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The Positive Change Can No Longer Be StoppedChristine Beutler speaks in this interview with Konrad Mehlhorn, who is convinced that the world can and will be made better. Konrad is a carpenter, entrepreneur, and life artist. With his commitment to countless new projects, he offers us a different perspective on today’s world events, spreading hope and confidence and providing perspectives. In this conversation, he helps us understand that humanity, in its collective consciousness, decides how things will proceed for us. He also brings us closer to how it is now up to each one of us to recognize ourselves and thus enter the time of harvest. He speaks of new alliances, human communities, and genuine support on equal terms. More information at www.christine-beutler.de Transcript interpreted by artificial intelligence The spoken word in the video applies! Warm welcome! I’m thrilled that you’re here and watching us today. We have another exciting interview ahead of us, and I’m delighted that you’re our guest. My name is Christine Beutler, your coach for personal development and the founding of free learning spaces and schools. Today, we’re visiting a very dear person, one of the most upright I know – dear Konrad. Many thanks for inviting us and allowing us to be here. Hello! Yes, I’d like to hand over the floor for your introduction because I think you’re an incredibly fascinating person. Okay, I’ll try to keep it brief. I’m Konrad Mehlhorn, 45 years old. We came together especially during the last Corona years. Until then, I followed a classic path: completed school, trained as a carpenter, went on a journeyman’s travel, attended master school, and started a business. This has now merged with another business. We do classic carpentry but also other construction crafts and building renovations. Additionally, here in Cauerwitz, where we are now, we’ve started an ice cream production. We market and sell the ice cream ourselves. That’s a brief summary of my journey over the past years. Yes, that’s very interesting. We can perhaps talk more about Cauerwitz and what we do here during the conversation. Gladly. I think it’ll come up in the context. You mentioned yourself that you had an exciting childhood and youth. Perhaps you’d like to start with that aspect of your life because it’s truly inspiring. Ultimately, you probably only see your past from a different perspective in the future. Looking at what I’m allowed to do today and reflecting on my childhood freedoms and experiences, I feel deep gratitude. As children, we had a lot of freedom in the village. After school, we could spend a lot of time in the forest, building huts. I could talk for hours about what we did there. The mere fact of having the freedom to go into the forest as a child was taken for granted back then. During the GDR era, it was part of life, and in retrospect, many experiences from that time are important for later life. We’d grab hammers, nails, and planks, go to the forest, build something, or dig earth caves. These group experiences—making campfires, building huts—provided many important processes and lessons for later life. It’s crucial to be able to express yourself as freely as possible in your youth to stand more securely in life later. I’m grateful for that childhood time. We went to the village school and planned in the school bus on the way back what we’d do in the afternoon—campfires, hut-building, and such. Sometimes it was better if the parents didn’t know, but most of our parents thought similarly. We never burned down a barn or anything like that. Yes, these experiences are elemental and important. They’re also desirable for children growing up today, even though conditions have changed massively. That will surely be a topic in our conversation today. One example is our time in the forest. Back then, we built huts out of wood for ourselves. Today, I earn money with it, so there was always some connection. I’ve always liked wood. I initially wanted to be a cabinetmaker, but it evolved toward carpentry. With two or three applications my mother wrote, I got two acceptances for apprenticeships. I just took the opportunity and stuck with it to this day. It’s not common, but I think it shows a certain sense of calling. It’s not my entire life’s purpose, but a solid part of my life. These early experiences helped me try out various aspects and experience self-efficacy. It’s similar in craftsmanship today; we do it for money, but we ensure our projects aren’t just new builds. I like variety and preservation. It’s rewarding when something is made beautiful with a lot of effort, not just for our own joy but for others, like our guests in the house, who appreciate the many small handcrafted details. Simple things, often, but made with skill, have a certain impact and touch the heart. That’s often missing but noticed and appreciated when expressed. There are many networking points, especially with craftsmen in similar fields, like clay plaster or alternative insulation materials. An example is the hemp fiber project in our region, producing innovative insulation. Hemp isn’t new, but we’re trying to take something old and create something new in the existing world. These new factories produce insulation for regional distribution. Craftsmen working with it see themselves as having a certain responsibility and purpose. We started promoting ecological building years ago. When you do it consistently, you attract like-minded clients. Initially, we explained a lot about building physics and biology and the effects of artificial materials. Now, we don’t need to; people come because they want these materials and seek us out. It’s an exciting development in people’s consciousness. Perhaps we just attract it. That creates new strength. Hemp fiber didn’t exist recently. We’re creating new regional markets and treating those who market and install it with respect. That will definitely succeed. New things need time and perseverance, especially at the start. Previously, insulation was often just mineral wool, but now entirely new worlds are opening with other materials. People feel better with natural materials on their walls. This feeling that something feels better is important in other areas, like school. How should school feel? It’s similar: things that don’t feel good show that something needs to change. Yes, and that’s what we’re exploring today: How should the day feel when I wake up? That’s my daily question: Does what I’m allowed to do today feel good? It’s truly your passion, and my dream is that school—even though I hesitate to call it that, as we may need new terms to shed the negative connotations—becomes the most comforting place in villages and cities. A place where people, big and small, young and old, can try things out