Jansen 2 Unternehmensberatung
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Welcome All too Human
Mr. Jansen, your CV tells us about your extended stay in Spain during your youth and that you got your high school diploma from a German “Gymnasium” there. In which ways have you been able to profit from the experiences you made and which of them have been the most formative for you?
I would say what I gained most from my stay were the different ways people communicated and also to understand the mind-set of the Spanish, which is so different to our anglo-saxon mentality; and this all is due to the course history has taken, and so shaping, in effect, the present culture of the country and its people. Those who could easily adapt to the local customs of a different culture, I believe, are well equipped for other mentalities and cultures in the world. I am actually as proficient linguistically in Spanish as I am in English or German. What has struck me most is how the Spanish indulge in their passions, and I was also fascinated by their boldness, which is so much greater than you would expect from Northern Europeans. I allowed myself to be captivated by the fervor of the Spanish.
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During your time as a manager you have moved work-relatedly not less than five times within Europe. Did you perceive yourself as a nomad and how did your family cope with these circumstances?
No … (laughing) – we never considered ourselves to be nomads – we always said that we wouldn’t put a limit to new challenges and stay at our next place – so we always moved with our whole family, leaving the old home and hearth behind, so to speak, without a return ticket up our sleeve. After ten years, a new family situation demanded that we settle down, which we did as I received a job offer in the Rhine-Main Region, where to the benefit of our kids, we are still today
I found that you have been named the HP “Manager of the Year 2000,” besides holding other significant and responsible jobs. Shouldn’t you take much pride in such a CV? But your website makes no mention of this fact and you seem very modest when it comes to titles, don’t you? By the way, your calling card is no exception, there are no titles attached to your name.
I believe that experience and passion cannot adequately be expressed by titles, so I leave them out. If someone wants to combine experience with expert knowledge, I would advise him or her to demonstrate this by utilizing current economic developments or the latest research findings and connect this to concrete issues, rather than showing off by quoting out-dated academic references going back to college time. This is not to say that theoretical input is worthless. I take particular pride in having maintained good connections with people working in institutions of higher learning, which has made possible the development of concepts for all sorts of interesting projects.
What made you leave a company as renowned as HP and step into the uncertain field of freelancing? Or to put it differently: Have you ever perceived this new enterprise as a risky undertaking at all?
No – it didn’t pose much of a risk – it corresponded with my personal level of maturity, which had reached a point at which this change looked quite natural and rather promising and seemed beneficial for both sides. Honestly, it takes good education, a clear business plan, and an adequate positioning in the marketplace to do this transformational process into freelancing smoothly.
There is a saying, which goes like this: “Behind every successful man, there is a resolute women standing behind.” What part has your wife played regarding your current situation?
She certainly has a stake in it … Quite naturally, you would have to rely on your partner, and often they even complement one another, just like two pilots sitting in the flight deck of an airplane. – In cases of emergency, both must be capable of doing their partner’s job. Fortunately, emergencies have been rare so far, so we have been able instead to combine our forces to achieve our goals.
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You are a passionate trainer in the art of success. How do you motivate yourself to commit your energies to malfunctioning companies and to give their employees inner strength and hope to find their way back to their former self-confidence?
I believe in the virtue and power of good employees – and until now, I have always been quite successful in using the energies of employees to spark excitement. My motivation fully rests on my experience that the employees I have worked with have successfully implemented the things I have taught them to do, and they even took on parts of my positive attitude and “benign virus.”
In your opinion what are your biggest strengths and what would you describe as your major weakness?
Actually, the answer to both is my entrepreneurial impatience…! – I am unable to leave things as they are and I stand by my engagements. Despite the fulfillment of my tasks in a timely manner, I am always striving towards being there for advice-seeking employees and receiving new requests from my clients. I am perhaps therefore a bit more impatient than I actually should be…
Because of your job, you are at home at all continents; one might say you’re a globetrotter. Can you still enjoy the little things in life?
Definitely! My senses are tuned to the little things. Take, for instance, good service during my travels, a good hotel or tasty food. I sometimes wonder whether we could take a leaf out of other countries’ books. At times I find it hilarious how naturally and as a matter-of-course other nations approach the idea of excellent service.
Your schedule is quite busy. So what items do you usually take with you on your journeys, that are emotionally significant to you?
Typically, I don’t take with me any more than is absolutely necessary – but my daughter once made a wonderfully crafted manicure case, which brims with symbolic meaning – this is what accompanies me on my trips.
What are the personal goals imperative for you to accomplish?
For the next few years, my wife and I have undertaken to care about our life style and physical well-being. But maintaining my friendships and acquaintances is equally crucial to me.
Mr. Jansen, the world is full of well meaning advice. From what advice did you gain the most in your life?
“Take your time.“ – This is exactly where I see the greatest potential for myself.
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Let’s take a mental journey through time and move ourselves to a point thirty years in the future. What developments do you expect to be of concern and what would be more like a silver lining?
I am really concerned about the course that political developments have taken and which may become a threat to peaceful coexistence of the peoples. I particularly think of the armed working out of conflicts, which seems to always end up in awe and terror. But there is a positive aspect too. I believe that humans are capable of exchanging differences through negotiations and without using radical ways – and I see myself in a position to eagerly contribute to a peaceful mastering of these differences.
Mr. Jansen, are you up for a game? – Which meanings do you associate with the following terms?
Our interview now comes to a close. Would you be so kind and complete the following sentence: My philosophy is …
„Doesn’t work, doesn’t exist.” It is all that simple.
Thank you for the interview.
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