I could start the whole story at birth, the 5th of June 1976. But that ain't the most interesting part. Being raised with fantastic parents, went to University to study Physics but changed later on to Communications, doing a lot of sports and having a lot of fun, my real development to Don Brando started with my trip to South Africa.
On March 19th 2002, I took of to Colombia, to stay with my Dutch Girlfriend. Well, that didn't really work out, and being dumped after just three days, I decided to stay and travel throughout the continent for a year. Best decision ever made! I cruised around Colombia, Equador, Peru, Chili, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil for exactly one year and had the best time ever. As Sijbrand is an unpronouncable name in Spanish, I changed it to Brando, which soon became Don Brando or El Don. I've have seen so many beautiful things, had great adventures over there, well, just read the story.
Came back to Holland om March 18th 2003, and didn't really feel like working in an office, so I started working in a beach restaurant in Schevening. Another whole new world opened up. And with winter on my doorstep, a new plan had to be made that fall. Travel. Or work? I did both, worked 5 hours per day as a bartender and snowboarded for at least 8, in a French ski resort called Risoul for 6 months. Had a great time, but living a life like that is kind of hollow it seemed to me, so, a lot of fun, and althoug I would recomend it to everybody, it is a one time expierence as well.
But winter passed, beach season as well, and by a complete surprise, that september of 2004 I was asked to manage all Sports Resort Maurik, which has been a great adventure since two years now. Within this resort, I've had a unique oppertunity to develop my self in multiple ways. Working as a manager with Gert-Jan van der Valk, one of the major restaurant and hotel owners in Holland, as my neighbour and manager, I have learned great deal about managing and people business. But also in a new way of making things happen:
