What personal habit or behavior helped you accelerate your personal growth?
I once received a quirky compliment from an Investor: “Achim, you are not afraid to ask questions that make you look stupid." I lean into that a lot now because many things that people take for granted don’t have a reason to be the way they are.
What was a pivotal moment where your business made a big leap forward?
In year 5, we hired our first CRO (Chief Revenue Officer) from the US. The mindset shift from having an American leader is incredible. He dared us and our Board of Investors to think bigger. He boosted our confidence and reminded us to be proud of who we are.
What book do you recommend the most?
"The Almanac of Naval Ravikant" -- It’s dense, deep and unpretentious. I find these are rare qualities in business books.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
Leadership is far less glamorous than people think. In the end it is a service to your team. They are thestars of the show, you’re just cheering them on.
What do you do to maintain balance in your life?
I love woodworking and power tools. Nothing like a screaming table saw to pull your attention away from work and into the moment.
What’s your favorite ritual or meeting in your team?
Once a year we gather the whole team for our three-day off-site event. I love working remotely for efficiency, but to fuel up on social energy, this is the meeting I need.
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Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
Your own time and energy is the most precious resource you have. Use it wisely, and learn what gives you energy, and what saps you. In the early years of building something, you need to throw a huge amount of time at it - and do many things you perhaps don’t like doing. But as you scale, it’s vital to take a step back and build a business that can grow rapidly beyond the time you put into it.
What shift in perspective has allowed you to see things differently?
It may sound simple, but realizing and truly understanding that we are all different and driven by different things has made a significant impact on me. This insight has changed the way I approach relationships and leadership.
What’s a guiding principle that informs the way you build and run your business?
One of our core values at Cozero is radical candor. It is the idea that the willingness to repeatedly enter uncomfortable situations to speak the truth benefits everyone in the long run. We believe that in order to grow and improve as an organization, we need to create an environment where our team is not afraid to challenge processes and decisions. Making this a core value guides us in difficult situations when it’s not clear which road to take.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
I'm happy I chose a highly regulated market, even though it was tough. It taught me a lot about patience, attention to detail, and the importance of doing things right. These lessons have made me better at what I do.