Articles and essays on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Starting a business has never been easier. The internet is abundant of solid business ideas, methods, strategies, and even step-by-step instructions on how to create a profitable business. Social media is full of people who share how they build a successful business which is earning them six or seven figures. But don’t be fooled.
Successfully selling a small business to an investor, group, or competitor in your industry requires preparation. Otherwise, your business will be less interesting to the potential buyer. Which means that you will struggle to find a buyer in the first place. If you do find a potential buyer, you might be dissatisfied with the purchase price. With a bit of preparation you can achieve both: Your business becomes more attractive to potential buyers and the purchase price will be higher. So, what do you need to consider?
Yesterday I had a brief but rememberable conversation. I talked to a physical therapist who owns a small but interdisciplinary medical training center. The medical training center is offering physical therapy as the major health service. In Germany, the public health insurance is covering physical therapy. As a result, all patients of her physical therapy are accustomed to getting the health service without paying for it.
Health, technology, and the power of branding are topics I’m truly passionate about. And when it comes to health services, I’m one hundred percent certain that we can redefine what healthcare means. We are going to create a brand which makes health cool. And we will raise standards while striving for quality guarantees.
No matter where you look, you’ll immediately see dozens of problems which should and must get solved. If you pay close attention you’ll see hundreds or thousands of problems and issues which should get solved. This is true if you look at an entire industry, a single organization, at politics, the environment or our society as a whole.
Take a look at our world. No matter where you look you’ll find thousands of things and problems which can and should be solved and improved. You might have a good heart and noble intentions but in order to effectively create change and improve things in this world, you must think and become big. Size matters.
If you ask me – remote events suck. If you ask why – it is basically because they are usually live-streamed. Live-streaming is a technology which is great for democracy and free-speech but not so much for regular remote events. Let’s find out why.
In our lifetime, there are many people who are influencing our thinking and decision-making. I believe the most important thing we have to do in life is to choose appropriate role models, mentors, and influencers. These are the people you look up to. Ideally, you look up to them because of their values, their attitudes, and their thinking – not because of their material possessions.
Every company has it. The info@example.com email address. It seems to be the standard inbox for companies around the world. Some companies are more creative than others. They have a hello@example.com or contact@example.com address instead. Which is creative but doesn’t solve an underlying problem.
I believe that our world would be a more exciting and more ethical place if everyone would strive to fulfill their own potential.
This blog post is a transcription of an ice breaker speech I gave at my Toastmasters club in Düsseldorf. I thought you might enjoy reading it.
In business, there are many industries. No matter the industry, small businesses are somehow behaving in a similar pattern – this results in an opportunity to grow your small business into a winning champion.
With counting appointments in many companies, coworking spaces, hotels, and law firms there is one thing which is always present but rarely equally good. I am talking about coffee.
The day of an executive is limited and gatekeepers exist to filter out all the bullshit which comes in. However, can gatekeepers counterproductive for a business? How can leaders properly train their outer office staff to avoid the rejection of interesting and profitable partnerships, products, and opportunities?
Money is a bad thing. Earning more than $75,000 a year does not make you happier. Rich people are evil. Money is not everything. Have you heard any of these statements before? I have heard it all – from my mother, teachers, professors, and lately many of my age joined this thinking.
However, let’s elaborate why money is neither bad but the most important factor for actually changing the world.
Everyday we encounter things, small things. And I propose we generously underestimate the importance of those small things. We encounter those small things in our daily life: while commuting, at work, or at a dinner date at night. And here comes the big surprise: usually the small things are what actually make the moment great, the experience unique, and your life great.
There are times in your life when you must act on your self-set principles, or you will perish in your self-made meaninglessness. In the next paragraphs, you will learn why I think that taking some time for yourself (something I call me-time) and regular positive affirmations of your goals and your principles are essential guideposts in our lives.
“Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.”
This quote is taken from Seth Godin’s book “The Dip” gave me the chills when I read it. The question Seth Godin answers in his book is: what makes some few organizations, teams, and individuals so successful while others vanish in mediocrity?
It is a hypothetical question: what impacts would it have if businesses were not allowed to merge with or buy other businesses – including competitors? Do you think this would rather have a positive effect on the worldwide economy and wellbeing or do you think this would have adverse effects – if so which?
Apropos digitalization: today I tried to visit a website of a Mittelstand business in Germany. You know what the homepage told me: “Is a homepage crucial?” with the contact details below. No information about their products, no information
It’s photos like this – images of the venus’ surface – which make me realize that we live in a super pessimistic time.
Without money, you cannot save the rain forests in Brasil. You may protest and try to prevent illegal foresting, or start a blog and write about how severe the unlawful deforestation is. Now imagine what you could achieve with 100 million dollars in your bank account. Your chances to save the Brasilian rainforests are higher, much higher.
If you look at Germany’s startup landscape as an outsider from the U.S. or the UK, you might ask yourself: “What’s wrong here in Germany?” While Germany has the talents to build great things – as you can see in the automotive and aviation industry – there is no real tech startup lifting off the ground.
Yesterday a paying customer has been physically assaulted and literally with dragged by force of his United Airlines flight. The video has been recorded by several passengers. And it is shocking enough itself. The worst part was yet to come.
Artificial Intelligence? That’s evil might be your first thought. Artificial intelligence has been demonized by many Hollywood movies. From evil robots which are going to destroy humanity and surveillance states who will collect everything about their citizens.
Two days ago I received several calls during the day. My phone was on mute for a few hours while I was attending a course in university. Usually, I try to call back every call but two days ago I thought: “If it was important they would’ve left a voice mail”. Yes, you are right, they didn’t leave a voice mail. So I forgot about calling these numbers back.
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