and contribute. A community space—that’s my vision, which I’m eager to advance, and many join in with incredible energy. It’s a great feeling to say every day, “Awesome, this is fun.” It all starts with thinking, daring to imagine what’s fundamentally possible. Many lack that imagination. The enthusiasm you bring to this interview and our daily work stems from an inner drive. Many can’t imagine what’s possible in education if we overcome mental limitations and just think, “What if?” Often, the phrase “Act as if” is enough to break through personal barriers and spark new ideas. It’s fascinating to watch people suddenly brim with ideas when they overcome these limits. That’s especially exciting in education. If we don’t dare to think, it’ll never materialize. I have great respect for people tackling something entirely new, whether it’s a hemp fiber or school project. We start thinking, speak it out, and attract like-minded people. In a still rigid, inflexible world, it takes time and perseverance to integrate new ideas. But I’m convinced these ideas will prevail. It takes time to connect old systems with new, flexible, free thinking. But life isn’t hard, even if it sometimes feels that way. I’m firmly convinced we’ll succeed with these new approaches. You’ve gathered many experiences in your life that lead to this conviction. These are ultimately beliefs reinforced by positive confirmations. This belief is deeply rooted because you’ve seen it work repeatedly. There’s no alternative to believing that good prevails. Absolutely not. Perhaps it’s related to enabling children to develop an idea. During Corona, we homeschooled our kids, and my task was to play a bit of a shop teacher. I approached it classically, saying, “Come to the workshop, we’ll build birdhouses.” I printed plans, prepared cut boards, and said, “You can screw or hammer them together, change the shape or size.” The group was seven kids, boys and girls. I don’t have much experience with kids or teaching, but in the workshop, some showed interest, asking how things worked, where the hammer was, or if they could screw something else. Others had no interest and needed a push to achieve a goal by the afternoon. I wanted them to think about how it should look and put it on paper. If you have an idea, sketch it out. We’ll check the sizes, I’ll cut it, and you can assemble it. It was about creating what’s in your head. That was the plan. One boy was particularly interesting. We did it two or three times because we didn’t finish the first day. He kept asking for more materials, wanting to make big holes or curves. He was so engaged that I realized we could show more tools and projects to foster that interest. We should show such kids what’s possible, what can come from their ideas. This one boy demanded more than the whole group, showing how important it is to recognize potential. The problem in schools is that kids often have no plan by tenth grade about why they’re on this planet. It’s crucial to foster kids who know what they want early on. Ask a five-year-old what they want to be, and they might say “police” or “firefighter” because they see it often. If you nurture and support those wishes, their strengths show quickly. In schools, the focus is often on error culture: How many mistakes did you make today? Work on this, that. That doesn’t do anything positive for the child. We must tease out potential and support kids and teens. They can contribute and know what they need to grow from a certain age. Our task as adults is to act and collaborate to create a suitable framework for each child—not every child fits the same mold. Small, familial units where education comes to the child strengthen village life. When people know each other and meet personally, friendships and social communities form. The system is set up so that the first break comes after kindergarten, disrupting social bonds. Some friends go to school with you, but not all. After primary school, it’s similar, then the transition to secondary school. An example from my childhood: We played together as young kids, had birthday parties, went to school together. In primary school, new kids joined from nearby areas, and we had a tight class community. This group stayed together until tenth grade. Some went to high school, but the core group remained. Years later, we even had a first-grade class reunion because that original group was so important. It’s vital to have a foundation and roots, knowing where you come from. That gives a base to build on, no matter where you go. It’s easier and more powerful to work in a familiar environment with deep roots. Many who go abroad often return because they always feel foreign. This shows how important a stable foundation is. Yes, what you said about schools—we see here in our village that kids already attend different kindergartens. There’s no shared kindergarten in the neighboring village. They come from different schools with different buses. I see it with us: In the school bus, we had to get home quickly and handle the essentials. We had nice lists of tasks to complete fast. Sometimes we helped out, then off we went because the togetherness in the forest and building was more exciting than school. That doesn’t surprise me. Ultimately, I see my purpose as a soul mission to enable kids to have these wonderful experiences over the long term. Most school founders are mothers, with men supporting. It’s about giving kids emotional stability through consistent figures in the school institution. What happens to a child’s soul when they lose bonds after kindergarten, primary school, and each step? In free projects, where adults and kids shape life together on equal terms, life becomes boundless for kids. If adults model this, the world isn’t closed off but limitless, and kids grow up with that mindset, seeing endless possibilities. We have a huge problem if kids don’t know what they want after tenth or twelfth grade. From 1996 to 1999, I trained with a group of about 15 guys and three girls. Hardly anyone stayed in that trade long. Many switched fields. If school could tease out your purpose earlier, you’d enter life with enthusiasm, adding different value to society and achieving greater things. Many do apprenticeships just to earn money for vacations or things. I see a bigger purpose: knowing why you’re here. Work and action are key factors. In craftsmanship, we develop concepts, implement them, and see results by day’s end. That brings deep satisfaction. Buildings from 120, 130 years ago still radiate a special effect, especially when renovated well. It’s about doing things with quality, not just cheap and fast. That creates living spaces that give us strength, energy, and joy. Many think we’re so free, but we’re often restricted. Kids entering fifth or sixth grade now must grow up