TI CEO Podcast · episode 61
What I would do differently today
1-minute summary
In this episode, Christoph Standl talks about what he would do differently if he were to found Tourismus Interaktiv again today. He explains that he would think in systems much earlier, ensuring knowledge isn't locked in individual minds but centrally available, so processes work without his personal involvement. He also says he underestimated how much capital is needed to build a company long-term, and today he would build financial reserves earlier, before they're urgently needed. Regarding the team, he has learned the importance of people who think independently and sometimes disagree. He would also accept earlier that not every good idea must be implemented immediately, especially given the constant new possibilities created by artificial intelligence. Still, he stresses he doesn't regret the past but wants to learn from it, aiming for a more stable, better organized company by the firm's fifteenth anniversary.
Description
What would I do differently today if I were to found Tourismus Interaktiv all over again? With this question I'm starting my new theme week "Rethinking Entrepreneurship". After twelve years of entrepreneurship, numerous projects, successes, challenges and of course also mistakes, there are a few things I would approach differently with the experience I have today. In this episode I talk about four insights that have shaped me in particular: • Think in systems earlier: Why clear processes, documented knowledge and working workflows are so important. • Plan capital for the long term: Why good ideas and rising revenues alone aren't enough to build a sustainable company. • Rely on the right people: Why a strong team also needs people who take on responsibility and think critically. • Don't implement every idea immediately: Why the ability to set priorities becomes ever more important with growing experience. My intention here isn't to regret past decisions. Because it's precisely the difficult experiences that have moved us forward. With our 15th company anniversary in sight, I want to use these insights to make Tourismus Interaktiv economically more stable, better organized and more successful in the long run. My most important insight: You don't have to regret every past decision to be able to do things differently today. You just have to be willing to keep learning. And remember: big changes often start with small daily steps.