What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?
I once received a quirky compliment from an Investor: “Achim, you are not afraid to ask questions that make you look stupid." I lean into that a lot now because many things that people take for granted don’t have a reason to be the way they are.
What was a pivotal moment where your business made a big leap forward?
In year 5, we hired our first CRO (Chief Revenue Officer) from the US. The mindset shift from having an American leader is incredible. He dared us and our Board of Investors to think bigger. He boosted our confidence and reminded us to be proud of who we are.
What book do you recommend the most?
"The Almanac of Naval Ravikant" -- It’s dense, deep and unpretentious. I find these are rare qualities in business books.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
Leadership is far less glamorous than people think. In the end it is a service to your team. They are thestars of the show, you’re just cheering them on.
What do you do to maintain balance in your life?
I love woodworking and power tools. Nothing like a screaming table saw to pull your attention away from work and into the moment.
What’s your favorite ritual or meeting in your team?
Once a year we gather the whole team for our three-day off-site event. I love working remotely for efficiency, but to fuel up on social energy, this is the meeting I need.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What's a question you like asking — yourself or others?
I like asking, "What can I learn from this experience?" This question helps me reflect on challenges and successes, fostering continuous improvement and a mindset of growth and learning.
What’s an important guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
“Lead by ideas, not by hierarchy.” The “position” of a person has nothing to do with the ability to contribute great ideas to improve the company. You should always strive for a company culture where everybody can talk to everybody.
What shift in perspective has allowed you to see things differently?
Understanding that you cannot control the decisions other people make, you can only influence and inform them. Not every deal or decision will go your way and this mindset helps avoid self-loathing, anger, and depression.
What was a pivotal moment where your business made a big leap forward?
Understanding the 80/20 principle or even 64/4 and that it's a law of nature applicable everywhere. It's one of the biggest levers for doing more with less or in less time. (E.g. 20% of the streets in the world handle 80% of the traffic.)