LME 047 – My Personal Learnings From The Past 3 Weeks

Today I want to take you on a very personal journey through the past three weeks – three weeks packed with impressions, encounters, and entrepreneurial experiences.

I spent a week working in India, had a strategy workshop with my team in the Netherlands, hosted our biggest-ever mastermind weekend, and just this week, I was invited to the AppleTalks event in Berlin.

What made it even more remarkable: While I was constantly on the road, my team back home kept everything running smoothly and independently.

This episode isn’t about tools or frameworks – it’s about personal insights and reflections. Let’s dive in.

India: Global Relevance and Personal Confirmation

Let me start with my trip to India. How did that happen?

About 20 years ago, while working as a manager for the Schaeffler Group, I met an Indian engineer named Joby in Dubai. He was working for a local distributor at the time and wasn’t too happy there. I actually tried to recruit him for my service team – but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

Instead, Joby went on to build his own company, offering technical services and engineering solutions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Inspiring Entrepreneur Joby A.L.

We reconnected in 2019 at a networking event in Germany, and he invited me to Dubai to help him define his business vision and strategic goals. It was a successful project – but then the pandemic hit, and we lost touch for a while.

Business Vision Synergy

Earlier this year, he reached out again. His company now has over 200 employees across India and the Middle East, and he asked for my support in helping him build a structure that doesn’t rely on him being involved in everything – in short: working on his business, not in it.

This is exactly what I help small and medium-sized business owners do through my Leadership Intensive Mentoring Program here in Germany.

So, I boarded a plane to Kerala, India.

Pro tip:

If you ever plan to work in India – you’ll need a special business visa. You can apply for it online, which is convenient… unless, like me, you forget to print it.

At the airport, I almost couldn’t check in because I only had the digital version. Thankfully, I found someone who printed it for me – for 5 Euros.
Welcome to digital life in 2025, right? At least we no longer need fax machines.

Workshops and Keynote

In addition to the internal trainings I did for Joby and his team, I also had the chance to speak in front of a group of Indian entrepreneurs.
And to be honest, I was nervous.

I wasn’t sure if my thoughts on entrepreneurship and leadership would resonate in that context.
But it turned out – their challenges are incredibly similar to what I see here in Germany.

Most of them are stuck in the daily grind of their business and struggle to step out and lead strategically.

The discussions after my talk were engaging and insightful – and what followed was even more exciting: new opportunities. Not just with Joby, but with other entrepreneurs from India, Dubai, and potentially even Saudi Arabia.

And I must say: that made me incredibly happy.
I’ve been thinking for years about how to make my work more international – not just because of the business potential, but also because I simply enjoy traveling and the inspiration it brings.

What did I learn?

Entrepreneurial challenges are universal.
Trust, clarity, and responsibility – they’re relevant everywhere.

But more than anything, I was deeply impressed by the people I met.
Highly motivated, curious, and hungry to learn.

I saw startups in AI, restaurant platforms, even businesses supporting people with dementia.

The India I remembered from 20  years ago no longer exists. There’s so much movement and change.
And what stood out most wasn’t just the number of ideas – but the drive and vision behind them.

Many of these entrepreneurs are already backed by U.S. venture capital.
They’re not just dreamers – they’re doers. And they’re serious about scaling globally.

Let’s put that in perspective: There are 1.3 billion people in India.
Even if only a small percentage have that entrepreneurial mindset and energy, it’s clear: Global competition is rising.

Meanwhile, here in Germany, we’re discussing four-day workweeks, public service jobs with full pension security, inflation compensation, and maximum vacation days.
Let’s be honest: That mindset won’t be sustainable in the long run.

There are so many bright, driven people around the world who are ready to work hard, take risks, and build companies.
And we need more of that spirit here too – or we risk falling behind.

My Team: From Delegation to Ownership

One thing that gave me a lot of joy during my time in India: My business back home kept running – not just adequately, but really well.

Geropp Leadership Team

Alex in marketing, Ersin in sales and coaching, and Simone handling event management – they each took full ownership of their areas.

They didn’t wait for approvals. They made decisions. They led.

I’ve said it before, and this trip confirmed it once again:
I’m no longer needed in many day-to-day operations – and that’s exactly how it should be.

Because that gives me the freedom to work on what truly matters.

Mastermind Weekend: Real Connection Between Entrepreneurs

Back in Germany, we held our biggest mastermind weekend yet – with 24 entrepreneurs. And something about this group felt especially powerful.

Leadership Intensive-Mastermind Weekend

These weekends thrive on open exchange, peer dialogue, and respectful conversations – whether during the hot seats, the breaks, or over dinner.

One participant said something that stuck with me:

“No one walks into their CEO’s office and says, ‘You’re doing a great job.’ But in this room, that’s exactly what happens.”

That kind of honest, positive feedback is rare – and it creates a strong bond.

We also had two fantastic expert talks:
– Isabel García gave a humorous and insightful keynote on authentic communication.
– Benedikt Stentrup spoke about business succession – not just as a speaker, but also as one of the very first members of our Leadership Intensive Mentoring Program.

My takeaway:
When we create a safe, trusted space – true growth and transformation become possible.

AppleTalks Berlin: The Power of Real Encounters

AppleTalks in Berlin

The next day, I was invited to AppleTalks in Berlin – an event for podcasters and content creators.
We exchanged ideas about tech setups, discoverability, and the future of podcasting.

And again: What stood out most wasn’t the content – it was the connection.
The human interaction.

My takeaway:

Real insight doesn’t come from slides – it comes from people.

After years of online events and Zoom fatigue, it feels good to get back out there. Networking, traveling, being in the same room – it’s not a luxury. It’s essential.

So if there’s one thing I’d love for you to take from this episode, it’s this:

👉 Go out.
👉 Connect.
👉 Say yes to opportunities – and meet people where they are.

Because that’s where real growth happens – in business, in leadership, and in life.