I was born in Magdeburg in 1982 in what used to be East Germany
used to be East Germany
used to be East Germany seven years later journey me Germany was
seven years later journey me Germany was
seven years later journey me Germany was reunified and I started as a small child
reunified and I started as a small child
reunified and I started as a small child just to begin the small changes
just to begin the small changes
just to begin the small changes happening around me I used to walk to
happening around me I used to walk to
happening around me I used to walk to school along the and tosser and this is
school along the and tosser and this is
school along the and tosser and this is a street which is covered with old
a street which is covered with old
a street which is covered with old hundred years buildings very elegant you
hundred years buildings very elegant you
hundred years buildings very elegant you need to know about East Germany’s street
need to know about East Germany’s street
need to know about East Germany’s street escapes that old buildings have these
escapes that old buildings have these
escapes that old buildings have these kind of grey brownish color one of these
kind of grey brownish color one of these
kind of grey brownish color one of these grey buildings was covered was hidden
grey buildings was covered was hidden
grey buildings was covered was hidden behind a scaffolding covered with a
behind a scaffolding covered with a
behind a scaffolding covered with a canvas I didn’t know what was going on
canvas I didn’t know what was going on
canvas I didn’t know what was going on behind it and it was kind of had never
behind it and it was kind of had never
behind it and it was kind of had never had seen a building being renovated
had seen a building being renovated
had seen a building being renovated before so after a few months the
before so after a few months the
before so after a few months the scaffolding was one day gone revealing a
scaffolding was one day gone revealing a
scaffolding was one day gone revealing a yellow bright building behind it in this
yellow bright building behind it in this
yellow bright building behind it in this moment it was breathtaking for me it was
moment it was breathtaking for me it was
moment it was breathtaking for me it was like somebody had placed the Sun in a
like somebody had placed the Sun in a
like somebody had placed the Sun in a row of the houses one by one each of
row of the houses one by one each of
row of the houses one by one each of every building in the street was
every building in the street was
every building in the street was renovated and every time I went along
renovated and every time I went along
renovated and every time I went along the street I was excited how might this
the street I was excited how might this
the street I was excited how might this building and
building and
building and after they revealed it from the
after they revealed it from the
after they revealed it from the scaffolding this experience of my
scaffolding this experience of my
scaffolding this experience of my surroundings changing so dramatically
surroundings changing so dramatically
surroundings changing so dramatically for the better
for the better
for the better hugely impressed me I often thought
hugely impressed me I often thought
hugely impressed me I often thought about the workers and the architects and
about the workers and the architects and
about the workers and the architects and the joy they brought not only to me but
the joy they brought not only to me but
the joy they brought not only to me but to all the people passing by the
to all the people passing by the
to all the people passing by the buildings and living in them so I
buildings and living in them so I
buildings and living in them so I decided one day there’s my time and
decided one day there’s my time and
decided one day there’s my time and there will be my time to be of value for
there will be my time to be of value for
there will be my time to be of value for others as well I dreamed about being a
others as well I dreamed about being a
others as well I dreamed about being a professional of a professional where I
professional of a professional where I
professional of a professional where I inspire others to create something new
inspire others to create something new
inspire others to create something new and although back then I could not have
and although back then I could not have
and although back then I could not have imagined mattered that this would
imagined mattered that this would
imagined mattered that this would literally come true today I’m an idea
literally come true today I’m an idea
literally come true today I’m an idea coach after my graduation from the
coach after my graduation from the
coach after my graduation from the University I founded my own company and
University I founded my own company and
University I founded my own company and as and like many other founders did we
as and like many other founders did we
as and like many other founders did we our company was based on a technology we
our company was based on a technology we
our company was based on a technology we developed on our own there was some kind
developed on our own there was some kind
developed on our own there was some kind of cool super cool methods where can
of cool super cool methods where can
of cool super cool methods where can generate ideas and as many other
generate ideas and as many other
generate ideas and as many other founders we were very proud we took very
founders we were very proud we took very
founders we were very proud we took very we were very proud of our invention and
we were very proud of our invention and
we were very proud of our invention and we thought that it made us unique a few
we thought that it made us unique a few
we thought that it made us unique a few weeks after we conduct the workshop we
weeks after we conduct the workshop we
weeks after we conduct the workshop we contact back our clients and ask them
contact back our clients and ask them
