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Being alone is not something that comes naturally to us. This is no empty phrase, as anyone who has ever dared to go on vacation or to a restaurant alone will know. The first moment feels strange, unfamiliar, maybe even unnecessary and wrong. I get that. But didn’t sitting on a bike for the first time, and riding off without training wheels, having your Dad running alongside then slowly letting go, feel strange too? The moment of “flying” alone is what scares us, but at the same time it opens up a new world. Suddenly we are - in the cycling analogy - more independent, more flexible, and we get from A to B faster.

The moment of overcoming uncertainty or fear is like a software update. The only difference is that to reach the next level, we have to make a conscious decision to move rather than just press a button. Our development does not just happen, we are forced to make an active decision. And then, of course, there are distractions: life, whether pleasant or not, but certainly familiar, with friends, colleagues, family, shared jokes, and fun in the routine of social obligations and pleasures. There is something seductively distracting about pleasure, consumption and community.

Very much like the next iOS update, being alone (personal development) never fits into the daily routine. There is no time for a back-up or we don’t have the PIN at hand. There are countless reasons to click "remind me later". However, the real driver may be an avoidance of that brief moment of void (uncertainty/not knowing what is happening) that occurs when we do something outside of our routine.

When you think about the moments that shaped you, experiences always come to mind - at least for me - of times when I also dared to do something. Walking into a meeting where I already know the outcome or going on the annual family vacation in Italy doesn’t especially add to my development scale. The belief that we are not alone when we are with others is a fallacy we like to tell ourselves. The fact is that we make decisions alone, over and over again. We also bear their consequences or fruits alone - e.g. getting from A to B faster.

Arthur Schopenhauer, a German philosopher, already summarized the dilemma of mankind in the 19th century when he described humans as porcupines: If we get too close to each other, we risk hurting ourselves, but if we keep too great a distance, we risk coldness and loneliness.

"Thus the need of society (...) drives men to each other; but their many repugnant qualities and intolerable faults repel them from each other again. (...) But he who has much inner warmth of his own prefers to stay away from society, so as not to give complaint, nor to receive it."

Couldn't solitude be something beautiful? Indulging in one's own thoughts? Attending a dinner where you are not distracted by conversation or an appealing counterpart, but are allowed to enjoy and experience it alone, focused with all your senses? As with everything in life, it's all about balance. What I take away from this thought is to let the balance arise by daring again. Dare to allow and enjoy the moment of being alone and using your senses consciously. It will unfold in an update in our business decisions.

Gerhard Richter - Landscapes.

Richter is considered one of the most important living artists. His current exhibition Landscapes at the Kunsthaus Zurich features works from 1963 to 2018. There is so much that you can learn about your daily existence and work from this exceptional artist. Richter thinks that we have an overly perfect image of nature. It is far more than what the camera shows, it is more than what we choose and want to show. It goes beyondthe pure, artificially chosen detail. Just like our lives. It is more complex than some may see or show. The creation process for the expression of its reality works in the interplay: How much is just right? When is it too much? We are always searching for the right balance. How strong can an abstraction of a landscape be while still allowing it to be perceived as a landscape? Which elements of a cityscape are crucial in order for the city to still be recognizable as such?

A nice example for a briefing or meeting: How much should I prescribe so as not to be confronted with the demand of my own perfection at the end, and how much should I say in order to give a framework for development, i.e. independent work, at the end? An example from Richter's exhibition is attached.

The topics of loneliness and attitude have not only been guardrails of my thoughts in this Letter of Inspiration, but are also reflected in my recent article in Handelszeitung.

And last but not least, I recommend this podcast interview (in German) for your next car or train ride. Jonathan Sierck, initiator of vonMorgen, asked me a few good questions about intuition and what it has to do with leadership. On Spotify or Apple Podcast

Here an excerpt:
"It is important that we do not decide things from external influences, but rely more on ourselves again, and thus can also make more agile decisions that are not dependent, but strongly driven from ourselves." - Tanja Schug, in conversation on VonMorgen Podcast - Episode 38

With this, my Letter of Inspiration comes to an end… Thank you for joining me on the way to more clarity. If you like this episode, please feel free to share it with like-minded colleagues and friends, encouraging them to subscribe!