differently, with more opportunities to think and act freely. They shouldn’t be limited by rules and laws but learn through action and implementation. That fosters free thinking. If we adults had more leisure and calm, we’d have great ideas. In vacation, we get inspirations we want to implement at home. We must create free spaces for ourselves as adults. The possibilities exist; we set our own limits. By thinking we have no time, we block what’s important. We invest much time and effort in new thinking and action. The next generation will think and act entirely differently, making things easier. It won’t take long for everything to become much lighter. Yes, I agree 100%. I’m convinced it won’t take much longer for many conditions to change. I don’t know when, but my gut tells me it’s soon. We have the power to create a better world together, with different know-how and mindset. There are already scientific studies on this. Free education has existed in Germany for 40 years—that’s a fact. These are evidences showing this is the right path. Of course, how that power hits the ground varies—how many different free schools are launched because people want them. No one will build a school at your doorstep for your kid to bike to. You have to do it yourself. That’s exciting but also a bit daunting. Many adults, parents, or grandparents still think kids must learn everything at the same time and pace. A free school principal told me that even at free schools, parents ask at first-grade enrollment what degree their child can earn. These degrees are still overrated, though they say little about a person’s qualifications or worth. An example: A friend in India homeschooled her kids during Corona. Her daughter and two friends are now ready for the Realschulabschluss (secondary school diploma). In Thuringia, they can homeschool. The kids attend a course at the adult education center to get the diploma, having learned independently so far. The educators there are thrilled because the kids are self-structured and ambitious. Maybe they’re naturally so, but it shows the parents’ hard work is bearing fruit. The kids know what they want, shown by their independence and focus. These kids are strong enough to accept a “no” and need space to unfold and gain life experience. Some learn through instruction, others through experience. It’s vital for kids to have many small learning experiences to build their own. Kids with many freedoms and experiences will break old thought structures that keep us in outdated patterns. A good example is forest kindergartens. Kids who spend all day outside and unfold freely often don’t fit traditional school molds. We need new concepts to build on these experiences and keep kids in that energy. When we do something beautiful and fulfilling, we feel energized. I had a conversation with a friend about feeling that joy and energy within us. My Fridays, when I don’t work at the company but for myself and others, are invaluable. Helping friends and acquaintances gives me immense joy and satisfaction, far more valuable than workdays earning money. If we had more opportunities like those Fridays, immense energy would arise in us. Friday is special because I do what I love. It’s not about big cars or paying off a house but about being in life, not just surviving. There are ideas on how to change this step by step. Yes, we want to create a more joyful and peaceful coexistence. We can only prepare this mentally now. We can create spaces where others can grow up and unfold as freely as possible. You see it in apprentices or those who spend a year abroad, like in New Zealand, living freely, rediscovering themselves, and often realizing how to escape the hamster wheel here. Surprisingly, some in my circle never submitted to it. They did their own thing, worked independently to afford travel or joyful experiences, and stuck to it. That’s a completely different mindset from building a house, paying it off, and working constantly. These sickening structures—doing the same thing, eating the same, having the same talks, watching the same shows—are outdated. Life should involve more new thoughts. That’s why this time and conversations like this are crucial for new things to grow together. We must offer people chances to hear other thoughts and perspectives, to question themselves. Many adults are overwhelmed when asked what makes them happy because they’ve never thought about it. They’re trapped in the hamster wheel they grew up in, never learning to think outside the box. We must relearn to live truly fulfilled lives with quality. Many adults live to work, rewarding themselves with a yearly vacation. In the future, it should be different. The past years, especially Corona measures, showed us much isn’t as it should be. We realized we must interact differently and decide for ourselves. In recent years, we’ve read a lot, watched videos to understand how the world works, and developed our own views. Exchanging thoughts in various groups opened a new world of experiences, like childhood milestones—learning to walk, ride a bike, or swim. It’s about standing for what we believe is right and implementing it. I wish this experience for many because it’s real life. Looking back, the highlights of recent years come from what we’ve done. Many work normally, with vacation as the yearly highlight. That’s nice, but true life development looks different. This planet offers more than work and vacation. I’ve experienced much, but true experiencing is different. We must regain childlike openness to new challenges. That’s the biggest challenge now—relearning and implementing it. We must dare to tackle new things, even if mistakes happen. What’s the worst that could occur? An example is school and school buildings. It’s about starting and realizing new projects, even if it seems difficult. I’ve said this before, and it’s sad: 70 or 80 years ago, we had village schools—simple buildings with windows, a door, front and back exits, a small shed outside. The teacher’s apartment was upstairs or nearby. Kids came early, were taught—or indoctrinated, depending on perspective—but learned to read, write, and calculate. It was possible to set up a school building simply and teach kids. Today, seeing how hard it is to impart knowledge in modern school buildings—I’ve been in some discussions about this—I think we must find the simplest ways to teach within what’s available. There’s another world that thinks it’s very complicated. That’s why I have great respect for the school project here: courage, courage, courage—don’t give up and keep the goal in sight. Things were simpler before, on a different basis for buildings and teaching. Today, we recognize our school system is from the 19th century, teachers from the 20th, and kids from the 21st. It’s worth discussing in parliaments how sensible