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Tag: setup

  • 2025 in review: A roller coaster of endings, new starts and learning

    2025 in review: A roller coaster of endings, new starts and learning

    As I reflect on the 2025 year in review, one word comes to mind: contrast.

    As usual, this year wasn’t linear.
    It didn’t unfold step by step.

    It felt more like a roller coaster.

    Moments of clarity followed by uncertainty.
    Endings overlapping with beginnings.
    Learning happening mostly while moving.

    It wasn’t chaotic.
    But it also wasn’t smooth.

    And in hindsight, that’s probably what made it such a formative year.

    Closing one chapter

    One of the defining moments of 2025 was bringing VRdirect to an end.

    Even though it was the right decision, it carried more emotional weight than I had expected. Ending something you’ve helped build isn’t just a strategic step. It’s a process of letting go, of responsibility, identity, routines, and momentum.

    What surprised me most wasn’t the operational side.

    It was the finality.

    Once a chapter really closes, it does so quietly. And that silence takes some getting used to.

    That alone would have been enough for one year.

    Starting another faster than planned

    Almost simultaneously, Linelia started to take shape.

    Not as a carefully staged next step, but because opportunities appeared and I decided to move. What was initially meant to develop gradually turned into a running business much faster than anticipated.

    There was no long pause between chapters.

    No comfortable in-between phase.

    No time to fully reflect before acting.

    Instead, I found myself closing one door while already stepping through the next.

    Looking back, this overlap shaped much of how 2025 felt: intense, dynamic, and sometimes uncomfortable – but also very real.

    A year without a playbook

    What stood out to me in 2025 was how often I had to make decisions without a clear reference point.

    Not because I was careless or unprepared, but because there simply was no proven path to follow. Endings and beginnings overlapped. Some questions didn’t have immediate answers. And timing wasn’t always something I could fully influence.

    What surprised me most wasn’t the uncertainty itself, but how quickly it became normal.

    Over time, I learned to distinguish between not knowing yet and not knowing at all. And that difference matters. The first creates space for learning. The second rarely exists anyway.

    At the same time, a few things helped more than I had expected.

    Staying proactive, even when nothing felt urgent.

    Keeping close contact with people I trust.

    Allowing myself to rely on simple routines when weeks got intense.

    And maybe most importantly: noticing that many of the things that matter to me didn’t change at all.

    Curiosity. Honest collaboration. Depth over speed. The belief that clarity beats politics.

    There was no perfect playbook for this year.

    But learning while moving, adjusting along the way, and staying open to feedback turned out to be enough.

    Full of gratitude

    But this year wouldn’t have worked without people around me.

    First and foremost, my wife and my family for patience, trust, and grounding me when thoughts and work started to overlap too much. Having that stability in the background made more of a difference than I probably say out loud.

    Friends who listened, asked the right questions, or simply helped me switch off when needed. Special thanks to Sprittwoch. 😉

    My network buddies and former colleagues, who reached out, shared perspectives, opened doors, or just checked in without any agenda. Those small moments of connection mattered more than they might have realized.

    And everyone I had the chance to work with throughout the year for openness, trust, and honest collaboration.

    What I’m carrying into 2026

    I’m not closing 2025 with big resolutions or ambitious plans written in stone. But as you might know by now, a bit of process and structure still helps me a lot:

    So, I’m carrying a few principles with me into the next year:

    • Staying proactive without becoming hectic.
    • Keeping routines light but consistent.
    • Investing in relationships before I need them.
    • Being visible without losing authenticity.
    • Accepting uncertainty as part of the process.
    • Taking time off for me to do sports and enjoy hobbies.

    2025 was intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but deeply formative.

    A year of letting go, starting over, and slowly growing into founder life. Not as an idea, but as something lived day by day.

    With that, this year can stand as it is.

    I’m grateful for what was, curious about what’s next, and ready to open the next chapter in 2026.

    And of course, I’d love to stay in touch in 2026.

    If you’d like to exchange ideas, reflect together, or explore potential collaboration, feel free to reach out via my contact page or connect with me on LinkedIn.

    Until then, have a lovely holiday season and a great start to the new year.

  • Proactive or extinct? A founder’s perspective

    Proactive or extinct? A founder’s perspective

    I recently came across this image I took of a fossil at the Google campus years ago and thought it’s the perfect match for this post.

    A quiet reminder that in fast-moving environments – whether tech, corporate, or founder life – staying proactive as a founder isn’t just helpful, it’s what keeps you evolving.

    And even though I’ve always considered myself someone who thinks ahead, I recently had another moment that reminded me how different proactivity becomes once you run your own business.

    Being proactive isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a core skill.

    You’re constantly operating in two timelines:
    The one you’re working in today, and the one you need to shape for tomorrow.