So 2021 is going to be pink and cheesy? Not really, because the original meaning of romanticism has nothing to do with big red hearts and public marriage proposals. In the 19th century, Romanticism was an artistic outcry to break out from the chains of standardization. This was manifested above all by the desire for individuality, as a reaction to the industrialization of the time. This movement became palpable through abundant drama. In the visual arts, the eerie, the subconscious, the fantastic, the passionate, the individual, the emotional and the adventurous established themselves as central motifs, which were intended to break and expand the boundaries of the intellect and were directed against mere utilitarian thinking as well as industrialization. The intensive use of color is a salient feature of the romantic painters, seen for example in intense and dramatic sunrises, almost too beautiful to be true, or in one of the most famous paintings of this era: "The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog". This was how Caspar David Friedrichs represented the situation of the artist - the tormented genius, standing on the mountaintop and, at the same time, on the edge of existence, symbolized here by an abyss. Although a thick fog blocks the view, there is a suggestion of ultimate hope. This era created motifs that still awaken longings to this day. After a special year like 2020, which raised fundamental issues and made us question the status quo, certain voices of longing also become louder. One suddenly longs for the beautiful, the real, as well as for more profundity, and for that which gives one support and stability.

An increased search for meaning has been observed as a trend for some time, and not just among the younger generation. At job interviews, applicants ask about the company's values and show interest in its social and societal responsibility. After all, today there is much more to a job than the accompanying title or the role it requires you to fulfil. It's about having a clear attitude, and that attitude has to match your own convictions. To start with, this requires clarity about oneself. In the medium term, it also leads to demarcation effects, in the professional and private environments. Living out one's character excludes some people, but also creates a stronger bond of attraction between like-minded people.

The inner call to do something meaningful is also reflected in the continuously increasing number of start-ups: +5.3% in Switzerland from 2019 to 2020, with 2019 already considered a record year. A mentality of creating can be observed. Indeed, these values show a clear trend towards "owning". We can only hypothesize about whether this is because companies may not have the right answers to the question of meaning or whether it is because the desire to break out of the classic career path is becoming greater. What is certain is that in recent years, a high value has been placed on standardization in many areas, because everything that is standardized brings scalability. Oh yes, that wonderful word! Scalability. The ability of the system or company to grow. That a certain parallel to the Romantic era - described above - can be seen here is, I think, an exciting insight. Thus, the increase in the number of new companies is not surprising. But what else could this mean? Three theses:

The drive to break away from existing thought patterns is also driven by the uncertainty that lies ahead. The question of how my work can make a difference, and for whom, displaces the question of growth and more money. Focusing on your own values also makes you more frugal, because it answers the question of what you really need very honestly. One can observe a peeling off of one's own character, as evidenced by the shrinking closet, or the decluttering of an office or living room: We make ourselves lighter, or we gain profile.

We have lost the ability to deal with uncertainty in our everyday business life. Our last years were more or less plannable, because the really big changes had perhaps been foreshadowed but had not (yet) shown themselves. It still worked out somehow. Now, many industries and thus also many jobs are uncertain, some may disappear and some may never even return. In conversations with artist friends, I often hear, almost jokingly, "That's nothing new for us". Artists are used to coping with uncertainty, and sometimes this feeling can even be a driver of creativity. This attitude prepares us for 2021.

We have lost the magic in our interactions. I speak of magic deliberately, because what standardization has also brought is dry and relentless transparency. So much is predictable, and thus we have lost the magic. The gift of creating a magical moment is one that we just had the chance to experience at Christmas through the eyes of children, seeing their irrepressible anticipation of what Santa will bring. How can we manage to rekindle this glow in our eyes as well? This question will be homework for all of us in 2021.

create and celebrate individual thoughts;
learn to think independently, outside of existing frameworks; and
cultivate the art of creating a context.

How does this work? With self-awareness, in the most literal sense.

The biography of Irvin D. Yalom (arguably one of the most successful psychoanalysts of our time, as well as the author of bestsellers such as "When Nietzsche Wept") never ceased to amaze me as I read it. I found one recurring observation in it particularly intriguing. Yalom - who is 89 years old, married, the father of four adult children, and used to be a professor at Stanford University - would take breaks of up to six months from his daily life each time he devoted himself to a new topic, such as his textbook on group therapy, existential psychotherapy, or one of his many novels. During these breaks, Yalom would travel with his wife Marilyn, who was a professor of French literature. He emphasized several times in his biography how important this change of scenery was in broadening his perspective. There is certainly much to learn from Yalom, but this deceptively simple point can be adopted directly. Creation needs space and time - not only for artists, but also for scientists and entrepreneurs.

I am very happy to announce that Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZamSonntag) recently ran an article by me about the meaning of work. If you missed it, you can find it online or text me to get a copy.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of the Letter of Inspiration! Feel free to share this letter with colleagues and friends.

