Marius Kursawe and Robert Kötter: "Fail often and early"

The ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Academy spoke with Robert Kötter and Marius Kursawe about the challenges of the new world of work and the founding of their company "Work-Life-Romance". At the ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Symposium "My Life, My Job & Me" on 27.09.2018 in Essen, they are leading the workshop "Design Your Life - Create Your Job".

ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Academy: Why do you have the company? Work-Life-Romance? founded? What moved you to this?
Marius Kursawe: We founded Work-Life-Romance in 2012. At that time we were the first to talk about meaningful work, flexibility and values. The occasion was the large number of unsatisfied people we worked with - people who did not want to see work as suffering, understood that working time was also life time, and that the work-life balance was definitely not enough.

Robert Kötter: Exactly, that was noticeable not only in our private environment, but also with almost all customers and partners, with whom we ourselves had to do professionally. We both realized that our own vision of contented and fulfilling work was something that also interested many others.



As a career counselor, you accompany individuals on their way to job satisfaction. What makes a company an attractive employer for you?
Robert Kötter: In fact, we started with a focus on individuals back then. In our JobCamps we are very busy with it and also with our book "Design Your Life" we enable every reader and every reader access to our methods. However, the companies themselves have increasingly approached us in recent years.

Marius Kursawe: At the beginning it was said: "What can we do, so that our employees do not even have to come to you?" In the meantime, we support a very large number of companies - from middle-sized companies to international companies - in becoming a better employer. For us, that starts with really taking the people as people true and serious. Actually, we always start by asking people and developing appropriate answers.

Robert Kötter: We have already recognized a few universal principles (both laugh). Employees want to organize their work independently and on their own responsibility. They do not want to be bored or overwhelmed. Most importantly, most people value their work, both in terms of content and the quality of time spent at work and with others.

What has made you particularly successful in your job life?
Marius Kursawe: I had to reinvent myself several times. There were always points where I deliberately said "no" - and honestly, I've never looked back. Most of the people we meet say "yes" too often - to their parents' ideas, to an irresistible offer, to more responsibilities and duties. In addition, it was always the simple, essential questions: "How do I want to live?" "How do I want to work?" "With whom?"

Robert Kötter: I have tried a lot - very different professions from biodynamic horticulture to the Buddhist monastery. The abbot once asked me, "What are you really interested in? Where can you make a difference?"

Was there a phase in your (job) life when you made a change of direction? If yes, which?
Robert Kötter: Right after my studies I already knew that I wanted to do my own thing a) and b) to help people to be happier and happier.

Marius Kursawe: There were several points in my life where I quit. It has been very educational for me and it was only the last time I really realized what I can do, what I want and how I do it. We always say that you should become the creator of your own life. I experienced first-hand how difficult that is and what pitfalls are on the way.

Which impulses were particularly important to you?
Marius Kursawe: Both of us are very early fans of Design Thinking and have totally rediscovered our mindset of empathy, focus on people and co-creativity. We were also the first to implement this Silicon Valley method for coaching.

Robert Kötter: One of our principles, for example, is "Fail often and early" - we encourage people to try things out and see failure as a learning opportunity.

Marius Kursawe: It is important to us to implement this attitude wisely - who is dissatisfied in the job, should test before he or she, if the alternative is really as good as in the imagination. So instead of putting everything on one card and opening the vegan café, first of all rely on the knowledge of others and even try it out.

Robert Kötter: For both of us, the birth of our children and the challenge of being fathers at the same time were extremely important. We work part-time and extremely flexible - and we know how difficult that can be.

Were there phases of doubt or setbacks? What helped you a lot in those moments?
Marius Kursawe: When we realized that our work in companies is so in demand, we were proud at first. But when we realized that we could work in a different city every day of the week, we quickly pulled the ripcord. We want the time with our family as well as the entrepreneurial success. That's why we founded Twenty One Skills GmbH & Co. KG last year, which brings together a large network of experts and professionals in the key work issues and skills of the 21st century in companies.

Robert Kötter: Now our tasks are different - it is easier not to give each workshop itself and to have so many great people in the team.
Marius Kursawe: Since then we enjoy every workshop we give ourselves, all the more (both laugh again) - like the ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Academy Workshop!

What was the most encouraging sentence in your (job) life and why would you like to pass that on? // Is there a motto of yours?
Robert Kötter: One of our Motti is certainly: Just do it. This hangs as a neon sculpture in our office and has two essential aspects for us: do not wait too long, but get started!

Marius Kursawe: And make things easy - be it to introduce flexibility in a company or organize an event so that the participants experience it as simple and successful.

What awaits visitors to the ChroniquesDuVasteMonde Symposium in your workshop?
Robert Kötter: It will be a lot of fun ... we work very visually, with all senses and, above all, we use the wisdom of the group.

Marius Kursawe: There will be individual work as well as valuable exchange with the others in the workshop. And a best of our methods!



GedankenGut in Bad Bodenteich mit Robert Kötter und Marius Kursawe (March 2024).



Symposium, founding idea, work motivation