    Nothing dramatic happened.
    Nothing stressful.
    Just a realization that this skill – thinking ahead, preparing options, keeping momentum – matters more than ever.

    A familiar skill … used in a new way

    I was lucky to learn proactive thinking early in my career, surrounded by strong managers and mentors, especially during my time at dentsu, L’Oréal and later EnBW.

    They taught me to:

    • Anticipate instead of react
    • Look beyond the quarter
    • Prepare before it becomes urgent
    • Create momentum intentionally

    Those lessons shaped how I work to this day.

    But as a founder, this skill shifts.
    It stops being an advantage and becomes something else:

    Proactivity becomes stability.
    Proactivity becomes strategy.
    Proactivity becomes calm.

    It’s not about being busy, it’s about staying ready.

    Why proactivity matters so much in founder life

    1. Opportunities grow slowly, then suddenly

    A good conversation today might turn into something months later. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later, but rarely instantly.

    2. Trust builds before the project does

    Especially in consulting and interim roles. People work with people they trust, not just CVs.

    3. Momentum replaces structure

    You don’t inherit processes or planning cycles. You create your own rhythm and protecting that rhythm matters.

    4. Proactivity reduces uncertainty

    The more you explore early, the less you stress later.

    None of this feels urgent.
    All of it feels grounding.

    What tends to surprise people in large organizations…

    When I meet friends and former colleagues from corporate environments, they often expect founder life to be more “free-flowing”, “spontaneous” but most of all “super uncertain”

    But what surprises them most is:

    • Uncertainty is normal, not a signal something’s wrong
    • You stay in conversation even when you’re fully committed
    • Opportunities are relationship-driven, only partly process-driven
    • Planning early creates calm, it’s not about fear
    • You design your structure instead of inheriting one

    The system is simply different, more fluid, more personal, and more dependent on trust and timing. That’s what “proactive as a founder” really means.

    How I try to stay proactive (still evolving)

    I’m still early in my founder journey, so my approach is simple and very human.

    1. Staying connected with interim recruiters

    Players like Hays, Amadeus Fire and others are important sparring partners. It helps to know each other well before there’s an opportunity.

    2. Investing in relationships consistently

    Reaching out to my network regularly, not because I need something, but because relationships matter long before you activate them.

    3. Keeping my network warm throughout the year

    A short message, a voice note, a spontaneous coffee.

    4. Staying visible in a way that feels authentic

    Through writing, reflection, and sharing perspectives, not promotion.

    Proactivity doesn’t need to feel loud or demanding.
    It can feel light.

    Micro-Practices that make proactivity feel easy

    Here are a few things that help me keep momentum without turning it into a task list:

    10 minutes each week to review my conversations

    Who did I talk to?
    Whom would I like to reconnect with?

    Capture potential opportunities instantly

    A name mentioned in a meeting.
    A conversation that sparked something.
    Write it down, future you will thank you.

    One intentional conversation per week

    Not sales.
    Just connection.

    A monthly self-check on workload, energy, and direction

    It helps me understand my own cycles.
    Small habits create clarity.
    And clarity creates calm.

    Proactivity creates space

    For me, being proactive as a founder is not about being busy and not about predicting the future.

    It’s about creating space…

    … space to focus on work,

    … space to build relationships,

    … space to enjoy the present without worrying about the next step.

    Even though I’m still early in my founder journey, I see how powerful this mindset is. And how much of it comes from the things I learned long before starting my own business.

    And if your 2026 planning is already starting (proactivity club, welcome!)… I’m always happy to talk. 😉

    More about my work: Linelia’s services

    For anything else, just drop me a note via my contact page or connect with me on  LinkedIn. Always up for a chat.

  • Visibility without cringe? Still working on it.

    Visibility without cringe? Still working on it.

    Learning to show up publicly as a founder is surprisingly challenging.

    Not because I’m shy, quite the opposite. I genuinely enjoy being on stage, connecting with people, moderating discussions, and exchanging ideas. That part has always energized me.

    But talking about myself?

    Writing about how I work?

    Sharing insights publicly?

    That’s where things quickly move into the territory of visibility without cringe … a space I still haven’t fully mastered.

    These days, a few people told me they enjoy reading my articles. Real people, not just the LinkedIn algorithm.

    That feedback made me pause and reflect on why visibility still feels odd sometimes and why it’s becoming a skill I need to embrace.

    Why good work alone doesn’t create visibility

    Inside large organizations, great work usually finds its way: leadership updates, cross-functional meetings, stakeholder presentations, internal communication (and sometimes political play) help make your work seen.

    As a founder, that entire system more or less disappears.

    Good work only speaks for itself when people actually see it.

    And that’s where the challenge begins:

    How to build visibility without cringe, without becoming overly polished or overly promotional.

