Why most people never succeed

Make a career, become a boss, rise to the top of a manager – the impression is often given that professional success takes precedence over everything else. But why do most people never have a career, never become managers?

What is preventing you from advancing to a boss or managerial position? Career consultant Martin Wehrle shows what causes most people to fail when making a career. The range of reasons extends from a conscious decision against a career to vague goals and a lack of vitamin B (relationship). At the same time, he gives tips on how to make a career and rise to the rank of manager.

YouTube comments:

“Performance is important and comes second. It doesn’t work without performance either. But the primary factor is whether or not the person or persons deciding whether you move up just likes you. If he doesn’t like you you don’t stand a chance.”

“The most important statement is the first! It is so crucial to know what I want and then I have to carry it through to the end. For me, family comes first, so I’m just becoming a simple but happy worker without overblown and unrealistic handouts.”

“I finished with the career topic. Better to earn less and be happy than ruin your life for a little more money. You always have to take one thing into account: With every higher step on the career ladder, the pressure also increases, life satisfaction decreases dramatically from an individual level, this loss of quality of life cannot be compensated for with money. My employer would appreciate it if I did my master’s certificate in order to replace my supervisor (retired) in about a year. But as soon as I have to fill in for him at his post, I would like to confess to the ‘Kennedy murder’ just to be relieved of the pressure, so why would I voluntarily pursue this post permanently?”

“I also decided to work as an engineer, but without a managerial position because my private life is also much more important to me. I still earn very well and never come home stressed. So I’m always in a good mood after work.”

Why lazy people so often advance

Career success – that’s what many people think of when it comes to hard work and top performance. But some people make a career out of being lazy. But how can it be that laziness favors ascent?

How can it be that industrious people stagnate while the lazy climb up? Why is laziness a career accelerator and not the opposite?

In this video career consultant Martin Wehrle shows an important background: how career really works. Because those who make a career focus on a certain aspect. In this video you will find out what that is and how you can use it for your own advancement, promotion or salary increase.

Why Schäuble sees too many Germans going it alone

Wolfgang Schäuble has been a member of the Bundestag for exactly 50 years, making him the sole record holder. For the anniversary, the CDU politician will basically be with Markus Lanz. He criticizes Germany’s “know-it-all” on many issues, which means that Germany is met with a lack of understanding from many international partners and allies.

As an example, Schäuble cites the discussion about the “One Love” armband at the World Cup in Qatar. This moral exaggeration does not fit the federal government’s gas deal with Qatar. Germany needs this relationship right now. And don’t stick to what other countries would like to dictate.

But even in the debate about the raid in the “Reichsbürger” milieu, an internal contradiction becomes clear. Such a successful search is only possible thanks to a certain level of surveillance of suspects, for example by wiretapping communications. Here Germany must find the right balance between freedom and security. And between security and morality.

It is similar for Schäuble in energy policy. Germany has been going its own difficult path here since Nord Stream 1. But with Nord Stream 2 at the latest, they have moved far too far away from the other Europeans and the Americans.

Thirty Years War

This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the outbreak of the Bohemian Revolt which was what would eventually spiral out of control into the Thirty Years’ War.

The revolt was crushed fairly quickly but sparked intervention by Denmark, who didn’t do too well, and later Sweden who did very well. Both of these were aided by France who decided to get directly involved in 1635.

By 1648 the Holy Roman Empire lay in ruins, with Austria and Spain struggling to pay for the war and rebuild the Habsburg Empire. This war saw the rise of Sweden and France but most importantly saw the foundations of modern diplomacy built.

Gesellschaftsvertrag

The German cultural Gesellschaftsvertrag reflects a deep-rooted social contract philosophy that traces back to the Middle Ages. Historically, German nobility saw themselves as responsible caretakers of their people. In exchange for loyalty, work, and taxes, they provided security and social stability. This legacy shaped German business ethics, emphasizing that companies are not purely profit-driven entities focused solely on shareholder value.

In contemporary German business culture the Gesellschaftsvertrag or social contract signifies that the primary responsibility of companies is first to their employees—to keep them employed and protected. The next priority is serving and contributing to the wider society, followed closely by fulfilling duties to customers and suppliers. Only after these responsibilities are met do shareholders’ interests come into priority. This hierarchy illustrates an ethos where social responsibility and care for people underpin business decisions.

This cultural framework aligns with German business values such as social responsibility, corruption-free operations, formal structures, clear roles, long-term relationships, and sustainability. German companies often adopt a collaborative approach with strong legal and ethical boundaries. Corporate social responsibility is taken seriously, encouraged by both internal company practices and external regulations.

The German Gesellschaftsvertrag embodies a traditional and modern blend of legal structure and ethical social obligations—a social contract where business success is tied fundamentally to the well-being of employees, society, and sustainable partnerships, not just shareholder profits. This perspective is a distinctive and influential part of Germany’s corporate culture and legal business environment.

Aphorisms

Wissen ist Macht, aber Macht ist auch ohne Wissen Macht. – Knowledge is power, but power is power even without knowledge.

Wissen ist Macht? Aber Macht isst Wissen. – Knowledge is power? But power eats knowledge. (Elmar Schenkel (*1953), Anglicist, author, translator, painter)

Für die Feinde ist das Wissen Macht, für uns ist die Macht Wissen! Ohne Macht kein Wissen! – For enemies knowledge is power, for us knowledge is power! Without power there is no knowledge! (Wilhelm Liebknecht (1826 – 1900), German journalist and politician)

Wissen ist Macht. Wissen von der Macht, noch ein wenig mehr Macht. – Knowledge is power. Knowledge of the Force, a little more power. (Martin Gerhard Reisenberg, *1949), qualified librarian and author)

Wissen ist die Macht zu wissen, was man besser nicht macht. – Knowledge is the power to know what is better not to do. (Gerhard Uhlenbruck, *1929), German immunobiologist and aphorist)

Wenn Wissen Macht ist, dann macht Nichtwissen ohnmächtig. – If knowledge is power, then ignorance makes you powerless. (Robert Kroiß, *1949, German writer)

A good salary In Germany

We answer the question “what is a good salary in Germany?”. We tackle the average annual salaries based on different factors and provide an answer to the question: “Will my salary be enough?”

YouTube comments:

“This is a great video with a good breakdown! I moved from a big city and took a paycut on my previous gross salary, but I have been amazed how much I am provided for in Germany and never really felt broke despite technically having much lesser money than before. I think until you live here and really experience the economy and plan your finances, the numbers are just… numbers! End of the day I believe we should be fighting for fair salaries, and not higher ones just for the sake of it.”

“Whenever I read about 40% taxe rate, it makes me a bit frustrated. But looking from the other perspective, all of those high contributors I make are the reason why the life for people all ages so good and reliable in Germany, right? I would like to reveal those details and understand the real value of the contributions I would make :)”

“It’s however important to mention that living in Germany you have access to many amenities and infrastructure not available to you in other countries unless you hire someone yourself or you pay a net price for it.”

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is of such extraordinary importance to Germans that it is embedded in their labor laws, in how their companies treat their employees, in their expectations as a society.

Subject Matter

Germans want to work in subject matter areas in line with their education, training and job experience. The goal is to deepen that expertise. The German economy, German companies, value the specialist more than the generalist.

Job Security

Job security is for Germans the most important motivating factor. Germans strive for stability and predictability. Many, perhaps most Germans, prefer to work for one employer, in one location, over their entire career.

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