For a long time I thought about which topic would be the best to write about as my first blog. At the same time, I asked you what you would like to read a few weeks ago. The majority wanted to find out what made me to the person I am today. I think this topic is very suitable, because many of you just know me superficially, since social media only offers a certain level of depth. In this article I will tell you how I found my way from a small, inconspicuous village in the middle of North Germany to the big wide world and above all, to myself. I dare say that afterwards you will know me much better than before. 

I could go the long way around and tell you about my childhood, but that would definitely go beyond the scope of this blog. The most important thing you should know is that I grew up with my sister on the countryside. My mother raised us and made sure that we got involved in sports early on, while my father, as an independent management consultant, looked after the family and was always my role model. I learned early on that diligence pays off in life if you can only steer it in the right direction. From martial arts to tennis to football, I tried different sports and won one medal after another. Due to an injury in football, I found my passion for fitness, which strengthened my willpower and made a significant contribution to my personal development. However, my path as a fitness athlete is another topic that I would like to write a separate blog about. 

As sometimes is the case, as a teenager I had no exact idea of the direction in which I would later go in my career. However, ships have always interested me because my grandfather built small models with me and I generally felt a great bond with the sea. After I finished high school, I was ordered to military service, which was normal in Germany, if you hadn’t planned any further education. The medical test turned out that I am more than suitable for the Navy. My military advisor told me about a ship that had planned a great trip around the legendary Cape Horn: the sail training ship GORCH FOCK. He further advised me that it would be best if I tried to be on it because it would allow me to travel the world. For me, this was my first big decision because the trip was supposed to last half a year and should start on the other side of the world. I had never been away from home for more than a week to that date! After I had discussed the project with my dad, whom always provided great advice, I decided to go this route, plus, the schedule of which ports we’d visit was quite appealing.

Basic training was tough and shaped me in a positive way. It broke me down and then brought me up again so I learned how to stand on my own two feet. In addition to my successes in sports, the military contributed a large part to my character development and decisively determined the professional course of my life. After basic training I was flown with my comrades via Cape Verde (Africa) to Buenos Aires (Argentina) where the GORCH FOCK was at that time and so the adventure around South America began with an incredible amount of impressions from different countries and their cultures. During my time at sea, on average about two weeks at a time, I learned how to deal with myself. This kind of self-reflection helped me a lot to get to know myself better and how to set precise life goals to pursue.

After six months at sea, I came home as a different person. The boy who didn’t know what to do in life a half a year earlier had disappeared and a man came back with specific goals to achieve. I highly value the experience on board the GORCH FOCK, because that’s where I learned what seafaring and comradeship really is about. As much as I liked the craft as a sailor, I soon came to a point in which I noticed that I wanted to take on more responsibility so I applied for the officer’s career, which was my second big decision in life. After another recruitment test, I received the suitability as an officer and started the 12-month officer-training course at the Naval Academy in Flensburg. The training was focused on the basics of leadership and was followed by nine-month of various advanced courses, which gave me the knowledge I needed for my first assignment as an officer on board a frigate-type warship. At the age of 21, I took over the duty of the second navigation officer and thus had the responsibility I wanted on which I continued to grow. I got deployed on my first mission in the Indian Ocean to prevent piracy, which lasted six months. My main task was to lead my personnel on the bridge during my watch and to implement the commands of the commander. I also got to see a lot of ports from Middle Eastern countries: Israel, Egypt, Djibouti, Yemen and Oman, but also Madagascar and the Seychelles.

I realized that I have already seen so much of the world that most people will never see in their entire life. I started taking photos and posting them on social media to share the experiences with all my friends. After the assignment and a year on board had passed, I started my planned nautical studies, which laid the cornerstone of my career to become a captain in merchant shipping. In parallel to my studies, I began to pursue my passion for fitness more intensively and since my grades were very good, I prepared for my first fitness competition. Immediately before my first competition in Berlin, I was represented as an athlete at the largest German fitness expo. I made many friends there who shared my enthusiasm and supported me during my preparation. Completely unexpected, I won the Berlin Championship and became German Champion in the Men’s Physique class one week later. With this title, I was given the opportunity to take part in international competitions of the IFBB amateur league. I did not let this impact my grades though. Every day consisted of lectures and fitness – nothing else. The hard work and dedication once again paid off. I ended my last season with the European Championship in Spain, where I was among the top ten athletes. 

Shortly afterwards, I successfully completed my nautical studies, returned to the Navy and took on my second assignment as an officer on board a new frigate. Since many of you wanted to know more about my main job as a Navy officer, I combined both of my passions – fitness and seafaring – on social media almost two years ago. This characterizes not only my social media but also me as a person. I noticed that within a short time I became a role model for hundreds of thousands of people, known as ‘My Crew’. I am thankful for every one of you and the support you give me every day.

My intention is to give something back. I want to reach young people who don’t know what do and have no goals in their lives. I don’t know where I would be today if I had decided against military service ten years ago and refused to go to the Navy. Incidentally, I thought about it briefly, because I went to the medical aptitude test with a school friend of mine who spent the whole trip thinking about how he would best manage to avoid military service. You see how great the impact can be and what chances you may miss if you let yourself influence by others in a way you probably gonna regret. Therefore, my advice to you is to listen to your inner voice, deep inside you already know what you want from life.