    Visibility matters because it builds trust long before someone reaches out.

    It connects dots you don’t even know you’re drawing.

    Mini-Hack:
    If you can, talk about a learning instead of an achievement. It makes visibility feel more natural and less like self-promotion.

    Personal visibility still feels a little strange

    I’m not a quiet person.

    But shifting the communication toward myself still feels unfamiliar.

    For many years, the “sale” wasn’t me, it was the product, the team, the brand, the strategy.

    Now, clients buy my judgment, my approach, my experience.

    That shift requires a level of personal visibility I’m still getting used to. What surprises me is this:

    Visibility isn’t difficult because I’m uncomfortable speaking. It’s difficult because it’s personal.

    And personal always brings a bit of vulnerability, even if you’re used to being on stage.

    The nice surprise: Feedback actually helps

    When someone tells you they enjoy your content, your articles, or your reflections, it suddenly feels less awkward.

    A few people said exactly this these days and it meant more than expected to me.

    Visibility without cringe seems to become easier when you remember there are people on the other side. People who find value, resonance, or simply a smile in what you share.

    Micro-Practice:
    Before publishing, ask yourself: “Would this help just one other person?” If yes, it’s worth posting.

    Why I’m trying to be visible anyway

    The reason is simple and strategic:

    Opportunities grow out of connection, not invisibility.

    People need to understand how you think, what you stand for, how you approach challenges, and what kind of problems you solve. And it also helps me to understand and sharpen exactly this as well.

    Visibility helps people recognize fit long before the first call.

    It’s not about shouting. It’s about being present.

    Fortunately, “visibility without cringe” seems to be possible when it’s built on value, not vanity.

    What I’m Trying to Practice (Even If It Doesn’t Always Work)

    To make visibility feel more natural, I’m experimenting with tiny habits. Not to become a content creator, but to stay present in a way that feels authentic.

    Here’s what I’m trying:

    • Sharing learnings, not wins
    • Writing thoughts as they come, not polishing endlessly
    • Publishing weekly (when life allows… last week it didn’t)
    • Showing small behind-the-scenes moments
    • Connecting instead of promoting

    And yes, sometimes this fails completely.

    Last week was exactly like this: three days in Munich, remote meetings between trains and dinners, and a weekend fully dedicated to family time and my new espresso machine.

    Zero writing.

    Zero “visibility.”

    Lots of life.

    Mini-Hack:
    Capture ideas when they show up. In Notes, voice memos, or screenshots. Most of my posts start as a single sentence written in a rush or a super quick voice memo, recorded while running.

    I Also Need to Get Better at… Taking Photos

    Another unexpected challenge in this “visibility without cringe” journey:

    Finding fitting photos for my articles.

    I’m not naturally someone who takes selfies, documents every moment, or snaps pictures in meetings.

    But for storytelling – and especially for LinkedIn – images matter.

    It’s a skill I’ll need to train:

    Taking photos that feel real, unobtrusive, and still reflect what I want to say.

    Because the right photo makes an article more human.

    The wrong one makes it… well, cringe. Some you can see on my LinkedIn or even here in the blog.

    So yes, another founder skill to learn.

    Add it to the list.

    Visibility as a Founder Skill

    Being visible isn’t about volume or perfection.

    It’s about clarity, intention, and connection.

    For founders, visibility helps:

    • Build trust
    • Create opportunities
    • Show how you think
    • Let people understand you more easily
    • Bring your network closer
    • and yes of course, support your business

    I’m hopefully getting better at it.

    Slowly.

    One article, one post, one flat white at a time.

    If you’re interested in how I help organizations navigate their own transformations, you can find an overview of my work here: Linelia’s services.

    And as always, I’m happy to connect.

    Whether you’d like to exchange ideas or explore how we might collaborate, just drop me a note via my contact page or connect with me directly on LinkedIn.

  • The first 150 days: How I built the foundation for my own company

    The first 150 days: How I built the foundation for my own company

    I want to take you with me on my journey and this time, it’s about the very first 150 days of running my own business. Not a highlight reel, but a realistic look at what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently.

    After leaving VRdirect, I couldn’t imagine going back into corporate life, at least not for now. I was ready to keep more autonomy, but I didn’t have a multi-year plan or a polished business concept sitting in a drawer. It just happened, faster than expected.

    When I founded Linelia in late 2023, the original idea was simple: use it as an investment vehicle to hold my shares in VRdirect. That’s why I chose a “UG – Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt)“: minimal setup, low capital, quick execution.

    But then in early summer 2025 opportunities came up sooner than I thought. Within weeks, projects appeared, and suddenly Linelia wasn’t just an investment entity, it became my consultancy.

    That’s how it started: a mix of choice, timing, and the clear realization that I wasn’t done building things, just doing it differently.