Many (business) models are based on that which is already known, and use the past as a point of reference in order to assess risk, to make analyses or budget plans for the next year. However, the limits of proven strategies become apparent as soon as unforeseen or first-time events (such as a pandemic) occur. What is needed then is not only the advice of experts, but, even more importantly, one's own intuition, as entrepreneurs reorient and translate an existing company into a new environment.

And intuition presents another advantage: Creating new thoughts, ideas and visions from within yourself makes you independent, as inner reflection is autonomous from external influences such as the analyses, habits and assessments of others. Of course it is pleasant to be protected or supported by others or outside factors, but the apparent security they offer is often fleeting and ephemeral. A good example of this is the current pandemic: unforeseeable, but fundamentally impacting all of our (business) lives. A conscious intuition is like a strong core, it gives stability yet freedom to move - hugely important in times of high-risk and change.

Artists, in their creative processes, rely on this inner voice: the intuition. Günther Uecker, a member of the ZERO art movement dedicated to a new beginning for art after the Second World War, described it as follows:

The creative process, whether in art or in business, is not easy. To dare to create something new requires courage, independent thought, and space. In this process, restrictions, predetermined paths and old knowledge act largely as weights chained to your ankle that prevent you from advancing. To free yourself from this ballast - to let go - is the real challenge, but also an opportunity.

Why should a path that offers neither ease nor a guarantee of success be desirable? The security we find in something familiar is based on the concept of hope. Once the surface of this illusion is broken, it becomes clear that the strategy of hope is neither secure nor sustainable. Isn't the feeling of security rather a superficial cloak that lets one radiate self-confidence and even attraction (that is, beauty) to the outside world? However, even the most beautiful things eventually lose their sheen; specifically, when they touch the ground of reality.

A striking feature of the current pandemic situation is its ability to strip away masks and illusions. Superficial beauty vanishes, leaving us with two options: to try to keep up appearances for a while, or to allow them to dissolve and search instead for the truly “beautiful”. The latter approach begins with a search for characteristics that deviate from the shiny and immaculate surface. Often this leads back to the origin, where everything has started. The driver that made a company, an entrepreneur or concept successful.

What I mean by that? When you try to orient yourself in a city, you do not attempt to memorize seemingly identical asphalt streets. Instead, you identify striking reference points: an unusual house, a lone tree, a special store or a prominent sign. This is exactly what we ought to seek when we are fed up with superficial beauty. In order to break out from habitual patterns and to find your own clearly defined path to success, you have to look for what sets you apart. Rather than being an interchangeable asphalt street, you become an individual - “You start building your own statue". In art, one would say that the artist develops his own style; in the business world, I call this composure. Composure adds an important part to “the core”, which gives stability in high-risk times.

I have recently been thinking about the end product of artistic creation: the artwork itself. I realized that often, what we admire as art is something that no longer has any meaning for the artist himself. The visible art piece is an expression of a moment of creation that emerged from a development process. Once you begin to flow with this rhythm, you do not stop to appreciate the beautiful end product, you continue to grow. Radically formulated, art can be considered a by-product of emotional and personal development. While we are still admiring and appreciating the “skin” he has shed, the artist is already one step ahead.

In the business world, it is often the other way round: letting go is difficult. Once you have “created” something, you want to preserve it. You know all too well how much energy has gone into the company, the product or the team you have developed or created.

Here you can look to the art world for inspiration: The white canvas - the emptiness that represents a new beginning - can also be seen as the space of potential. The moment to dare to try something new is the white canvas and the first step, like the first brush stroke, is the most difficult of all.Erik Brynjolfsson, a professor at Stanford University, once said in a lecture:

Some situations require the art of letting go, and Brynjolfsson believes that it is only then that truly great things come into being. This is not meant to be an invitation to let go of everything that is dear to you, but encouragement to consider what you may be compulsively holding on to and what may be keeping you from making the first brushstroke on the next white canvas. Just ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen when you start a new brushstroke? Nothing really bad, you might think. Well, why not try then?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of the Letter of Inspiration! Feel free to share this letter with colleagues and friends.

The summer has shown itself once again in all its glory. Besides abundant joy, it also brought complaints: just as summer vacations are drawing to a close, the hustle and bustle here in Zurich is beginning to pick up speed and intensity again. Meanwhile, the warm weather has a paralyzing effect and makes us lethargic. Thinking becomes more difficult and the call of Lake Zurich for a cooling dip becomes louder. On one hand, we are tired because of the heat, and on the other hand, we are afraid of the insecurity of a second wave—a combination that probably would have been called "dangerous" in a history book. If the forecasts are right, we in the business world are heading for something that would be optimistically described as a major change, and in ordinary speech as a crisis. So how do we change history and float out of the vortex of paralyzing fatigue and fear of the future?

