from 1974 to 1975 he worked on a kibbutz. from 1975 to 1978 he then worked for cifair, a subsidiary of the schlumberger oil exploration company, on oil rigs in france iran and texas. he also worked on pillow furniture in amsterdam, following his father's footsteps as a tailor in working behind a sewing machine. he then worked for third wave carriers and creative handbook europe before working between 1981 and 1998 as publishing editor of five dutch magazines including fiets, menu, and source (the first european corporate social responsibility magazine).