Running! I believe common practise can never lead to maximum productivity, because there is no common business. Being productive as an entrepreneur means having unusual ideas, the confidence to realize them and the strength to deal with the consequences. A clear mind and a fit and healthy body help to…
One of our investors told me once, “Anything you need to do yourself suggests that you don’t have the right people.” So my focus is to empower my people and not optimize my personal output. Being available and approachable for my team is key. Daniel Kraft serves as the CEO…
Target the long term vision and then make it happen, the rest can and will be sorted out while on the way, but keep the same clear target all times. Nathan Zielke is founder and Managing Director of DreamCheaper.com, an innovative hotel price optimization service. It is dedicated to customers…
Iteration is key and you need to iterate fast. So when there’s a big idea, you just need to start somewhere and make improvements as you go along. But passion is the underlying difference. And a strong desire to continue learning. Thomas Holl is the co-founder and president of Babbel,…
Always monitor your financial outlook! Always talk to your employees and clients! Always have fun! Miriam Rupp, a true Berliner, found her calling in public relations for online startups right after university. It was 2007, a time when the concept of Web 2.0 was still in need of explanation to…
Help other people to succeed too! If that’s your business you are going to make it. I am a believer in helping others is the best way. Keno Hellmann is the general manager and founder of sticktricks.de – an online drum school for all age groups and levels from absolute…
Step away from your daily business and talk to your staff and the real people surrounding your business. Christian Plagemann is one of three founders and Managing Directors of the Classic Trader GmbH. The extremely classic car enthusiast is responsible for sales, customer support and cooperations at classic-trader.com . In…
[quote style=”boxed”]It’s important that you feel good when doing things. Watch out that you be faithful to yourself and never bend yourself![/quote] With a clear conscience alugha founder Bernd Korz can be called a Jack of all trades. Already during his education as master concrete worker and master mason as…
[quote style=”boxed”]Talk to everybody you meet about your vision.[/quote] Catharina van Delden is CEO and co-founder of innosabi, the leading German provider of Internet-based co-creation tools. In June 2010 innosabi launched unserAller.de, a social product development platform where consumers first discuss their own suggestions and then vote for the best…
Susanna Gebauer is one of the founders of exploreB2B, a social platform for business that focuses on writing articles, creating discussions and creating connections among users. She has lived in Berlin most of her life; she went to school in Berlin, studied mathematics and worked as a scientist for 5 years at…
[quote style=”boxed”]Traveling, reading, observing and asking questions is the start. The process of ideation can begin with a sketch, a spreadsheet or a graphical chart. I share my ideas with my product team, ask outsiders for comments and conduct qualitative research. The conceptualization period is formalized with feasibility studies, finance…