Part 2: Living the life – 5 reasons why we Germans are so bad at it
Last week ended our analysis of how we Germans live life with the following question:
How “good” do you live your life?
If we question the people who live in Germany, then something is striking:
Live the life – 5 reasons why we Germans are so bad in it
1. way of thinking – or – “wise thinking”
The mindset of most people living in Germany is a disaster. Too much hesitation, too much fear, too many worries and, above all, too much complaining. And we’re talking about Germany, one of the richest countries in the world, where we (feel) lack nothing. Do you know how to cope with life in other countries? No, again: do you know? Not, can you possibly imagine that, but only maybe, even if you really have no real idea (because not experienced!)? By the way, the excuse “we live here and not in another country”, has long been for the ton. Because only through the digital networking, we notice that many things affect us, no matter how far away it is. Far away is also the USA, nevertheless there are (and also in other countries) a certain way of thinking, which is expedient in many things. This is also used in coaching, it is “how can we do it better?”. Instead of “What’s wrong and who can we blame.” Noticed the difference? The latter is the German way of thinking, in short: wrong thinking. The former is the mindset that is based on the potential of hope. A hope that does not only remain hope if, yes, if … a real action follows.
2. Real action
I was born and raised in Germany. So I’m allowed to say something about mentality, etc., I think. For more than 20 years I was in the so-called business on the go, whether at enterprise level (= group level) or SMEs, one thing I’ve almost always noticed: after incredibly great speeches, oh so fantastic Bussines Men, came often … nothing.
There is a lot of talk in this country, but little is done. Just to put it into perspective for the sake of fairness: as an original Italian – and also because I know what the “real thing” looks like in Italy – only so much: in Italy it does not look any different, “real action” is rare. Europeans seem to resemble that, although “real doing” is not always missed everywhere, no, that’s not the message. The statement is: As much as talking about “real doing”, that much is not done. You notice a discrepancy. An example is “our” startup scene. An incredible number of buzzwords are used because it sounds so “fancy”: Agile, Design Thinking, Fintech, the Internet of Things, and much more. Sounds great, right? But when you look at what exactly is being implemented and where we Europeans are compared to the US or China, then reality does not look so “fancy” anymore. Frank Thelen, German business angel and tech expert, says for himself that we are really “far behind” here. That’s right, if you have the courage to look closely, then you recognize it. All those fancy buzzwords are nonsense (yes, I know, one needs courage to say so, but this blog is also about guts). More real action, less artificial bubbles. You will already receive your recognition, do not worry. Speaking of how good is the German boss actually in praise? N / A? What would you say?
3. Wrong “bent”
People who have received little recognition or praise stand out. Provided, of course, that you realize that they are just noticed. Because some are not open minded … Therefore, here once and clear: no matter what position, what title, what status and what name the person has to you, if they throw buzzwords / technical terms only so around when it marks the Zampano ” “And especially stressed self-confidently occurs, then in the person probably something … Recognition. For every day of our lives we give and take something from our fellow human beings. Just like recognition, you can give it, but also take it. So it happens that even bosses rather “take” than give. That is completely wrong. Leadership means serving. If anyone sees it differently, there is the door.
This creates unnecessary pressure, because praise is replaced in this country with: pointing, dunning, exert pressure and criticize. But then I ask myself, where is the pleasure of creating? Where is – at all – joy? It is still there, sometimes they just have to find it again, because at some point we are only wrongly “bent”. Wrong bent in life. What do you notice? Ask your heart …
4. Lack of authenticity
N / A? What does your heart say? Everything Tutti? Let me guess. Could be better? Above all, it could be more genuine and noticeable. What should be more real, more noticeable? Well all of it! But above all your life. Even if we share our lives with family, friends and many more. Your life is and remains the most important. And we want to feel it, right? What else do we live for? But why hardly anyone listens to his inner, to his heart? An example? In professional life, we usually attach ourselves to a system. A system full of superficiality and little authenticity. And what happens? We assimilate ourselves. We move away from our inner self and become a non-authentic version of ourselves. Mostly we do not even notice it. And instead of giving our inner self what pleases us, we follow the “rules” of these systems, the systems of superficiality. By the way, just that is one of the reasons for the emergence of mental illness. And now look at Germany. Even if something goes “well” and dumps “coal”, that does not mean it’s a good way. Do you have the courage to leave the usual path? Do you have the courage to look for a good way? After your real journey?
5. Lack of courage
Freedom, appreciation and meaning are important to us. But we have not really here in Germany, certainly not everywhere. Because if you look at the many working people who are recognized by the “Boiled Frog Syndrome”, then there is only one question: how do you actually define freedom? Being ill treated, enduring incompetent leaders who cause you greater problems in your work, rather than supporting you, and increasing pressure that will make you the overtime world champion? Is that freedom? Oh yes, to the aforementioned world champion you will of course also without praise (lack of appreciation) and the sense, in the whole you do not actually see, but you dare not do something about it to change. Lack of courage is called that. There is even an internationally known term for it: “German fear”. Why is there this term?
Do it, even if you are afraid. Change something, even if you have never done it. Here’s a hint: Start by reflecting on the above 5 points. What do you feel about it? And only then the question, what do you think? So you steer direction “inner self”. Stay tuned and you’ll know by yourself what makes you more alive.
