An ode to Bram Tankink

For those who don’t know Bram Tankink, a short introduction: Bram Tankink is a Dutch cyclist for the LottoNL-Jumbo team. He has been a professional cyclist since 2002 and although he runs many races every year, he has only two meaningless races to his name. Who is saying something about the stage in the Tour of Germany and the GP Jef Scherens (whoever it may be)?

BRAM TANKINK

Why does everyone know Bram Tankink anyway? Bram Tankink is a cycling hero. He is not known for his merciless sprint, not for the flexible way he cycles uphill and not for his time trial qualities. No, Bram Tankink is someone who practises his profession with a great deal of joy, passion and pleasure and thereby inspires others. In all the interviews he gives after the races he is cheerful and radiant. He radiates without either he or his team winning anything.

Today, for many of our generation’s people, the only thing is to make a career, be present everywhere, and have as much fun as possible. Without people knowing what they really want, they get to work somewhere. They want the thickest salary, the most beautiful lease car and the most prominent office. Of course there is nothing wrong with this, in fact: Chapeau if all this immediately falls into place! But is this the kind of thing you really want? Are you driven by intrinsic motivation or do you secretly like the fact that you can brag to your social network about what you have achieved?

Meanwhile, everyone knows the stories about young people with a burn-out and everyone knows why. Still, I notice people in my area do not choose what they really like. Instead, they choose a career that others like.

DO WHAT YOU REALLY LIKE

That’s why I hope people will think more, like Bram Tankink: do what they really like. For Bram, that’s just cycling very hard, without him ever going to win a big prize. If he tries to escape from the peloton one day, the more talented cyclists may laugh at him. They know that he will never be able to keep up until the finish. But Bram doesn’t care much about that, he just does what he likes best.

If you know what you like best, find out together with us!