contact back our clients and ask them how they are getting along with our
how they are getting along with our
how they are getting along with our ideas with the ideas they generated with
ideas with the ideas they generated with
ideas with the ideas they generated with our help
and we heard from our customers that
and we heard from our customers that there was somewhere hidden in a drawer
there was somewhere hidden in a drawer
there was somewhere hidden in a drawer just forgotten and I could we couldn’t
just forgotten and I could we couldn’t
just forgotten and I could we couldn’t we couldn’t understand why we had made a
we couldn’t understand why we had made a
we couldn’t understand why we had made a mistake that many founders do we just
mistake that many founders do we just
mistake that many founders do we just fall in love with a thing we can build
for the longest time we were thinking we
for the longest time we were thinking we were selling ideas and I only thought
were selling ideas and I only thought
were selling ideas and I only thought slowly it dawned on us that this
slowly it dawned on us that this
slowly it dawned on us that this perspective is very very limited for us
perspective is very very limited for us
perspective is very very limited for us our product this was our product before
our product this was our product before
our product this was our product before our customers it was only a means to an
our customers it was only a means to an
our customers it was only a means to an end for companies ideas are something
end for companies ideas are something
end for companies ideas are something they use to improve their products to
they use to improve their products to
they use to improve their products to protect their jobs or to serve the
protect their jobs or to serve the
protect their jobs or to serve the customers better ideas have the
customers better ideas have the
customers better ideas have the potential to enable progress and change
potential to enable progress and change
potential to enable progress and change and that’s what we should have been
and that’s what we should have been
and that’s what we should have been thinking on and working on this insight
thinking on and working on this insight
thinking on and working on this insight completely changed the view on our
completely changed the view on our
completely changed the view on our company and what we should really been
company and what we should really been
company and what we should really been doing and for the first time we have a
doing and for the first time we have a
doing and for the first time we have a feeling that we will be able to make a
feeling that we will be able to make a
feeling that we will be able to make a real difference in the world my debt my
real difference in the world my debt my
real difference in the world my debt my work today brings me into contact with
work today brings me into contact with
work today brings me into contact with startups who I helped to develop the
startups who I helped to develop the
startups who I helped to develop the business idea and I quickly experienced
business idea and I quickly experienced
business idea and I quickly experienced and recognized that the mistake I’m I
and recognized that the mistake I’m I
and recognized that the mistake I’m I made 10 years ago
made 10 years ago
made 10 years ago is one that many founders make so it Don
is one that many founders make so it Don
is one that many founders make so it Don me and I thought thought so I had to
me and I thought thought so I had to
me and I thought thought so I had to find a way to identify and fix that kind
find a way to identify and fix that kind
find a way to identify and fix that kind of mistake startup founders almost
of mistake startup founders almost
of mistake startup founders almost always technical people they’re computer
always technical people they’re computer
always technical people they’re computer scientists engineers and the reason why
scientists engineers and the reason why
scientists engineers and the reason why they found their own company is because
they found their own company is because
they found their own company is because they they came up with a with an own
they they came up with a with an own
they they came up with a with an own invention also of themselves
invention also of themselves
invention also of themselves and thought it might be a good idea some
and thought it might be a good idea some
and thought it might be a good idea some app or electronic device so in the
app or electronic device so in the
app or electronic device so in the beginning they might have a vague idea
beginning they might have a vague idea
beginning they might have a vague idea who might buy who might buy that product
who might buy who might buy that product
who might buy who might buy that product but they have exactly in mind what that
but they have exactly in mind what that
but they have exactly in mind what that product would look like in the end if
product would look like in the end if
product would look like in the end if they go ahead and build that product
they go ahead and build that product
they go ahead and build that product from their original concept they are
from their original concept they are
from their original concept they are running a huge risk that it will fail
running a huge risk that it will fail
running a huge risk that it will fail because of some unforeseen obstacle and
because of some unforeseen obstacle and
because of some unforeseen obstacle and this obstacle is usually that the
this obstacle is usually that the
this obstacle is usually that the customer won’t buy it for start-up
customer won’t buy it for start-up
customer won’t buy it for start-up failure is building a product that
failure is building a product that
failure is building a product that nobody wants the founders may then
nobody wants the founders may then
nobody wants the founders may then conclude that this initial setback they
conclude that this initial setback they
