What immediately goes through your mind when you hear this quote?
I have been building OZG since 2007. The unfolding of the organisation is a story of trial and error. I made mistakes and learned by trial and error how important it is to surround yourself with the right people. They have the same philosophy as I do: not everything has to be about money in order to achieve great things in this world.
What story comes to mind when you read this quote?
I had an IT company. I quit in 2007 to dedicate myself to a project with more social meaning. And to search for who I am, where I come from and where I am going.
After a three-year run-in period, I decided to focus on planting forests in the Sub-Sahara. Since I am not an engineer and did not know enough about project management, I had to be guided by some people with knowledge of these things.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as they appear. Even a non-profit organisation with a clear non-profit objective has to deal with opportunism and a pure money first story. Just what I wanted to avoid ... Such business models have repeatedly shown that they do not work in the long term. Putting money first goes against what is fair. It continues to lead to the exploitation of people and nature.
The plot hit me so hard that I threatened to burn out. Friends pulled me to the surface. Now, three years later, our organisation is stronger than ever.
Do you agree with this statement by Nietzsche?
I completely agree with this statement by Nietzsche. I refused to die, I got back up and became stronger.
What makes you stronger?
My openness and honesty, because they create connection. I often make myself vulnerable. That vulnerability invites others to behave openly and honestly as well. Transparent discussions, without masks and without bullshit, with competent and experienced people who wanted to take on and shape the project again. That is the asset that still drives us today.
Who or what inspires you?
The way in which some entrepreneurs do social business by really sharing, that inspires me enormously. I also often look with admiration at people who have everything but still remain simple. They are my greatest inspiration.
What quote would you like to see analysed in Dr Quote in the future?
"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" from Voltaire.
I found it striking how during the COVID-19 crisis all kinds of measures were blindly followed, even though they made no sense. Like having to walk in the open air with a mouth mask on, or having to wear such a thing on a bicycle.
These are absurdities that I did not understand, while many people carried them out without grumbling. Then I understood that people can be made to do anything. For me it was a wake-up call. A realisation that we must remain attentive to our democratic values and achievements. I could never have imagined that one day I would have to watch over these things and that the obvious things of today might suddenly no longer be obvious tomorrow ...
