Vince Ebert: Infotainment at the Stuttgart Knowledge Forum

Interview Questions Vince Ebert

Mr. Ebert, you are actually a scientist. How did you find your way to the stage as a cabaret artist? Vince Ebert: Actually, I wanted to get closer to women (laughs). No, seriously. Humor and science have a lot in common. In both cases, you have to think outside the box, change perspective. Many great scientists also had a good sense of humor, albeit their own. Einstein is known for the quote: "The horizon of many people is a circle with radius zero. And they call that their point of view." In your bestseller "Think for Yourself! Otherwise, Others Will Do It for You," you discuss evolutionary processes in nature. Is our way of thinking the best, or are we thinking wrong? Vince Ebert: Our brain is a brilliant machine for making connections. We can do this better than any other living being on this planet. On the other hand, our brain also links things that have absolutely nothing to do with each other and then assigns meaning to these connections. But just because two events occur simultaneously, it does not mean that one is the cause of the other. I remember, during my studies, I clinked glasses with my astronomy professor at a semester party without looking him in the eye. And he said, "Haha, Mr. Ebert, now you will have 7 years of bad sex." And he was right... In your presentations, you explain the parallels between the economy and natural science. What do these two worlds have in common? Vince Ebert: The success principle of evolution! With trial and error, you essentially make your way up through mistakes. Just like in nature, in the market economy, everyone can experiment. Continuously seeking new solutions allows for better adaptation to external conditions. Because the future is unpredictable. And certainly not by experts. You probably know these famous quotes: "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." IBM, 1943. "Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" Warner Brothers, 1927. "Lolita and I will be together forever." Lothar Matthäus, 1998. You will be a top speaker at this year's Stuttgart Knowledge Forum on October 16, 2015. What can your audience expect? Vince Ebert: A good combination of humor and knowledge. Because it is known from neuroscience: a happy brain learns better. And even though I am a physicist, the focus of my presentation is on the market economy. After all, I was a management consultant for three years. And you may know: As a physicist, you understand as little about consulting as a business student - but in half the time...