burn out

Bist du bereit für deinen persönlichen Forrest-Gump-Test?

Joerg Kuehn · Jun 29, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Am 9. Juni 2013 hatte es mich erwischt: hohes Fieber zwang mich gleich mehrere Tage im Bett zu bleiben. Ich war völlig entkräftet und wundere mich ehrlich gesagt noch heute – angesichts meines Arbeitspensums und dem Druck, den ich mir selbst konstant auferlegte – dass dieser „Zusammenbruch“ nicht schon deutlich früher passiert war.

Ich hatte in dieser Periode meines Lebens einen anspruchsvollen „Tagesjob“; leitete die Supply-Chain der komplexen Geschäftslinie „Hautpflege“ von „Procter & Gamble“. Darüber hinaus absolvierte ich im Rahmen einer „Coaching-Ausbildung“ Online-Kurse, die nicht nur zu extremen Tageszeiten wie 5 Uhr morgens oder 11 Uhr abends stattfanden, sondern mir auch etwa 100 Praxis-Stunden abverlangten.

Das Ganze erinnerte an einen Jongleur im chinesischen Staatszirkus. Ein Dutzend Teller mussten immer wieder angeschoben werden, um nicht herabzustürzen. An Freizeit, Erholung und viel Schlaf war dabei nicht mehr zu denken. Irgendwann drückte mein Körper den Alarm-Knopf. Stopp!!!

Please don’t let the good life pass you by

Joerg Kuehn · Jun 29, 2022 · Leave a Comment

It was one of these days when everything seemed to go wrong.

I had helped a client prepare for an important meeting with one of their major customers. Just before the meeting, we realised there was a substantial flaw in the presentation. It was so bad the meeting had to be cancelled and moved to the next day. An embarrassing and tricky situation. I dropped everything, frantically trying to understand the issue in our calculations. It was highly complex, but, by all means, we had to have an answer by the evening. Stress! Pressure! Anxiety!

While I was scrambling for solutions, an email popped in. And it pushed me over the edge. I had planned a large personal event in June. Suddenly, the hotel provider “had to sadly cancel all 22 room-bookings due to a technical error.” All other hotels were full due to a major sporting event. This meant we had to cancel an event for which guests from all over the world had made travel plans. A complete disaster.

How to breakout of the drama-triangle?

Joerg Kuehn · Aug 25, 2021 · 6 Comments

Nearly 10 years ago, while I was still working at P&G, I faced my biggest professional crisis. It made me think and do the impossible. I called in sick, despite being perfectly well physically.

What had happened? I’d become caught in a drama triangle, complete with a persecutor, rescuer, and victim. More on all that in a moment, but first … back to the story.

What is done is finished – “Feierabend”

Joerg Kuehn · May 27, 2021 · Leave a Comment

My favourite Buddhist monk and comedian, Ajahn Brahm, once told the story of a fellow monk, who was overlooking the building of a new hall in his monastery in southern Thailand. The work progressed very well until the beginning of June. That’s when the rainy season sets in, usually lasting until October. During this time, the monks stop doing their regular work and spend more time in contemplative study and meditation. It’s often referred to as “Buddhist lent” or “rain-retreat.”

As the daily monsoon downpours began, the abbot ordered a stop to the work on the construction site and sent all the workers home.

It happened that during that rainy season some visitors came to the monastery and saw the unfinished building and the abbot sitting quietly in reflection. With no builders in sight, a visitor asked the monk when the construction of the hall would be finished. The abbot without any hesitation answered, “The Hall is Finished!”

How to respond to a deep personal crisis

Joerg Kuehn · May 25, 2020 · Leave a Comment

It was 10th November 2009. A few months ago, Robert Enke had been announced as the top goalkeeper candidate to lead the German team into the Football World Cup 2010.

That morning, Robert said goodbye to his wife and went to his daily training routine at the Hannover Football Club. By late afternoon, his wife Teresa became worried when Robert was not back. She rang him continuously but found his mobile switched off. At 5.15pm, Robert stood in front of a regional express train. Police confirmed the discovery of a suicide note but would not publicise its details.

Robert’s death came as a great shock to the nation and the entire international football community. The question remains – Why would such a successful footballer end his life at the top of his career?

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