conclude that this initial setback they experience is a sign that their own idea
experience is a sign that their own idea
experience is a sign that their own idea is bad and give up their project but if
is bad and give up their project but if
is bad and give up their project but if their idea in fact is of genuine value
their idea in fact is of genuine value
their idea in fact is of genuine value the world is missing out I believe that
the world is missing out I believe that
the world is missing out I believe that founders have an idea
founders have an idea
founders have an idea that gets them excited and motivated
that gets them excited and motivated
that gets them excited and motivated this idea has a potential to be of value
this idea has a potential to be of value
this idea has a potential to be of value for others as well so it would be good
for others as well so it would be good
for others as well so it would be good for the world
to give the idea that opportunity to
to give the idea that opportunity to grow to its fullest best potential to
grow to its fullest best potential to
grow to its fullest best potential to succeed on the other hand founders are
succeed on the other hand founders are
succeed on the other hand founders are hugely young and by that they have no
hugely young and by that they have no
hugely young and by that they have no experience in business and no knowledge
experience in business and no knowledge
experience in business and no knowledge about markets and their future customers
about markets and their future customers
about markets and their future customers this means that they’re almost certainly
this means that they’re almost certainly
this means that they’re almost certainly wrong in how they approach and implement
wrong in how they approach and implement
wrong in how they approach and implement in the details of their idea and as of
in the details of their idea and as of
in the details of their idea and as of you have already seen founders have the
you have already seen founders have the
you have already seen founders have the tendency to fall in love with their the
tendency to fall in love with their the
tendency to fall in love with their the details of their invention so if they go
details of their invention so if they go
details of their invention so if they go a hat with a knife plan they are highly
a hat with a knife plan they are highly
a hat with a knife plan they are highly likely to fail and miss an opportunity
likely to fail and miss an opportunity
likely to fail and miss an opportunity to pursue something they believe in and
to pursue something they believe in and
to pursue something they believe in and earn their living by it and even worse
earn their living by it and even worse
earn their living by it and even worse the world is missing out because if they
the world is missing out because if they
the world is missing out because if they if the world experience there the full
if the world experience there the full
if the world experience there the full potential of the full value of idea they
potential of the full value of idea they
potential of the full value of idea they might have had a huge amount of progress
let me give you an example a few years
let me give you an example a few years ago I supported two very bright founders
ago I supported two very bright founders
ago I supported two very bright founders in the early stages of the startup they
in the early stages of the startup they
in the early stages of the startup they have idea wants to find a way to make it
have idea wants to find a way to make it
have idea wants to find a way to make it to make it accessible for parents to
to make it accessible for parents to
to make it accessible for parents to reuse children’s clothing that should
reuse children’s clothing that should
reuse children’s clothing that should work because children outgrow their
work because children outgrow their
work because children outgrow their clothes as fast and long before they are
clothes as fast and long before they are
clothes as fast and long before they are worn out so it makes just sense to you
worn out so it makes just sense to you
worn out so it makes just sense to you to make more use of these clothings now
to make more use of these clothings now
to make more use of these clothings now there are two
there are two
there are two different ways we could have viewed the
different ways we could have viewed the
different ways we could have viewed the startup idea the normal approach was to
startup idea the normal approach was to
startup idea the normal approach was to say okay we are gonna be an online
say okay we are gonna be an online
say okay we are gonna be an online secondhand shop where parents save money
secondhand shop where parents save money
secondhand shop where parents save money by acquiring children’s clothing or we
by acquiring children’s clothing or we
by acquiring children’s clothing or we could think of this startup idea as why
could think of this startup idea as why
could think of this startup idea as why in protecting our planet by reducing the
in protecting our planet by reducing the
in protecting our planet by reducing the water that is used for growing cotton
water that is used for growing cotton
water that is used for growing cotton and reducing the use of fertilizer in
and reducing the use of fertilizer in
and reducing the use of fertilizer in the first case we would have just been
the first case we would have just been
the first case we would have just been considering a business solution in the
considering a business solution in the
considering a business solution in the latter case we would have a much bigger
latter case we would have a much bigger
latter case we would have a much bigger vision that was meaningful to the entire
vision that was meaningful to the entire
vision that was meaningful to the entire world after a few months the two
world after a few months the two
world after a few months the two founders discovered that the online
