"Don't panic about the question of meaning"
What is a meaningful job for you?
For me, a meaningful job is when I can do something that is useful for others. My goal is to help other people succeed in life. The purpose of a job is not the same for everyone, and it can also change over the course of a person's life. Jobs can therefore fulfill different purposes and goals. For some, the focus is on performance, for others on creative development or caring.
Do you think that the question of meaningful work is a contemporary phenomenon or old wine in new bottles?
Before the pandemic, people in our country had a good chance of being employed. Unemployment was not high. Since the need to secure a livelihood is not the top priority, people are asking themselves the question of fulfilling deeper needs: Is the job one where I can develop and grow? This can mean performance and power, but also flexibility and adventure.
Many employees are currently being forced to reorient themselves. As a number of industries have collapsed during the pandemic, they are faced with the question of what contribution they want to make in the future. Artists and restaurateurs are particularly affected. But here, too, it is important to see this as an opportunity and not a burden.
What are people afraid of when they suddenly question the meaningfulness of their job? What are the underlying needs?
I believe that many people are stuck in jobs that are monotonous and do not correspond to their original dreams and ideas. Of course, it's not always easy to follow your dreams in life, but in order to achieve them, people have to confront themselves from time to time with whether they are in the place in life where they would like to be. If a career does not bring fulfillment, it can also be found in other areas of life, for example in the family, in hobbies, in helping neighbors or in politics.
But many people are too caught up in the hustle and bustle. They don't get around to asking themselves the question: Is my life actually set up properly? Added to this is the fear of realizing that they may have missed or neglected something in life. Those who do not actively address the question of meaning in life can suddenly be overcome by existential fears in bed or on the couch at night. People shouldn't ignore the question of meaning, but they shouldn't panic about it either. My advice is to think about how you can adjust your life and plan small steps to fulfill your needs. It doesn't always have to be a big break. So I'm not calling for radical cuts, we've seen enough of those in recent months.
Do you think that the coronavirus crisis and climate change will increase the desire for meaningful jobs and sustainable entrepreneurship?
Yes, for sure. The climate crisis has made people think and provoked protests from young people. There is a change in thinking. People no longer want to destroy the environment. You can see that each individual is trying to do their bit. But we can't do it alone. We need politicians to improve the framework conditions.
However, there are opinions that after the pandemic, everyone will behave as they did before. That they will get back on the plane and neglect the garden at home. Many people were constantly packing their suitcases because they spent one weekend in Malaga and the next in Dubrovnik. I believe that traveling will be a little more expensive and more difficult for longer periods of time in the future. I think that's a good thing, as the appreciation and mindfulness for it will return and people will pay more attention to quality. I also believe that city centers will change, as there will be less demand for office space. This will make it harder for small snack bars, cafés and restaurants, but it may also bring more affordable housing back into the city.
What do you think as a founder and businesswoman: What contribution should companies make in the future to contribute to a healthy economy and environment? What should change in the coming generations so that we do not continue to exploit our existing resources?
It is clear that if the world does not manage to make better use of existing resources, we will face existential hardship. But we are seeing a rethink among companies, which are now thinking more about production processes. But it has to be said that sectors such as the automotive industry have missed the opportunity to switch to other drive systems. Some are calling for rapid and more radical changes. But this creates the problem that the system collapses if the changes are too big. So yes, many companies have realized that they need to change course. At the same time, politicians need to create the right framework and offer new qualifications for employees. Otherwise, many people will end up being discarded with their products and services.
What advice would you give to others who no longer see any point in their daily work?
You have to think carefully first: What am I dissatisfied with? Meaning doesn't just come from doing something 'useful', but also from being valued and having a good working environment. If I would prefer to do something else, I have to see if there is a realistic way to get there. I mustn't make myself and my family miserable in the process. But I can't just complain or dream about another job, I have to take action. Otherwise I put too much pressure on those around me and become unhappy. That's the most important thing. Of course, you have to have the courage to take on new challenges.
Have you ever asked yourself the question: "Who am I and what contribution do I want to make in this world?"
Yes, again and again. I had different career stages from time to time. I had studied literature and sociology and didn't know where that would end up. As a young social scientist, I joined a model project called "childminders". This was a completely new and critical topic in 1974, as women in West Germany didn't want to give up their children so early. As a young woman, I found the topic very exciting. I had always found such topics where I had the luck, but also the courage, to support them professionally. But unfortunately, the topic of the environment only appeared on my horizon relatively late, by which time the world was already half burnt. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to realize that our civilization is so destructive. One big step forward is that we now have a generation that is much more mature than we were back then.
If you had one wish: What would be your dream job?
There are people who say to me: "You should have gone straight into politics or become a professor or teacher". That would certainly have been interesting too. But to be honest, being an entrepreneur and then becoming a state councillor is a well-rounded thing for me. These are definitely my dream jobs, even though I didn't know they existed beforehand. I would do it all again. I may not have saved the world, but I have made a difference so that other people can live their lives a little better.