What has announced itself the last decades, is in no small measure the consequence of unlimited availability, which has led to excessive consumption, much like a child left in a candy store unattended. In the post-war period this was legitimate: people enjoyed access to that which harsh circumstances had denied them. Enjoyment and wastefulness both contribute to economic growth. But do we still appreciate this luxury today, and are we indeed entitled to it?

Read my published article on the topic: "Luxury as a Discontinued Model"

We have grown up surrounded by luxury goods, and it has become infinitely accessible through digitalization and groundbreaking inventions like smartphones. When something is constantly available, it is only human to eventually take it for granted. However, months in isolation make me wonder whether it is still appropriate to take the time to indulge in luxury. Not because it is no longer attractive, but rather because it does not help. Nothing can develop when we remain static. To trigger a reaction, movement is needed—as you already know from Physics 101. And that is also what we need now: movement.

A still incalculable risk hovers over our near future. Coupled with fatigue and fear, this results in a cocktail that would make even James Bond falter. After the Second World War, the ZERO art movement broke through the canvas as an artistic expression of a new beginning, a physical act that released new energy for creation. However, movement does not always have to be physical. Emotions are often described as "I am moved by something". Is it possible to break through the apparent dreariness of exhaustion and anxiety by acting on one's emotions, and what can that look like?

Passion is more than just a job description, it can be found in living according to your values and moral convictions. In addition, what you enjoy doing is not perceived as "work". The popular German philosopher, Markus Gabriel, writes in his current book about "moral progress in dark times" about his insights on a new form of cooperation, one which Gabriel claims is already noticeable in some areas of society, and that he believes will continue to grow. What can this look like?

A few years ago, the term "gig economy" was coined. Young talents who were clearly aware of their skills would immerse themselves in start-ups or companies for short-term contracts to contribute their knowledge over a period of 6 to 12 months. What is now emerging is a wave of freelancers who, like the gig workers, are very clear about what they have to offer. When I hear Markus Gabriel talking about new cooperations, I have a bigger picture in mind of something that will dissolve existing hierarchical company structures and lead to something new on a project-based, talent-oriented and independent basis. Breaking down the big picture into small parts makes it possible to move with more agility and, above all, to correct shortcomings at their source more quickly and with more control over their effects. For managers this means several things: How do I enable my employees to recognize their own strengths? How can I enable personal responsibility? And how can I stand back and let my team create something new? How can I be happy about failures and not judge them? How do I create an environment that allows my employees freedom within the organization?

"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most likely to adapt to change.”

-Charles Darwin, British naturalist.

If stagnation is not an option, then we must allow for and encourage movement. One way is to seek out new impulses and perspectives that open your eyes to new ways and ideas. These can be found in the stories of the people around you: all it takes is your active listening. I had the privilege to hear such a “behind-the-scenes” story the other day, and have written it down for you: that of a man who trusts in his path and says that he has never felt better since the moment he followed his intuition.

In order to avoid the notorious second wave, many concert promoters have decided to cancel summer festivals. In Switzerland, health regulations are too restrictive to allow for the usual festival scene. But who says that there has to be a usual one? In this special situation, we need to be flexible in our thinking. It's not a matter of keeping everything the same, but of how you can unfold in a new setting.

One example that is very close to my own heart is the Festival da Jazz in St. Moritz, which this summer reluctantly had to give up its main stage, the legendary Dracula Club. The main aspect of this place is proximity between audience and performers, since it has no stage. So a new main venue had to be found, and together with the unique Grand Hotels onsite and their magnificent ballrooms, new venues were created that met the standards of the health authorities.

It may seem like a lone standout, like the small Gaulish village of Asterix and Obelix. However, it is not about rebelling, but rather about preserving a cultural asset while at the same time allowing for new thinking. This requires courage and openness to leave the familiar behind and yes, probably a few Gauls with a similar mindset. What has just happened in St. Moritz on a small scale can be a model for many entrepreneurs who find themselves in a situation where "the old way doesn’t work anymore". The good news is: it does, just differently.

If you enjoyed reading this, make sure to pick up a copy of Die Welt on Monday, August 31! There will be a big interview with me about the future of society and the business world. If you missed to get your copy, you can find the interview online.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of the Letter of Inspiration. Feel free to share this letter with colleagues and friends.

