Thomas Baschab, mental coach, trainer, keynote speaker, and author, has become known as a management trainer for top companies and as a mental coach for numerous elite athletes. In his seminars, he impressively conveys how one can achieve goals that were previously considered unattainable. Mr. Baschab, when was the point at which you decided that you wanted to make a career for yourself? Thomas Baschab: In earlier years, when I was still a young lad, I decided to become successful but it didn't happen. The reason for that was that I had the wrong approach. I realized that and drew the right conclusions: I found my mission, something I want to share with the world. I have a purpose, a destiny, and that's how I could become successful. The mission is not yet fulfilled, and I probably won't be able to fulfill it. However, I work on it anew every day. Who or what motivates you to keep going every day? Thomas Baschab: To this, I have a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche: "He who has a strong enough why can bear almost any how." That's exactly my approach. I have a very strong "why" that gives me immense inner stability and helps me get up every morning. What was your biggest failure? And how did you deal with it? Thomas Baschab: I can't say it like that – I have experienced many failures. In hindsight, the failures were the best. Setbacks in my life were building blocks for every development I went through and eventually the basis for success later on. Back then, I couldn't handle setbacks as I can today – today I see failures as messages and try to understand them. To understand what the problem is. This greatly helps in personal development and brings only advantages in the long run. Who is your greatest role model and why? Thomas Baschab: I don't have a single role model – there are many people in my life whom I admire: for example, a mother who raises five children and helps them grow into happy individuals. Also a janitor who joyfully does her job and does good for people with her work. These people are role models for me, not the manager who just extracts money and works only for that. Happiness and joy are paramount for me – mastering life and work with joy and passion means being a role model for me. What is the first step you take when facing a challenge? Thomas Baschab: Every challenge is an individual task within a why. It must have a deeper meaning, and the most important thing is to have trust – trust in oneself to master the challenge well. But also the primal trust that things will happen as they must. You could call it fate, but a fate that lies in your own hands. Even if something doesn't work out, there was a good reason why it had to happen that way. Why would you recommend your clients to participate in the Baltic Sea Congress? Thomas Baschab: Of course, I can only speak from my perspective, what I can offer to people. They can gather impulses on that day to better understand their entire life and put it in the right light.