this is and how freely we want to shape it. When people like you invest so much energy, the day will come when you’re invited because you have great ideas. It won’t suit all kids, as each has different needs. But it’s important that such projects are noticed publicly, not seen as crazy ideas but pursued seriously, step by step. The seed is sown, and soon it will bear fruit. We’re still constrained by the political framework, but we see it crumbling everywhere. Interviews like this or inviting more politicians to such discussions show there are people passionately committed, not giving up, with various concepts and spaces. They must be supported because the kids emerging from these projects are impressive personalities. We need personalities, not order-takers. The old system produced order-takers, but we don’t need that anymore. The young people joining us are so free and different, they can just do what they think. It’s about listening together, evolving, and creating new things. I want to be part of it—it’ll be an exciting story. Many have found their passion and are taking responsibility. That’s a big lever many underestimate. It’s about taking responsibility, not passing it off, standing for things, and pursuing them sustainably. Don’t let the first headwind knock you down. It’s about sticking to your idea, finding supporters, and overcoming personal limitations. This exciting story reflects life, as everyone has their own reality. Ask 30 people what the world is, and you’ll get 30 different answers. It’s symbolic of different approaches and perspectives, as everyone has their own world model. It’s about adults being role models for kids, showing how community should be. We must reconnect without egos overpowering and destabilizing the community. In recent years, we’ve been lucky to meet people we didn’t know four or five years ago. Through many experiences—from protests to political influence and groups—we’ve built a community tackling many issues. The school project is just one part. Knowledge sharing and other projects we do are equally exciting. I’m very grateful for the time we spend with people who share similar thoughts but maintain independent thinking. The big goal is a free world with higher-quality coexistence. Everyone in their field strives to achieve this. Each person’s skills are valued and respected. Whether it’s gardening, construction, or other actions, everyone contributes and helps. This community fosters strong togetherness, and thinking solidifies. It’s not just a shared opinion; we act and help each other. I couldn’t explain it to a stranger asking how to replicate it. The key is we just tackled it and did it. For those without groups or similar views, I say: Stay active, get involved somewhere, and see problems as challenges. Alone, you have your own world. But in relationships, business, or community, you notice your hurdles. Accepting these challenges and growing is crucial. Our community has learned to view itself from outside and not get stuck on small things. We have a wonderful time and enriching experiences. In 10 or 15 years, we’ll see how eventful this time was, even if much wasn’t easy. The school project is demanding and time-consuming, but it’s fun, and we see the field being tilled. Once the first project stands, the second will follow. It’s a great idea that needs time but will succeed and be replicated. It won’t stay a single project. The demand is there, and people want to choose freely where their kids go. The goal is to preserve and support kids’ abilities. For me, the principle is that a person’s abilities should be central. Our shared goal is to give kids a healthy, great start in life with all possible experiences. Getting the maximum for kids is our aim. When I see, whether in political rounds or adult gatherings, how quickly kids’ needs are sidelined, those are imposed assumptions argued away. It’s quickly said, “We can’t afford it,” without imagining what it means. The financial scope is often not as big as assumed. Things are pushed aside, and horror scenarios or huge bubbles are built around them. I say: Take the pressure off, approach it smoothly, it’s all doable. There are already hundreds of free projects; it’s not about doing something entirely new. Anyone can do it, but someone must tell people they’re allowed to. Many are shocked to hear anyone can start a free school—few know this. Perhaps more dialogue with people, especially parents, is needed. In bodies like municipal councils, citizens’ influence is too small. People often think it’s pointless to get involved. Some areas aren’t public, and it seems futile. But we must show up with strength and energy, advocating for things like a new school. If multiple parents demand a project in their region, the council must address it. If nothing comes from outside, nothing starts inside. Citizens’ participation is key to what comes. Knowing this and making clear demands is vital. Even 10 to 15 people uniting can achieve much. They can argue why a school form is advantageous and what it brings to the region’s future. In these bodies, you must clarify what you want. With solid groups and good arguments, much can be achieved. You need confrontation and concrete offers. Clear communication is key to steering things. I urge everyone to contribute ideas, whether a school project or something else. It’s vital to be heard and persist. Complaining alone achieves nothing; you must develop concepts and solutions, whether privately or through associations. Taking self-responsibility is crucial. Many know what’s wrong, but finding solutions is often neglected. We must think creatively and find solutions that are feasible for both the client and craftsman. Solution-oriented thinking is always important. I enjoy circles where everyone thinks solution-oriented, no matter the topic. That’s the future. Great ideas will emerge. Entrepreneurs increasingly realize they don’t just work to pay taxes but can support social projects with their labor. A good example is the kindergarten in Flemming, which was to close. The village community fought and started renovation projects. Companies that previously had no connection now collaborate. It’s not just about what’s wrong in the country but about positive connections and projects. Entrepreneurs’ responsibility for the future lies in such points. Supporting new projects is vital, not just with money but with labor and knowledge. School projects are a good example. People should get involved and take responsibility. Complaining daily changes nothing, but doing positive things shows the world isn’t so bad. I call on everyone to engage with and support such projects. When you get involved, you realize it’s not all futile. Even if school isn’t your big topic, you can support and see the world isn’t so bad. We can