Volkmar Völzke's BLOG

I came across a funny story on the web the other day: In Berlin, a cycle path has been built to such an extent that it is almost impossible to follow the lane and avoid pedestrians (as you can see in the picture).

We find something like this funny because it doesn't fit into the perfectionism we see elsewhere, especially in Germany and Switzerland. Moreover, because it also excuses us for our own fallibilities.

However, beware: you probably have various such metaphorical cycle paths in your company (and also in yourself). Below you can find three positive ideas from this topic:

1. Risk culture. It is positive that one has even acted at all. Otherwise, such plans can often get mouldy for years in the offices of the decision makers because some guidelines stand in the way. This can reflect a risk culture in companies: When you do something, you make mistakes. We learn from it. That is a good thing!
2. First-hand experience. I have witnessed time and time again from those who come up with...

"I can't reach anybody in summer anyway!" 

"People are all on vacation anyway!" 

"In July and August, we can take things a little easier. In September we'll be taking off again!"

Do you sometimes hear such statements from your people (and from yourself)? Well, here comes another uncomfortable truth (you're used to that from me): the most prolific people never say such things. They step on the gas just when the others are relaxing.

"But you can't ignore the facts," I hear you say, "there really aren't many people in the office!"

Attention: You hear me, again and again, warning you about the myths that we constantly tell ourselves. Only this doesn't make them true!

Here are three ideas on how to deal with the so-called "summer slump":

1. Mindset. Many "facts" only emerge in our minds if we say them long enough. If we keep telling ourselves that we can't reach a customer in the summer, for example, that's how it's going to be. Believe it or not, you produce the results you...

Even if you're not watching the Soccer World Cup, you've probably heard that the German team - the previous World Champions - were eliminated in the early group stage.

From the perspective of success, it is not only the fact itself that is interesting, but also the “how” and “why”. The question behind it is quite simple: how can a team of world-class players play so poorly?

Before you look gloatingly or disappointedly at the German soccer team, ask yourself how you and your own team are doing.

Here are three thought-provoking ideas:

1. Mental work. True winning teams are distinguished above all by outstanding brainwork. It's less the skills of the team members than the winning spirit: Do I really believe in winning and am I willing to pay the price? Or do I want to play it safe? Where does your team stand in relation to these questions?
2. Development work. Once things go well, we are tempted to neglect our own development work. The same applies to teams. The...

The good news first: You are already outstanding! Moreover, you can be outstanding on almost any topic.

What do I mean by that? Simply: Everything you practice consistently long enough will get into your "blood" so much that you will be significantly better than average. So far so simple. Here's the thing:

Most people do not apply this simple wisdom consistently and are not even aware of their daily routines.

Here is the guiding principle: You will only excel in what you practice every day.

Examples: If you complain daily about the difficult circumstances, you will be top class in blaming. If you don't do sports, you'll be world-class at avoiding sports (yes, that's a habit too)! If you spend 80 percent of your time in meetings every day, you will be outstanding at attending meetings.

The only relevant question is: Are the areas in which you are top class the ones in which you want to be top class?

If not, change your daily routines. Three ideas:

1. Clarity. Write down for four weeks...

It is a remarkable fact that we stick to habits even when the original reason has long since disappeared.

Examples: The keys on your computer are arranged in the way they are ("QWERTY"), so the hammers of the mechanical typewriter get caught as little as possible when writing quickly (which is why frequently used letters are as far apart as possible). The "album" of a musician has about 12 classical pieces of music. This is because vinyl records simply couldn’t fit more than 20-30 minutes per side. 

There are dozens of such examples. How many of these do you have in your own team and company? Often, it doesn't bother any more. However, significant increases in success are almost always only achieved when these old braids are questioned and replaced by something fundamentally new. But first, you must be aware of them. 

Here are three areas in which "gold" typically lies when you question old habits:

1. Meetings, reports and documents. It's a classic recommendation: just...

"If everyone else drives at 300 km/h, you won't even notice the speed," said world-class motorcycle racer Tom Lüthi in a recent interview. The question was how to keep your bike under control at this speed and in tight corners.

I assume that you probably rarely race with a motorcycle at 300 km/h on the roads. However, there may be areas in your life where others think you are traveling very "fast" and don't even feel that way. 

My point is this: many companies and teams drive with such low ambitions in many areas, metaphorically, that they hardly move from their place. How would it be if instead you increased your “speed of ambition" so that you are incredibly "fast" for most, but at eye-level with the best of the best?

Three examples of increasing your "ambition speed" to 300 km/h:

1. Sales. Become world class in sales! Learn from those organizations that have proven to be extremely successful in their sales. This includes many aspects such as mindset, structure,...

In my workshops - especially when it comes to winning team culture - I always teach and train the importance of one's own beliefs for success and a fulfilled life. Both go hand in hand.

Again and again, I encounter the same beliefs that prevent people from succeeding and generally stand in their way of achieving something meaningful. Most people are not even aware of this… how could they be if they have never dealt with the subject matter before?

So here is my hit list of the seven most obstructive beliefs for success:

1. "I have no talent!" One of the worst statements ever. This gives us the justification that we cannot change anything.
2. "I'm employed!" What a word! No one is "employed". We are all the presidents of our own lives.
3. "I don't have time!" Of course, we all have the same 24 hours a day. "No time" always means "no priority."
4. "Others are to blame!" No, you yourself are responsible for all your decisions - even how you react to the stupidity of others.
5. "The successful...

Some days ago, I was skiing for the last time this season (in Tignes/France), in full sun and with a lot of snow. I myself am a passionate skier who "comes down" pretty much every slope – the black steep moguls - with a bit more fight and less elegance.

During one of the descents, an analogy with corporate culture came to my mind: it's just that most skiers master blue slopes (the easy ones) with great safety and routine. With red ones (for advanced skiers), you usually have to concentrate a little, and the black steep mogul slope (for expert skiers) sometimes demands everything from you.

Isn't it the same in companies? They have various people who easily descend the blue slopes day in and day out, while some people take the red one. But the challenge of a black runway comes to few people's minds: it's exhausting, pushes you to your limits, and carries a certain risk with it.

My thesis: most companies have far too many "blue slope drivers" and far too few who regularly tackle...

Let's keep it short today: Happy Easter! I hope you have a great time with your loved ones and do what you enjoy the most.

Here are three Easter ideas on how to make the remaining nine months of the year outstanding:

1. Have exactly three main goals for the next nine months. Who exactly are you and what exactly do you have achieved until the end of the year? Write this down and hang it on the wall in front of you (or even better: paint your ideal situation at the end of the year!)
2. Install exactly one new habit per month. Yes, right: If you apply ONE new success habit for 30 days every month, you become "automatically" better, 12 times per year!
3. Read at least one book or invest in a video or audio course per month. And this also applies if you are "employed": Don't wait for your boss to tell you! It's YOUR life. So invest in it!

To make faster progress with all this, take a look at my Success Academy Pro. Click here.

In principle, one would think that anyone who has once been successful should also remain successful. Although we are used to seeing people and companies again and again whose success suddenly turns into the opposite, we rarely understand the true reasons behind it. 

So what keeps us on track, even if we continue to increase our success, and what, on the other hand, throws us off track?

The question is highly relevant to everyone at all times. 

Here's the simple answer: we often forget to keep doing the things that originally made us successful. We believe that success happens "automatically" at some point. The opposite is also true. 

Success must be regained every day! 

Here are three examples in which we keep falling into the trap of success:

1. Relationships. Regardless of whether private or business, relationships must be maintained with the same dedication with which we initially built them. Companies would have more recurring customers, and more marriages...