    From idea to reality: The administrative foundation

    The first step in June 2025 was turning Linelia from an idea into an operational company. Setting up a UG was fast and lean, but looking back, I’d probably go with a GmbH today.

    Not because the UG didn’t work, it’s perfectly fine for small businesses, but in Germany, GmbH simply carries more weight. It signals maturity and stability, especially in B2B contexts. Perception matters here, and “GmbH” on an invoice still creates a slightly different first impression.

    But in general I focused early on getting the fundamentals right:

    • Finding a reliable tax advisor and setting up digital tax tools for seamless coordination.
    • Opening a business bank account and creating clear routines for invoices and cash flow tracking.
    • Keeping admin minimal but consistent from day one.

    Mini-Hack: Don’t aim for a perfect structure, aim for a functional one that you can scale later.

    Finding clients: Start with trust, then build reach

    Some of my first clients came from my existing network, people who already knew me and trusted my work. It seems like that’s often how it starts, and it’s the easiest bridge from corporate to self-employed life.

    But there’s another channel I highly recommend, especially for interim and consulting roles:

    Recruitment agencies specializing in executive and project-based placements like Hays, Amadeus Fire, Robert Half, or Michael Page. They know the market and can help you bridge the gap while you build your own pipeline.

    At the same time, I created profiles on platforms such as interim-x.com, bluesteps.com, and experteer.com.

    You don’t have to be everywhere, but you should be findable.

    Mini-Hack: Once a month, update your online profiles — a fresh picture, new keywords, or project details. Consistency compounds over time.

    Building the setup: The tools that keep everything running

    Structure brings calm and for me, that means a simple but solid initial digital setup. I rely on tools that integrate smoothly and reduce friction for now.

    Core Setup

    I always was and still am fully in the Apple hardware ecosystem. MacBook, iPhone, iPad, AirPods, synced across everything.

    On the software side, Microsoft 365 is my backbone: Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel. It’s reliable and flexible, and I can run almost everything through it.

    Automation & AI

    To make daily operations lighter, I use Microsoft Power Automate and n8n.io to sync calendars and automate recurring tasks.

    Apple Shortcuts help with quick actions like logging meetings or sending reminders.

    And of course, ChatGPT and Microsoft Co-Pilot help speed up everything from drafting proposals to planning schedules.

    Operations & Visibility

    I use Microsoft Bookings (instead of Calendly) to let clients and prospects book meetings directly in my calendar. Because it’s already included in my Microsoft subscription.

    DATEV connects me directly with my tax advisor, and Excel remains my universal tool for calculations and financial planning.

    My website runs on WordPress with Kubio, which lets me edit and expand it easily without agency support in this early phase.

    And of course, LinkedIn is my daily companion to stay visible, share updates, and connect with people.

    Mini-Hack: Only automate what you’ve done manually at least three times. It’s easy to overcomplicate too early.

    Financial foundations: Planning without overengineering

    One of the most important lessons: cash flow visibility is everything.

    I created a simple Excel sheet that tracks revenue, expenses, and liquidity. One view that shows how much money is coming in and how much needs to stay in the bank. You don’t need a 50-tab business plan. One tab is enough if you keep it updated.

    And here’s something I’d emphasize to anyone starting a business, especially in Germany:

    Always keep enough money aside for taxes.

    They’ll come with a time delay, sometimes a year or more after your first invoices, but they will come. Keep that buffer from day one.

    Mini-Hack: Check your liquidity at least twice a month. It’s not about panic, it’s about clarity.

    Systems Create Freedom

    People often imagine founders as free spirits. No bosses, no rules…but

    …the reality is: systems create freedom.

    I structure my days clearly:

    1. Fixed time blocks for client work, outreach, and administration,
    2. Specific windows for communication,
    3. And small automations that reduce mental load.

    These simple routines make space for creativity and flexibility without losing control.

    Small Emotional Lessons Along the Way

    Even though this post focuses on the practical side, there’s always an emotional layer.

    Around day 100, I realized: it’s working.

    A few projects were ongoing, client feedback was strong, and Linelia felt less like an experiment and more like a business.

    Momentum doesn’t shout, it seems to be building quietly. And that’s when I realized: the foundation is there.

    Build foundations that let you focus on the work

    The first 150 days weren’t about big visions or scaling plans, they were about structure and getting work done. Setting up a company, securing clients, building systems, and learning what works.

    If you build the basics right, you free your mind for the real work. Creating value, solving problems, and enjoying what you do.

    If you’re curious how I support organizations and founders in their own transformation journeys, you can find more about my work here: Linelia’s services

    And of course, I’m always happy to hear from you. If you’d like to exchange ideas or explore how we might work together, feel free to reach out via my contact page or directly connect via LinkedIn.