actively participate in timely things because the time demands it. Thank you. I have daily talks with people, regardless of where they work or if they work. Everyone feels things can’t continue like this. The need is immense, and everyone can help, whether they have kids or not, wherever the project is. As a regional big entrepreneur, you’re now well-known and have a great impact, which I admire. You bring new ideas and push them forward. That’s a key in networking meetings or online, regardless of communication. It’s about consciously focusing on the positive and looking forward. You must reflect on your actions and ask how to align your perspective positively. This positive thinking and behavior can inspire and make others reflect. I try daily to live this, for my kids who adopt my behavior and for other adults. It’s fascinating how you can positively influence people without imposing a worldview. It’s about sensitizing them. Sometimes it takes time for the penny to drop, but it’s a beautiful experience to influence people positively. It’s great to meet people during the day who run businesses and tackle things. Everyone knows the tough situation we’re in and thinks about what to do. Knowledge alone isn’t enough; it needs action and a stance on why you do it. That’s the challenge for the coming weeks. I enjoy talking and exchanging with people, but at some point, I must act. It’s about finding my purpose and what I can do to help the community. The future is no longer “I” but “we.” The best things happen in groups when people boldly tackle things and get help. That makes the world simpler, more peaceful, and brings new experiences. We rediscover ourselves and find where we belong. We’ve let ourselves be pressed into a matrix that sometimes feels nice, like a good job and house. But money dwindles and doesn’t cover everything. Joy becomes the focus, the feeling of valuable experiences gains importance. Money and status matter less. Developing toward a beautiful, vibrant future with fewer restrictions is vital. An example is the flood disaster, a moment of anarchy where people came together and helped simply. It was trust-based. That shows life and coordination can be simple. The question is how we get there. Perhaps we need different thinkers to rebuild the huge cart of rules and norms. I envision us succeeding if we realize it’s possible. It’s not about how but that we can imagine it. I’ve achieved things in life I imagined. It’s about the vision and feeling when you achieve something. That attracts life. When groups do it together, a different energy emerges. The school project is a challenge, but energy flows where attention is. I’ve experienced this in other projects. You must align your experiences with manifestation knowledge and solidify it. In groups, you can discuss and support each other. In your group, no one talks about doubts or failures. You learn from mistakes and refocus. It’s just a matter of time before what you’re working on becomes reality. Your regular meetings and vision are great. People can come to meet and support you. These in-person meetings are vital. That’s how we can create new worlds. People who recently couldn’t imagine their worth recognize it. Good entrepreneurs know everything they give returns in some form. Life works that way: I give to a group, friendship, or relationship without expecting return, and it comes back somehow. In our circles, everyone helps each other without expecting direct reciprocation. This support and collaboration work wonderfully, and we’re grateful. When you start living this principle bit by bit, everything flows more. Money must flow and move for us all to benefit. Hoarding breaks the market we’ve created. It’s noticeable regionally. It’s gratifying when people realize they get something back through engagement. These insights from daily life and collaboration can be brought into projects like school foundations. There’s huge demand for alternative school concepts, and many parents, principals, and teachers reach out with various concerns. It’s important to see these as community projects and support each other. Collaboration with authorities like school or building offices shows it’s vital to enter talks well-prepared. These people are often open to peaceful, well-argued concerns. We don’t need to bend but should present our issues clearly and convincingly. Community projects benefit from a strong, engaged group. When multiple people unite passionately for a cause, the dynamic differs from a small group cooking their own soup. It’s vital to network and advocate for change together. The 19th-century school system is outdated. Criticism alone isn’t enough; we must offer solutions. Every meeting should have someone proposing concrete ideas to work on. That’s how we build a better future together. Projects should come to fruition, and that’s happening more now. It’s great to have people who don’t just dream but act. Everyone can contribute in their field, even with a small donation. Kids are our greatest treasure and future shapers. We can help by offering practical orientation. Companies can contribute through internships and apprenticeships. Kids can find what they enjoy, and companies gain loyal employees. It’s vital to give kids freedom to try different professions in an exciting, practical framework. Entrepreneurs can contribute socially and benefit from long-term ties with future skilled workers. And then I frame it so it only happens if you really want it. It’s all organizable, and these are the beautiful things we give founders as a toolkit or bouquet. The range of possibilities is immense, and each founder has different visions. Throwing out a word means different things to everyone. Approaching a core idea philosophically is exciting and inspiring for various founding initiatives. At these initiative meetings, immense power and motivation arise, forming true beacons. That gives people courage, especially after the last four exciting years. It shows they’re not just supporters or part of the community but valuable, and life is beautiful. Such experiences motivate founders to act quickly. Over 100 years ago, entrepreneurs knew the importance of caring for employees, building entire neighborhoods and parks because they cared about people’s well-being. Today, that’s often changed; employees are interchangeable, seen as numbers. It’s vital to see and value people. An example from my master school: Part of the training covers apprentice education, explaining how to motivate them. I said back then that an apprentice needing constant motivation probably isn’t the right fit. If someone always needs pushing, they don’t suit the job and should do something else. Our interns often come voluntarily, even in bad weather and hard work. We rarely had an unsuitable one, and many later