In my first column for Germany’s leading business weekly, @wiwo ('Allow Yourself to be Surprised!'), I argue for shifting from certainty to clarity and highlight the distinction between striving for perfection and striving for excellence. Here are some key takeaways: • Reframe Your Understanding of risk: Instead of only asking 'What do I risk by doing this?', also ask: 'What do I risk by not doing this?' • Develop a Muscle for the Unexpected: Regularly ask, 'What surprised us recently?' This helps detect 'weak cues' for new ideas and identifies mistakes early. • Strive for Excellence, not Perfection: Excellent products and services often begin as imperfect ideas. Successful leaders foster psychological safety over perfection, emphasizing that most excellent outcomes start as imperfect ideas. Ultimately, it’s about reframing the unexpected from a negative disruptor to a partner in discovering new ideas, insights – and sometimes even joy. It’s very probable that something improbable will happen – so why not get ready for it? The magazine is available at newsstands in German-speaking countries, as well as online (in German): bit.ly/wiwothisweek @USCMarshall @MurmannVerlag

A huge *Thank You* to the home team for making Erfolgsfaktor Zufall (German version of The Serendipity Mindset) one of Germany's top 30 most-sold business books of the year! I'm extremely grateful for the great community that made this happen, and especially also @MurmannVerlag