All successful entrepreneurs are driven.We have our own compass. We operate at our own speed. We aim for Mars instead of the Moon. Many of us know exactly the inner driver, which keeps us pushing on. It comes in many guises:A lack of a sense of security.A need for recognition. A sense of obligation. Our inner driver is always…
I recently read the book “Cradle-to-Cradle,” which is an international bestseller. Brad Pitt was quoted as “one of the three most important books I have read”. Michael Braungart takes a committed stand against the ethics of renunciation in the German sustainability movement. Against the existing paradigm of eco-efficiency (“fewer pollutants, fewer resources, fewer people”), he…
Finally getting to talk to people again. Discussing ideas, market developments, the underlying trends, barriers to entry, business areas worth disrupting and all these things just plain fun for me. I will get bored eventually as I prefer to do things instead of talking about doing things, but for the moment I enjoy the conversation….
Just received a nasty comment (anonymous) about unnecessary air travel to conferences. This exactly the point. I have not yet been to great conferences like reboot, SIME, leWeb, Picnic. But the few successful conferences I have attended just demonstrate the point that you can not replicate the experience via video conferencing. In fact, I need…
Even the smallest regional commuter planes now come as jet. I recently had the pleasure to fly with a Dash 8 Q300. Did you know that the fuel consumption per passenger kilometer is considerably lower than on a comparable jet plane? Also, as these planes cruise at a lower altitude, I assume that the additional…
I just arrived in Greece for a conference. There is a saying that all religions are based on guilt, just with different holidays. Maybe this whole CO2 discussion is a new religion. The more you think about it, the more guilty you feel. And while I am very serious about sustainability, trying to reduce my…
If you spend a lot talking to people from other countries, you discover how odd certain things are in your own country. Statistics always show that fewer Germans live in their own home, as in comparable nations. However, many visitors are amazed by the number of shiny new cars in front of rental appartment buildings….
On the right hand of this picture you see Germany’s leading brand on eco friendly household cleaners with biodegradeable ingredients. On the left hand, you see a very non-eco friendly cleaner, which has been packaged in a green bottle. Found this in our toilet. Setback.
Although I am part of the web 2.0 startup circus, I have never really come across a discussion on the ethical implications of business. In Germany, there has been B.A.U.M (German Environmental Management Association) for a long time, but not sure where this has made an impact on startups. Of course, in a startup, you…