The lockdown put basically the world in a kind of "hibernation". This with the only difference that we were fully awake with a clear mind during this hibernation. If one observed the reactions in society, two groups surfaced: the activists and the paralyzed. Even though we are not trained for an exceptional situation like this, the one part tried to continue its great drive for action, the other part was paralyzed by the wave of uncertainty.

We cannot yet fully imagine the economic damage caused by this pandemic. What is visible, however, are the health consequences. The virus claims victims, but the so-called lockdown also has a major impact on the mental health and well-being of many individuals.

The isolation is slowly being lifted, but everyday life suddenly seems like a visit to the zoo: Normally thick glass screens or fences protects us from the wild animals - now it is gloves, masks and a minimum safety distance of 2 meters which is supposed to protect us from an invisible danger.

Can business relationships be maintained remotely or is there a risk of developing a similar relationship with our partners as with the animals in the zoo (i.e. none)? Distance cannot simply be resolved digitally. It makes "survival" easier for us, but life in digitality has its limits. Especially when it comes to the human factor. Through the forced reduction of our sensory perception in those digital interactions we are currently losing something that is essential: our intuition.

Of course, the current situation makes me wonder whether, with all these serious events, and times of lockdown and despair allow us to address intuition and the sharpening of perception. I believe that right now the subject of intuition is more important than ever. Not only does the lockdown confront almost all of us with an increased awareness about (the changes in) ourselves, our lives, our fears, nature, the world around us and our interactions. Fortunately there are people who are not in poor health or seriously affected economically. Doers who are used to acting, they too are caught in this empty state between stagnation and progress and have a right to speak and receive positive thoughts.

I would place these people in a third group, alongside the activists and the paralyzed: the considered. They use the void moment, between stagnation and progress, and reflect. It wouldn't surprise me if insights were to emerge in the process that question the unstoppable hunger for continuous growth, for consumption of goods, but also I believe the relationships and communication between fellow human-beings will be questioned. Do you really have to attend every meeting in person? Or to every company apéro or summit? And does it need the new "whatever"? Reflection increases the awareness of scarcity of our time and how to make the best use of it. Suddenly it is all about powerful conversations which stimulate and activate you. Rather less, but a valuable exchange. Not just any conversation, but one that matters for you or triggers something in you.

So, we have rested, gathered our thoughts and are ready to start again. What should we look forward to? Developing together will be essential in the phase to come because if times of crisis are good for anything, it's for reflecting about our own strengths. And this also shows where we need trustworthy supporters.

Existing concepts for success must now likely be reconsidered for most of us and translated into the new context in which we are finding ourselves. However, new thoughts do not emerge in familiar surroundings or in one's own comfort zone, but rather in a controversial exchange with people from other disciplines and idustriers. If you open your eyes, inspiration from other industries can reach you. Whether it is in the creative process of designers who process the current situation in their product variations, or the creativity with which restaurants have reacted to the lockdown. These impulses can be inspiration for you or translated into your own business.

It is no coincidence that the medieval poet Dante Alighieri was accompanied by a trusted friend on his way from “hell to paradise”. In Dante's case this was Virgil. Virgil was a faithful companion, who listened to Dante and guided him. Virgil symbolizes Dante's "intuition". This pandemic was unforeseeable and its size and consequences are still uncertain. That we feel uncertainty is okay, but you don't have to go through it alone. Whereas we are all in the same situation, it is possible to let go of the ego-centeredness and allow others to be involved. That was the moment when Dante met Virgil; an interlocutor who listened, who together with Dante found deep clarity on the core issues, sharpened Dante’s intuition and pointed out paths of action to master the way from "hell to paradise". Virgil - the intuition - is an underestimated weapon in the moments of crisis, which is worth (re-)activating.

The good news is that intuition can be developed and strengthened. We have already begun the journey from hell to paradise. We will only take this demanding and unknown path by opening our own perspective and give space to new thoughts. One carries the thought buds for this within oneself; to let them blossom, one needs the right impulses. The curating of such impulses is my core business and can be seen in events like the Zero Senses Retreat or in individual accompaniment. In 2 ½ days, the retreat format offers natural leaders a firework of impulses from other areas and creates a bridge to application in their own everyday work. The next event will take place in autumn and you can register here for further details.