joined us. We ensure our work is varied so interns and apprentices don’t do the same thing daily. This variety is a big advantage and makes our work attractive. Some firms do the same thing always, but we offer diverse tasks, making learning more interesting. I see it positively: Our interns come motivated, showing there are good apprentices. Last year, we didn’t take one, but normally we train one yearly. That’s surely due to our team, which attracts new people. We offer internships so youths can see if they fit. It’s vital that someone fits the team. We’re a calm group, and it must harmonize. A too-talkative intern doesn’t suit us. Every company should function well. The team must collaborate, possible only if everyone fits. We’re undergoing a staff restructuring with three or four new employees. It’s exciting to see how they contribute and reshape the team. People with initiative and reflection are vital for a strong team. Someone leaving their old job for something new shows they want change. In our industry, whether roofing or the ice cream shop, it’s nice to see how people react to our work. Positive feedback, like a 16-year-old thanking us for a great renovation, is great. It’s time to focus on what works well. Your company’s restructuring is like a large school family. Ultimately, a school is a kind of enterprise that must function. Now, the current state: Families and adults working daily with kids. If you see yourself as a school community—not just teachers and parents but adults united for the kids—it creates a strong dynamic. The idea that we adults are there for the kids, forming a big school community, creates a special atmosphere. When a new family joins, it always brings change. I try to instill in school founders that it’s not just about the kids but the whole family. If we only take kids, we lose the adults’ vision. They’ll stand at home asking for grades and degrees, worrying if kids play all day. It’s vital to include families and consider social structure. That requires reflection, where adults must reflect on themselves and the community as a living organism that grows and adapts. Nothing’s worse than establishing a system and sticking to it for 30 years. Every day should be different and flexible, like our construction sites. You have a rough plan but must stay adaptable. Example: Last week, I had a day where I did something different every two hours due to many appointments. I started building a fence, constantly interrupted. It was an interesting day with varied experiences, reminding me of school, where various activities keep you engaged. That was fulfilling and showed flexibility and liveliness are key. Parents joining such a school and contributing experience this too. They can bring their skills—cooking, gardening, or teaching. That fosters their liveliness and shows they’re valuable. Parents must feel their own liveliness and see they make a difference. When parents and kids learn and work together, it creates a vibrant, fulfilling atmosphere. Parents should see they enjoy learning and foster their curiosity. Kids seeing this become motivated and curious too. It’s vital to create a learning environment that fuels kids’ natural thirst for knowledge. Inspiring adults doing their work passionately are key. If kids see adults enjoying their work, it rubs off on them. If adults are dissatisfied and see work as a chore, how can kids be motivated? Role models showing that learning and working can be fun are crucial. When kids see parents and adults eagerly learning and growing, they view learning differently. An interesting example from my circle: A young boy labeled hyperactive gets regular medication to calm him. He struggles in school, with constant talk of sending him to a special school. That doesn’t help him. Instead of considering how to support him, he’s written off. Basics like reading, writing, and math are essential, but his other abilities could be fostered separately. Despite medication, he has energy and joy in certain activities. I talked to him, explaining that other helpers join for fun, not money. He helped out, and as a reward, got a soda at the end of the day. He didn’t want to leave and came back the next day. That shows it’s not about the reward but feeling valued and part of a community. School ends eventually, and kids shouldn’t feel less worthy because they struggle in some areas. Everyone has strengths, and it’s our job to recognize and foster them. This boy could be a great farmer, as he gains practical experience at home. Teachers are often so stuck in their system they don’t see how much they can influence a child. It’s about not forcing kids into rigid molds but giving them space to develop their abilities. Personal support or different teachers could work wonders. Not every teacher suits every student, which is normal. From my school days, I know some teachers suited me, others didn’t. A more flexible system would make learning faster and more effective. It’s vital to let kids actively shape their school from the start. Projects should be decided and implemented with them. That fosters creativity and makes them feel valued and heard. Kids often think more freely and creatively than adults, and we can learn much from them. I believe the best way is to create something entirely new rather than reforming existing schools. That’s often cumbersome and doesn’t bring desired changes. A new school built on a different pedagogical concept has more potential. We must break from old thinking and be open to new ideas. Many are ready to stand for such approaches, which makes me optimistic. It’s about being courageous and doing things differently. We are the creators of our future and can make a difference with our ideas and commitment. We shouldn’t be guided by fears but look forward together and dare new things. That’s how we shape a positive, successful future. Yes, I had a situation in middle school where we had to ask our principal what we were learning had to do with our lives. It was so absurd that I was sure I’d never do it again, no matter what I did in life. Even then, I doubted the curriculum. It didn’t seem realistic that pyramids were built with such huge stones. As someone who moves big objects and builds in the forest, I knew it wasn’t that simple. When I left school, I was briefly nostalgic but relieved that time was over. I compare post-school time to now, where I’m free to do what I want without school obligations. I wish that freedom for everyone in school or work. There shouldn’t always be a sense of obligation. Schools need more sensitivity. I think it’s worth supporting not learning only through suffering and hard experiences. I believe we could shortcut some things and reach goals faster. I see the future in joy, interest, and ease. I had a talk with a friend about focusing on