Sabine Asgodom - Moving People, Shaping Economics

Ms. Asgodom, with your lecture "The Seven Keys to Serenity," you aim to inspire the visitors of the 10th Oberbayerisches Wissensforum on April 15th in Rosenheim. Can serenity be easily learned, or is it rather a matter of individual character or life experience? Serenity is a state of being that allows us to keep a calm mind even in difficult times, amidst hustle and bustle, uncertainty, crisis, and euphoria. Even when times are turbulent, it is worth training this state of being - and anyone who is open to it can do so, regardless of character or life experience. To achieve this, we need to pause and look around: Where am I, where are the others? Is the path I'm on still correct? Is the price I'm paying for my goals still worth it? It's not always easy, and perhaps it's not the right time for it, but I am convinced that each and every one of us can work on the state of being "serenity." The focus of the Wissensforum is on providing impulses for professional development, business, career, and motivation. Do success in the workplace and serenity go hand in hand? Definitely yes. It may seem contradictory at first glance, but by serenity, I don't mean "letting everything happen to you" or "just going with the flow." It is about the ability to reflect on oneself, take time for oneself, and pay attention to one's own demands and needs. Based on this, one can then define what their personal professional success could be and what steps are necessary for it. In your latest book "Your Longing Will Lead You," you show how people can achieve what they dream of. Was it your dream 30 years ago to become one of the most successful German management trainers and keynote speakers? What role does longing play in a fulfilled life? A dream of being a speaker? Definitely not. My dream 30 years ago was to lead a fulfilling and emancipated professional and family life, which I have achieved, with all the associated ups and downs. The ability to inspire people from the stage with my diverse experiences has emerged from my professional and journalistic activities. My longing was never associated with planning but always with mindfulness for opportunities. I often simply said "YES" when an opportunity arose. Women and careers - in Germany, even in 2016, it is not self-evident. What - or who - needs to change so that women can fulfill their career dreams? I still believe that companies need to be forced, both from the outside and from within, to enable more women to advance in their careers (as this benefits not only the internal climate but also the economic success). However, I now define success in the workplace or career, for both women and men, more broadly than a few years ago. Success in the workplace may still be the classic advancement to a leadership position, but it could also be the move towards self-employment. Or why not the successful balance between part-time position and family time. Essential for realizing career dreams are the conditions we all encounter, which must be politically shaped, as well as the courage and permission to face one's own dreams, allow them, and, if possible, follow one's longing against resistance. Do women simply need more courage? Or more encouragers? Both, and they complement each other. Women (and men) who change the conditions and break free from old patterns need a large amount of courage, determination, and perseverance. Ideally, they have encouragers by their side to support them (be it well-meaning managers, mentors, coaches, or friends). And then these women can in turn become encouragers for other women who also want to "succeed" in realizing their career goals. Many motivational speeches often only inspire for a short time. Ms. Asgodom, how do you manage to convince people of change processes in the long term? Could you give us a brief insight into your work as a coach? I focus on gaining insights. When I see in the faces of my listeners that a thought has "clicked," I know that they will take this insight home and keep it in mind. That's why I don't provide recipes, but rather many suggestions, examples, and aha moments. Being successful in the workplace - aren't we putting too much pressure on ourselves when we equate professional success with status symbols like a company car or own office? Indeed. I have the impression that the status symbols are currently changing. Moving away from the company car towards successfully managing leisure time (think of triathlons or crossing the Alps alongside a full-time job) as an example. It seems that each generation that is currently gaining influence on the economic structure of our society (and replacing the previous generation) puts itself under an unspoken but universally understood pressure regarding the presentation of success. Perhaps this is necessary? It certainly seems desired by many, as they eagerly participate and fuel the game. Until it becomes too much - and this is where I come in: I am not against playing the game, but I want to encourage everyone to become aware of their own limits and needs in time and to respect them, even at the risk of having to accept losses. Because a fulfilled life lies beyond total professional or familial sacrifice and the hollow pursuit of status. In this time of self-optimization, I consider the concept of self-acceptance to be at least as important. The Oberbayerische Wissensforum always informs its visitors about trends and future developments. What demands does the younger generation have on professional life? This generation is as diverse as any before it. On the one hand, there are more conservatives again, who think more about starting a family, engagement, and marriage. Alongside them, there is the Fun generation, commonly known as "Y," which wants to be inspired by their leaders. And the third visible group is extremely performance-oriented, wanting to prove themselves and the world what they are capable of. Ms. Asgodom, thank you for the conversation. Here is the profile of Sabine Asgodom: [http://www.esa100.de/redner/sabine-asgodom.html](http://www.esa100.de/redner/sabine-asgodom.html)