Sustainability will probably be named as the “non-word of the year” soon. Every entrepreneur, but also almost all friends have the same opinion "Yes, we have to do something...". There are wild ideas on how to implement sustainable aspects in companies and ultimately in our life. One strives for an ISO certification for his company, the other buys only regional products, while another refrains from flying within the EU, but enjoys his avocado toast every morning (by the way, anyone wondered how avocados get from Mexico to Switzerland?). I was lucky enough to experience what sustainability means in holistic terms, when I temporarily lived in the Netherlands a few months ago.
Obviously, the consequences of climate change will directly affect cities like Amsterdam, which lie below sea level. Although I am convinced, that this is not the only reason, this country is closely connected to nature and the fate of the latter. It is apparent in their holistic approach through emobility, the generally healthy lifestyle, and an amazingly high number of impact startups and sustainable food concepts.
Jack Bean, a vegan fast food start-up: One of the founders, a star chef from Rotterdam, wanted to prove the fact that vegan food tastes good, easy to make and sustainable to produce. This young team uses only products grown in the region (i.e., no avocado or quinoa). They have a digital ordering process via tablets and tableware from renewable materials. Their target group are men who want to eat healthily, without giving up on taste. Of course, Jack Bean offers home delivery too, but only by bike or e-scooter and in recyclable boxes. A holistic concept with a great potential.

With this, my Letter of Inspiration comes to an end… Thank you for joining me on the way to more clarity. If you like this episode, please feel free to share it with like-minded colleagues and friends, encouraging them to subscribe!

What happens after the lockdown?

"Invest in talent. In relationships. Invest in yourself, in things you love and that mean something to you." Says Wolf Lotter in his prologue in brand eins magazine 04/2020.

That may sound simple. But when you have just invested all your energy in building up a new business or feel powerless in the face of the economic pressure that is currently weighing on an established company, it is difficult to take such statements to heart. Nevertheless, people get used to new circumstances quickly.

For example, three weeks ago, the idea of being locked down at home for more or less 24 hours, alone or with the family, was unimaginable. Living, working, learning, sporting, cooking and sleeping, all in one place? How is that supposed to work? Today we have to admit: It works, even better than we thought it would. Everyone makes their contribution. Whether it is the Yoga Studio, which now offers online classes, or your favourite restaurant, which gives you a cook-free evening, since it now delivers. The fact is, everyone is trying to support. We have started to get out of our stress bubble and get involved with the needs of others. Stick together, care for each other, be conscious: That's how we manage the 24/7 lockdown.

An outlook into the future. May 2020, the federal government officially declares the lockdown to be over. It is 15.00 o'clock and with the last press conference we got the free ticket 'to the outside world' again. Will we, as predicted by many, break out into a moment of complete ecstasy and a storm of celebration? I do not think so.

Quest for Stability

The first reaction will rather be uncertainty. Can we really leave the house now? Can I go back to the office? Can I meet my friends and does our favorite café has opened again? As a first step, we will only carefully plod back into the world, similar to a baby who begins to walk. A world that suddenly presents itself to us again in its fullness. What was normal before is now unusual. There is no 'Go back to go' card, it just goes on.

Of course we get used to this situation again, but first we look for points of orientation. We look for familiar things that give us security in a world we once knew, which we now need to get use to again. Until a few hours ago, the Federation guided our actions and doings, now we are to take over again. No matter whether it is a question of resuming our own activities, an enforced time-out, or even a new start, what is needed now is one thing: familiarity.

Familiarity gives us security and creates trust. Extensive celebrations with many, once fellow-sufferers who are nevertheless strangers to us, does not. I am convinced that this time after Corona will pay off on what I call a relationship network. Moments with the inner circle, exchange and, above all, a reunion with the personalities who were really missing during the crisis. In the end, you suddenly realize that there weren't so many missing of them. Even more important to make an effort to help the few and thereby begin to rebuild the supporting pillars of your business and private life.

Longing for the Known

We will certainly feel the urge to travel, but only to hotels and places we already know and within our own country. We will have dinner, but without experiments, we will go to our favorite Italian restaurant around the corner. We will do most of our shopping locally and if possible at the regional weekly market. We want to maintain and pass on the cohesion we have experienced over the past weeks. Global is not what we need at the moment. Global is rather what worries us.

What do we miss from the Corona period?

Being able to follow one's interests for weeks on end. Reading, sports, cooking, painting, all these are activities that nourish our creativity and to which we have been able to devote ourselves more and more. The effect I noticed, it is good to have this duality of cognitive (business) and being creative. The two worlds serve each other. Back in everyday life, how do you maintain this balance? Time and space, these are the magic words. The best way to do this is to put our creativity in the context of our business. More stability in any situation is guaranteed by this balance.

Striving for recognition does not mean living out your talent.

The famous painter Vincent Van Gogh just sold one of his magical paintings during his lifetime. His talent was only recognised after his early death at the age of 37. In a collection of letters Vincent regularly wrote to his younger brother Theo, the genius and myth of the painter Vincent Van Gogh can be traced piece by piece.

