. Where did these new kids get their inspiration and what could the older generation of entrepreneurs learn from them? This week 25-year-old Lynndell Melles, founder of the company MELLES PEOPLE.Text: Fleur de Jong
Image: MELLES PEOPLEAta young age, Lynndell discovered her passion for hospitality. So the company she founded at the age of 21 has everything to do with that. A high-end hospitality staffing agency for hostesses, hosts, drivers, sales and service staff. But when you work hard, Lynndell says the basics have to be right, so she likes to delve into healthy eating and fitness is one of her outlets. Her other outlet is rally driving sports cars; this young entrepreneur is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

What is your personal USP?

''I am positive, creative, enthusiastic and brimming with energy, in which at the same time I have a great drive with extreme perseverance. I am also on 24/7, because after all, I chose to be an entrepreneur myself. But it is important to take rest at the right times. "

What can the older generation of entrepreneurs learn from you?

''First of all, I want to start with the fact that I obviously learn a lot from this older generation. They always say, 'We have already made so many mistakes, let's share them with you, then you won't have to make those mistakes anymore.' I do think I can teach the older generation to be less anxious. As a young entrepreneur, you often dare to make strides because you simply don't consider all the "negative" points. I feel that the older you get, the more cautious one is in making certain choices. This is of course logical, but I would like to say: continuously keep bringing out that young, carefree entrepreneurship in yourself. Keep thinking out of the box, make a nice investment for a change and don't become a stuck-up CEO, director or owner. Standing still is going backwards. In addition, it pays to keep innovating especially in these times. 'The spice of life is variety.' Good tips are also: stay active on all social media channels and gather the right people around you! It is not said for nothing: 'You are the average of the top 5 people you spend time with'. "

Who is your entrepreneurial teacher(s) or inspiration?

''I don't specifically have one teacher or one source of inspiration. I try to get as much knowledge from all kinds of different people and as much information as I can from different angles. I find that I get a lot of practical tips from seminars, but nowadays also webinars, knowledge tables and management books, such as Rich Dad, Poor dad by Robert Kiyosaki. What I get a lot of energy from is sparring with different entrepreneurs such as Laurens Simonse, Robert de Boer and An Nguyen. Of course I have great admiration for Jitse Groen and Pieter van der Does. They put Dutch entrepreneurship on the map with their fantastic companies. In addition, it motivates me to see that you can still conquer the world from our small country.'' 

What is your motto or quote?

''Work until you no longer need to introduce yourself.'' Your dream does not suddenly become a reality through magic, but it takes sweat, determination and very hard work. Therefore, I am a firm believer in dreaming big. If you actually believe that you will succeed at something, you will succeed at it. Dream big, know what you want, why you want it and what you are going to do to achieve it, then everything will succeed!''

What is the biggest entrepreneurial risk you have taken so far?

''The biggest risk I've taken is to invest in software and personnel just at this time. We have moved internally with the company to many new, larger systems. This way we can grow optimally and quality remains top of mind. In addition, during corona I built a whole new office team around me and invested in good, new people, despite these uncertain times.''

Where will you be in 3 years?

''In three years, I will be 28 and still the owner of MELLES PEOPLE. I am increasingly asked to speak at big events, for example for the KVK. So I hope that in 3 years I will have been able to inspire and help many people to get creative! In business terms, I obviously hope that MELLES PEOPLE will be the first choice for everyone in the Netherlands who is looking for quality, trained, hard-working personnel, who also look tip-top.''Do you know or are you a successful, young entrepreneur who also deserves a spot in the spotlights? Then email Fleur de Jong(fleur@mastershq.nl) for the possibilities.Click here for new kid Alexander Wijninga of the company Watermelon