what brings us joy and what we’d like to implement. It’s important to mind your thoughts. My motto: Don’t always think positively, but reflect consciously. The variety of tasks at work and feeling important to others make the day fulfilling. It’s vital to keep small things in view to stay on your life’s path. I try to implement this every moment. It’s worth reflecting on these things. Everyone has their own way of engaging with them. There are many global initiatives and movements that can make a difference, even online. I recommend always being open to new ideas and thoughts. It’s important to show your own stances and sometimes step back emotionally to find solutions. Engaging with these topics changes you and attracts the people you need. It’s up to us to change the world by changing our thinking and taking steps. It’s vital to take every small step to effect big changes. I look forward to future meetings and what the future brings, as I see much potential in our community. If you’re inspired and want to contribute, share your ideas and thoughts in the comments. Everyone can be the change they want to see in the world. It starts with each person. Many thanks for the conversation and the opportunity to be here. Until next time! YouTube Transcript (click to expand)Warm welcome, and I’m thrilled that you’re here and watching us today. We have, of course, another exciting interview ahead, and I’m delighted that you’re our guest. My name is Christine Beutler, your coach for personal development and the founding of free learning spaces and schools. Today, we’re visiting a very dear person, one of the most upright I know—dear Konrad. Many thanks for inviting us and allowing us to be here.Hello! Yes, I’d like to hand over the floor for your introduction because I think you’re an incredibly fascinating person. Okay, I’ll try to keep it short. I’m Konrad Mehlhorn, now 45 years old. We came together especially during the Corona years. Until then, I followed a classic path: completed school, trained as a carpenter, went on a journeyman’s travel, attended master school, and started a business. It’s now merged with another business. We do classic carpentry but also other construction crafts and building renovations. As a second pillar, here in Cauerwitz, where we are now, we started an ice cream production. We market and sell the ice cream ourselves. That’s a brief summary of my journey through life so far. Yes, that’s very interesting. Perhaps we can talk more about Cauerwitz or what we do here during the conversation. Gladly. I think it’ll come up in the context. You mentioned yourself that you had an exciting childhood and youth. Perhaps you’d like to start with that aspect of your life or journey because it’s truly inspiring. Ultimately, you probably only see your past from a different perspective in the future, understanding why certain things happened. Looking at what I’m allowed to do today and reflecting on the freedoms and experiences of my childhood, I feel deep gratitude. As kids, we had many freedoms in the village, spending a lot of time in the forest after school, building huts. I could walk through our woods and streams for hours, telling stories about what we did. The mere freedom to go into the forest as a child was a given back then. It wasn’t like today, where every piece of forest is monitored, and you can’t fell a tree or build a hut. During GDR times, it was part of life. In retrospect, the many group experiences in the forest with that freedom—grabbing hammers, nails, and pallets to build something or dig earth caves, spending days or weeks at a place, making campfires, building huts—provided processes and experiences vital for later life. It’s crucial to express yourself freely in youth to execute things confidently later and not be insecure due to limitations. I’m grateful for that childhood. We went to the village school and, on the bus ride back, planned what we’d do in the afternoon—meet, make campfires, and such. Sometimes it was better if parents didn’t know, but most of our parents thought similarly and did similar things. We never burned down a barn or anything. Yes, these experiences are elemental and important, and desirable for kids growing up today, though it’s massively different now. That’ll surely be part of today’s conversation. Just one example: the forest thing. We built huts with wood for ourselves back then, and today I earn money with it. There was always a connection. I’ve always liked wood. I wanted to be a cabinetmaker initially, but it evolved toward carpentry. With two or three applications my mother wrote, I got two apprenticeship acceptances. I seized the chance and stuck with it. It’s rare, but I think it shows a certain calling. It’s not my whole life’s content but a firm part. That allowed me to try various aspects and experience self-efficacy. It’s similar in craftsmanship today; we work for money but choose projects that aren’t just new builds. I like variety—preserving things. It’s joyful when something is made beautiful with effort, not just for us but for others, like our house guests, who enjoy the many small handcrafted details. Often simple things, but made with know-how and hands, lead to a certain effect—something for the heart, I say. That’s often missing but perceived and appreciated when voiced. There are many networking points with craftsmen in similar areas, like clay plaster or alternative insulation. I heard about something being launched—perhaps you can say a word or two about it for others to look up or learn about. It’s interesting when you choose a direction in life and commit to a path, like us in building renovation. You automatically attract like-minded clients and colleagues. Due to our range and variety, we must collaborate with others, as we can’t cover everything ourselves. We have a company that regularly does clay plaster or blows in cellulose. Now we can also blow in wood fiber. There’s a mutual respect developed over years, very strong and promising for the future, as new ideas keep emerging. I miss the liveliness in repetitive tasks. New things arise, like the hemp fiber you mentioned, Geiseltal, which is trying to build something innovative with insulation in our region. Hemp isn’t new, but we’re attempting to take something old and create new in a world that often hinders. New factories produce insulation for regional distribution, integrating it into this market step by step. Some craftsmen working with it or engaging with the Geiseltal hemp fiber see a certain obligation and purpose. Like us, we started pushing ecological building years ago. When you do it consistently, you only get like-minded clients. Early on, we explained building physics, biology, and the effects of artificial materials. Now we don’t need to; people come because they want those materials and