Vincent lived in poor circumstances, his brother Theo was his financier and all his money was spent on paper, paints and painting utensils. For himself, he took only the bare essentials. Devotion, diligence and solitude were his companions. He once said that he was ahead of his time. He was, and yet he was not tired of carrying on.

The story of the young Van Gogh is intended to motivate you not to lose faith in your own actions, especially in difficult circumstances, and to indulge your creative powers as entrepreneurs today more than ever. Not for others, but for yourself. If the story alone does not inspire, then it is certainly one of five sunflower pictures Vincent Van Gogh painted. This one hangs in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

The inbox of our email accounts is full of 'inspiration' on all kinds of topics. This is where a mistake lies: Who gets our attention and more importantly, what truly inspires us? Inspiration is a tool I use to change my clients' perspectives, always with the aim of creating added value for clear business decisions. These impulses can show themselves in a 'Tour of Inspiration'. How that looks like is illustrated here.

So much for this special edition of the Letter of Inspiration. Feel free to share this letter with colleagues and friends and encourage them to sign up here!

In the past, life was considered good if you could afford everything. Everything usually meant at least one summer and winter holiday a year, two cars, a house, maybe even a weekend house in the countryside or somewhere near the beach. New generations neither have a driver's license, nor do they learn to ski in school anymore. Intercontinental flights are also being questioned in the times of Greta and climate change discussions. What about going out for dinner? Yes, but vegan please, preferably with local ingredients. A good life: what does it mean today?

Goodbye luxury, goodbye consumption

Consumption is similar to the monthly salary: up to a certain level, we are still happy about a promotion, until the marginal utility of any further increase becomes zero. After this point we do not care anymore because the next promotion would have to be immense to fundamentally change our lifestyle. In the Western world, the last 40 years have been good years. What do I mean by that? We didn't urgently miss anything, as everything was available. “If” has never been a question; only whether “there's more”. However, constant availability simply leads to boredom. Something similar happens with consumption. As it has become vulgar, as a response, we don't want to test the next Michelin Star restaurant, or buy another car, nor buy a new house in Spain, and our children don't fly anymore anyway, because of their CO2 footprint.

The end of consumption leads to a redefinition of luxury. A minimalist lifestyle seems to be the natural consequence of prosperity.

A simple lifestyle

Luxury always had an exclusive effect, which has been represented by the limited availability or the high price of certain products or services. Now platform models such as booking.com or UBER, but also flight providers such as easyJet, are trivialising a commodity that was reserved for those who had privileged access to a 'good life'. Today everyone has access to a top deal in a 5* hotel, and your private driver (UBER) picks you up from the airport, while your flight costs only 39.00 CHF. The sudden “democratization” of luxury signals a turning point. .

Furthermore, there are brand new ways of communication, which are more visual than verbal. The perfect Instagram image replaces the postcard from the vacation and WhatsApp allows us to be constantly connected with our friends despite thousands of kilometers of distance. In the end, we are longing for a break: break from the availability, to find that imperfect moment you will remember because it doesn't look like something from an ad of a lifestyle magazine.

A strong character

It takes courage to admit imperfection. We have been trained for decades on what a good life should look like - and now we are supposed to just forget about it? The admission is difficult and yet opens up a new perspective. I would like to emphasize the thesis that the new luxury is strongly connected to personality and that the more we develop our character, the stronger our 'feeling for a new luxury' will be. The way to a good life in the new 20s year heralds the era of artists.

If you are interested in this thought, you can read my article "The Era of Artists".

A recipe for success?

My passion is to curate moments of inspiration for natural leaders. This has the wonderful side effect of allowing me to have conversations with many fascinating people. But the real beauty emerges through connecting and condensing my observations to the essence. After a few inspiring meetings recently, I believe I have discovered a “recipe for success”.

Go your own way: I had an inspiring encounter with an antique dealer and restorer in Zurich. He told me about the beginnings of his profession; all his colleagues started to study and he has decided to learn craftsmanship. He was often mocked for choosing this path. Today, he says with pride: "Yes, only very few people can do what I do today. Nowadays, I would say that I am successful." The gentleman I'm talking about is now over 70 years old. He says he is doing very well, especially when he is working, because he does not notice the passing of time or the little pains that come with age.

Experience is crucial: recently, at a dinner with artists who can be considered as “successful”, I was wondering whether they could see a “recipe” for their success in retrospect. Independently of each other, both artists mentioned their decision to go and work abroad as one reason. Without working in Chicago or Berlin, the recognition of their work would not be at the level where it is today. The experience and change of perspective gained in a foreign country have widened the perspective of their work and strengthened certain character traits in them. Indeed, strong characters have something magically attractive.

