My path to becoming a chess trainer/founder
When I was 15, my parents gave me my grandad's chess set. I had NEVER played chess before then, only knowing a few rules. But I had a great interest to learn more about chess. So I started buying some chess books and looking up the rules on the internet. Soon I was challenging everyone I knew to a game of chess and it was great fun. Although I often lost at first, my ambition was ignited.
After a few weeks, the defeats became less frequent and the victories more common.
During my psychology studies in Switzerland, I had my next big eureka moment in my chess career.
Next to my university, there was a park with a large chessboard. Intrigued, I watched a group of older gentlemen every day who always played chess for 5 francs. Since I was short on cash as a student, I saw a good opportunity to earn some extra money. However, I quickly realised that my previous chess opponents were not on the same level as my new playing partners. I was transported back to my youth, when I used to lose chess games repeatedly. But now it was even worse; not only did I keep losing my chess games, but also 5 francs each time.
My ambition was back. I started training intensively again and played chess for several hours every day with my roommate. The tide quickly turned. I started winning more than losing again. The foundation for my business was laid.
Back in Germany, I started playing a lot of chess again within my social circle and often received feedback that I explain chess very well. Even back then, it wasn't just about winning for me, but I enjoy sharing my thoughts and love the exchange. So, we discussed and played a lot, my opponents improved and I was able to awaken an interest in chess in many of them.
So I decided to teach others chess and turned my hobby into my profession.
My experiences quickly played into my hands here. I had no prior knowledge of how to teach chess, only my own experiences, the methods I'd taught myself, and my experiences from studying psychology. In this way, I began to develop a training concept and to write down the valuable experiences that chess had brought me.
Today, people are enthusiastic about how easy it is to learn chess.