founders discovered that the online
founders discovered that the online secondhand shop wasn’t economical
secondhand shop wasn’t economical
secondhand shop wasn’t economical feasibly because the logistics of
feasibly because the logistics of
feasibly because the logistics of acquiring the closest of the used
acquiring the closest of the used
acquiring the closest of the used already used closest washing them
already used closest washing them
already used closest washing them photographing them and handling them is
photographing them and handling them is
photographing them and handling them is just too complicated now if the two
just too complicated now if the two
just too complicated now if the two founders had been fixated to their
founders had been fixated to their
founders had been fixated to their original solution as many founders do
original solution as many founders do
original solution as many founders do their entrepreneurial journey probably
their entrepreneurial journey probably
their entrepreneurial journey probably would have had an that right there but
would have had an that right there but
would have had an that right there but in our case luckily it didn’t we sat
in our case luckily it didn’t we sat
in our case luckily it didn’t we sat down together and we thought of other
down together and we thought of other
down together and we thought of other ways in achieving our goal and the
ways in achieving our goal and the
ways in achieving our goal and the solution is simple to rent out closest
solution is simple to rent out closest
solution is simple to rent out closest instead of buying and selling them this
instead of buying and selling them this
instead of buying and selling them this is much more and starting and without
is much more and starting and without
is much more and starting and without renting the closest and starting was a
renting the closest and starting was a
renting the closest and starting was a set of
set of
set of closes that the founders bought directly
closes that the founders bought directly
closes that the founders bought directly from the manufacturers that is a much
from the manufacturers that is a much
from the manufacturers that is a much more much more efficient way of doing
more much more efficient way of doing
more much more efficient way of doing things because the clothings
things because the clothings
things because the clothings are are clean they’re already pre-packed
are are clean they’re already pre-packed
are are clean they’re already pre-packed and the manufacturers provided the
and the manufacturers provided the
and the manufacturers provided the founders with photographs of their
founders with photographs of their
founders with photographs of their products for free now three years later
products for free now three years later
products for free now three years later the founders created jobs for 20 people
the founders created jobs for 20 people
the founders created jobs for 20 people in Magdeburg and they have thousands of
in Magdeburg and they have thousands of
in Magdeburg and they have thousands of customers and by that they were saving a
customers and by that they were saving a
customers and by that they were saving a huge amount of fertilizer pesticides
huge amount of fertilizer pesticides
huge amount of fertilizer pesticides cotton and about 3 million liters of
cotton and about 3 million liters of
cotton and about 3 million liters of water so what I have learned from this
water so what I have learned from this
water so what I have learned from this experience was my own company and from
experience was my own company and from
experience was my own company and from helping startups assists founders
helping startups assists founders
helping startups assists founders overestimates applicability of the
overestimates applicability of the
overestimates applicability of the initial idea and underestimate the long
initial idea and underestimate the long
initial idea and underestimate the long term perspective long term perspective
term perspective long term perspective
term perspective long term perspective so if you have an idea that you’re
so if you have an idea that you’re
so if you have an idea that you’re excited about keep in mind two things
excited about keep in mind two things
excited about keep in mind two things don’t commit yourself to whatever it is
don’t commit yourself to whatever it is
don’t commit yourself to whatever it is that you could that you thought of first
that you could that you thought of first
that you could that you thought of first but be flexible in trying to find ways
but be flexible in trying to find ways
but be flexible in trying to find ways in achieving that and secondly take the
in achieving that and secondly take the
in achieving that and secondly take the time to answer this question why might
time to answer this question why might
time to answer this question why might our idea has a potential to change the
our idea has a potential to change the
our idea has a potential to change the world and I’m sure and I believe if you
world and I’m sure and I believe if you
world and I’m sure and I believe if you follow these two advices that you gain
follow these two advices that you gain
follow these two advices that you gain three profits three brand benefits from
three profits three brand benefits from
three profits three brand benefits from it you will maximize the chance to be
it you will maximize the chance to be
it you will maximize the chance to be successful you will enjoy a much deeper
successful you will enjoy a much deeper
successful you will enjoy a much deeper motivation of your work and most of all
motivation of your work and most of all
motivation of your work and most of all the world will obtain the full potential
the world will obtain the full potential
the world will obtain the full potential of your idea and your efforts
of your idea and your efforts
of your idea and your efforts thank you very much
”
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