What inspired me? Success is something individual: there is no algorithm for success. It seems much more important to follow the intuitive and personal path, no matter whether it leads to craftsmanship or to distant cities. Our good life is something only we can define for ourselves.

Due to the current situation regarding COVID-19 I had to postpone the Zero Senses Retreat.

I am happy that the wonderful Hotel Paradies as well as each of the fantastic speakers understood due to the given situation we had to postpone the Retreat. The new date for autumn will be announced soon and one more thing: We make two extra seats available. Interested? Sign up here.

And for those of you, who are curious, you can find the program here:

We have to know the source to understand its consequences. The question of how leaders create relevance in this new era was the main topic of my last Circle of Inspiration (click for details). Together with an exclusive group of guests, we discussed the art of context creation during a dinner in the midst of the inspiring environment of the Hauser & Wirth Gallery in St.Moritz. By using the current exhibition as an example, the gallery’s director, Stefano Rabolli Pansera, captivated us with his stories and motivated a stimulating table discussion amongst the guests. It was clear: the more we understand the source, the better we are able to create a context. Why is that necessary? To create relevance and thus meaning in times when everything is available.

So much for this issue of the Letter of Inspiration - thank you for following my impulses! Feel free to share this letter with colleagues and friends.

I realized that reducing sleep, optimizing my body through morning sports, having a healthy diet, and improving my memory through learning foreign languages do not make me a “better machine”. However, this banal realization raises the question: what does it mean to be a human? Recently had a fruitful discussion with a Swiss philosopher about the difference between humans and machines. He summarized his opinion in a wonderful image:

A loaf of bread:

When I send a machine to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread, I will get a loaf of bread. When I send a child to the bakery, who smells the freshly baked chocolate croissants, there is a good chance that I will not get any bread...

Situational, impulsive, and individual actions distinguish us from the accuracy and perfection, in which machines are multiple times better than we are. In a debate with Elon Musk about artificial intelligence, Jack Ma (the founder of Alibaba) said: "Chess is meant to be a game between humans and humans”. He doesn't care if a machine defeats him, nor does he try to run faster than a car. According to Ma, the time we gain from the creation of “utility items” shall be invested in self-development.

Serendipity is a surprising and positive discovery made by people when they originally wanted to buy a loaf of bread. One of the most famous examples is probably the accidental discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Such a phenomenon would never occur in a world optimized by machines, where individual thinking would not exist. But isn’t exactly our open mind is what differentiates humans, the ‘compassionate machines’, from machines? And if so: is it possible to cultivate this basic human strength after years of trying to become a better machine?

Leaders need time and space in which such accidental discoveries can happen. The Zero Senses Retreat for “Cultivating Presence” will take place in October 2021 for a limited number of leaders. In a 2 1⁄2 days program, I curated five key impulses with a focus on sensory experiences of the art and culinary scene. Focusing on the senses creates a different level of awareness. Impulses include profound conversations with international thought leaders, who will speak about economics, philosophy and research. The impact is intensified by the venue itself: located in the middle of the Swiss Alps, Hotel Paradies offers a unique atmosphere. The retreat guarantees time and space for reflection.

I read the autobiography of Marina Abramovic, who is a very inspiring character for me, and is most likely one of the most successful performance artists of our time.

This woman, who used her body as canvas and took her personal experiences (family, partners, friends) as 'color' and inspiration to express herself across a variety of settings, concluded after nearly 500 pages that during all these years she was actually looking for attention and affection, especially from her partners. Why?

Abramovic grew up in a very well-situated family under the communist regime in Belgrade, in former Yugoslavia. She never experienced the love and attention she always longed for, especially not from her mother. The memory of emotional coldness endured at a young age drives her to perform even more passionately. This is why she has chosen the title “Walk Through Walls” for her autobiography.

I do not want to venture into the depth of psychology, but I find it interesting how profoundly our formative years influence our adult behavior (which is still the case for Abramovic, who is now 72). TrendsActive, a trend agency from Holland, observes formative years on a meta-level. Based on the environmental influences (such as crises, financial instability or economic development) between the ages of 4 and 14, the TrendsActive team identifies behavioral patterns, and provides companies with advice on how to approach different generations.

It is fascinating to observe the influence of the formative years in the biography of a well-known artist, as well as a business approach to better understand target groups.

Thank you for staying with me. I hope you received fruitful impulses. Please feel free to share the content with colleagues and friends.