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„All you need is …!“

Joerg Kuehn · Jul 28, 2022 · Leave a Comment

On November 16, 2019, I sent an email to family and friends inviting them to celebrate the “half-time of my life” at the end of May, 2020. I could have also called it the “31^st anniversary of my 19^th birthday,” or simply let them know I would be crossing half the half-century mark. Many had signed up, and in February 2020, the organisation of the event was done.

But sadly, we all know what happened after that. The world went into a stand-still for 2 years. It was impossible to even think about having a party and celebrating with friends. By the end of 2021, I started another attempt at organising the event, and with the world opening, it became more and more likely it could happen in June 2022.

As the big day drew closer, I was quite anxious about how it would go.

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Nobody is an island

Joerg Kuehn · Mar 30, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Quite some time ago I came across the following song by the German songwriter Gerhard Schöne. It takes the form of a parable.

Many years ago, a man arrived at the gateway to heaven. As he had lived a good and humble life, he was pleased to stand outside the glowing gates of heaven, ready to ascend into the light and love of the afterlife. But there was a thought he struggled to let go of.

The gatekeeper, being quite observant, noticed his hesitation and asked the man: “What is bothering you, my friend? You seem troubled. Is there unfinished business?”

“Not really,” said the man. “Everything is sorted just fine down there, but I find myself wondering what hell is like. I never really believed in heaven or hell all my life, but now, I am really wondering what it looks like.”

“You may be surprised.” The Gatekeeper smiled: “As with all great truths, it’s not as simple as you may think, yet also, far simpler. Let me show you.”

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Make someone’s life a little brighter this festive season

Joerg Kuehn · Dec 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Abby is 10 years old. She is bravely fighting her very own personal battle against cancer. She’s being treated at Hasbro’s Children Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, about 50 miles away from Boston. Her family, as well as the doctors and nurses, are doing their best to help her through the difficult days of chemotherapy and other treatments.

Abby is strong, but there are moments when the pain and the challenging situation just overwhelm her. In such moments, she looks forward to 8.30pm, when all the children in the hospital get a special treat.

Several minutes before 8:30pm, they usher up to their windows with flashlights in their little hands, excitingly awaiting the start of the daily routine.

What are you most looking forward to?

Joerg Kuehn · Jan 26, 2021 · Leave a Comment

On the 5th of December 1914, Ernest Shackleton, together with 27 brave men, left South Georgia in the Southern Atlantic Ocean on a ship with the telling name Endurance.

Their goal was to become the first to cross the Antarctic continent by foot… a gruelling 1,800 miles (2,900 km) journey.

But weather conditions were terrible, and on the 19th of January 1915, the Endurance became frozen in an ice floe, turning Shackleton’s mission of exploration into a mission of desperate survival.

After drifting north in an icy lockdown for 9 long months, the violent movements associated with the breaking of the ice exerted extreme pressures on the ship.

On the 24th of October 1915, water began pouring in, leaving Shackleton no choice but to abandon the Endurance. For another 7 long and freezing months, with temperatures around minus 30 Degree Celsius, the crew camped on large ice floes, hoping to be carried to mainland.

But on the 9th of April, 1916, their ice floe broke into two and Shackleton ordered the crew into the three lifeboats in a desperate attempt to reach the nearest land. After five harrowing days at sea, the exhausted men landed at Elephant Island, a deserted place far from any shipping routes, giving the men a low chance of rescue by means of discovery. But for the first time in more than 16 months spent in brutal icy lockdowns, they had solid ground under their feet. It must have felt good.

Yet they we far from safe, and so one of the lifeboats was launched on the 24th of April 1916, with Shackleton and another 5 sailors in an attempt to reach the South Georgia whaling station…830 miles (1,330km) away!

The small life boat sailed through the stormy waters of the southern ocean in constant peril of capsizing.

5 remarkable teachings from the “Normal-One”

Joerg Kuehn · Aug 27, 2020 · Leave a Comment

On October 9^th 2015, during his first press conference as the newly appointed coach of Liverpool Football Club, Jürgen Kopp was asked how he would describe himself in the light of Jose Mourinho’s name for himself … the “Special One.”

After a brief thought, Jürgen answered, “I am coming from a small village in the black forest. Maybe you can call me “The Normal One.””

His humble roots and tremendous drive to win, together with his deep understanding of people and life, has made Jürgen Klopp one of the best football coaches in the world, bringing the Premier-League title back to Liverpool in July 2020 after 30 long years.

Sports can teach us a lot about business and life, so I thought why not describing 5 of Juergen’s magic lessons and show how we can apply them to actual leadership situations in our businesses and lives.

1. Never walk alone!

Chelsea FC was leading Manchester City 2-1 on 26^th of June 2020. There were only seconds left to play. If the score held, it would give the title to Liverpool. Juergen, who was watching the game with his Liverpool team, picked up the phone and called his mum.

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