seek us out. It’s an exciting shift in consciousness. Perhaps we just attract it. That’s certainly true. It creates new strength. Hemp fiber didn’t exist recently. It has a parent company supporting it, not starting blindly. Creating new regional markets with respect for those marketing and installing it will definitely succeed. New things need time and perseverance, especially initially. The old has power—insulation was often about mineral wool, the classic. Now new worlds open with other materials. People want them and feel better with lime plaster on their walls. This “it feels better” is a big factor in building. You can really feel it. It’s similar in other areas, like school. How should school feel? It’s akin: things that don’t feel good show change is needed. Yes, that’s what we’re discussing today: How should it feel when I wake up? My daily question: Does what I do today feel good? It’s truly a passion. My dream is, even if I don’t like calling it school—maybe we need new terms to shed negative connotations—for school to become the most comforting place in villages and cities. A place where people, big or small, old or young, can try out and contribute—a community place. That’s my vision, which I push forward, and many join with real power. It’s a nice feeling to say daily, “Cool story, this is fun.” It starts with thinking, daring to imagine what’s possible. That’s a key factor many lack. The enthusiasm you bring to this interview and daily work—where does it come from? Many can’t envision what’s possible in education if we overcome mental limits. Just think, “What if?” The phrase “Act as if” often suffices to overcome your own box or wall. You see it in people’s faces when ideas start flowing. That’s exciting for education. If we don’t dare think, it’ll never happen. I have huge respect for those tackling new things, whether hemp fiber or school projects. We think it, speak it, attract like-minded people, and see how to integrate it into this rigid, inflexible world. It takes time and endurance, but I’m convinced it’ll show and must. Thinking and talking about something new is one thing, but having the strength to stick with it, not give up, go around obstacles like water—that’s key. It’s a matter of time until enough energy converges to make things happen. Connecting old, rigid systems with new, flexible, free thinking needs time. Life isn’t hard, though it sometimes feels so. I’m convinced we’ll make these new things work. Sorry for interrupting, but you’ve gathered many experiences leading to this conviction. It’s like beliefs solidified by positive confirmations in your life. There’s no alternative. Definitely not. Maybe it’s about enabling kids to develop ideas. During Corona, we homeschooled, and I played shop teacher briefly. I said, “Come to the hall, we’ll build birdhouses.” I printed plans, cut boards, and said, “Screw or hammer them, change the form.” Seven kids, mixed. I’m not great with kids or teaching, but in the hall, some were curious, asking about tools or what they could screw. Others needed pushing to reach a goal. I wanted them to think how it should look and draw it. If you have an idea, sketch it. We’ll check sizes, I’ll cut, you assemble. It was about creating what’s in your head. That was the plan. One boy was fascinating. We did it two or three times, as we didn’t finish the first day. He asked for more materials, wanted big holes, curves, rounded edges. He was so into it, I realized we could show more tools or projects to spark interest. We should show such kids what’s possible from their ideas. He demanded more than the group, showing how vital it is to recognize potential. The school issue is kids often don’t know why they’re here by tenth grade. It’s key to foster those who know early. Ask a five-year-old what they want to be—police, firefighter, because they see it. Nurture that, and strengths show fast. If you stick to Germany’s error culture—how many mistakes today? Work on this—it doesn’t help the child. Communicate in a motivational culture, tease out potential, see what each kid can do, support them. Kids and teens can contribute and know what they need to grow. Our adult task is to act, collaborate, create a fitting frame—not every kid fits the same. Small, familial units where education comes to the child strengthen village life. Personal encounters foster friendships and communities. The system ensures a break after kindergarten, disrupting bonds. Some friends go to school with you, not all. After primary, it’s similar, then secondary school. From my childhood: We played in kindergarten, had birthdays, went to school together. In primary, new kids joined from nearby, forming a tight class within a 5-6 km radius. Most stayed until tenth; some went to high school, but the core group held. Years later, we had a first-grade reunion—the original class was key. Having a foundation, roots, knowing your origin is vital. It’s a base to build on anywhere. It’s easier, stronger in a familiar place with roots. Many abroad return because they feel foreign. That shows a stable foundation’s importance. Yes, what you said about schools—here, kids go to different kindergartens, no shared one nearby. They come from various schools by different buses. I see it: In the bus, we had to get home, do essentials fast. We had lists to check off, sometimes helped, then off, as forest time and building were more thrilling than school. No surprise. My soul mission is enabling kids to have these experiences long-term. Most school founders are mothers, men supporting. It’s about giving kids emotional stability via consistent figures in school. What does losing bonds after kindergarten, primary, each step do to a child’s soul? In free projects, adults and kids shape life on equal terms, making life boundless. If adults model this, the world is open, and kids grow with that mindset, seeing endless possibilities. It’s a big issue if kids don’t know what they want after tenth or twelfth. From ’96-’99, I trained with 15 guys, three girls. Few stayed carpenters. Many switched. If school teased out your purpose, you’d enter life with zeal, adding value to society. Many apprentice just to earn for vacations. I see a bigger task: knowing why you’re here. Work, action are key. In crafts, we plan, act, see results daily. That’s satisfying. Buildings from 120-130 years ago still shine, especially renovated well. It’s about quality, not cheap and fast. That creates empowering, joyful spaces. Many think we’re free, but we’re limited. Kids in fifth-sixth now need different growth, more chances to think, act freely, not bound by rules but through action. That builds free thinking. If adults had more calm, we’d have great ideas. Vacations spark plans to act on at home. Adults must create free spaces. Possibilities exist; we set limits. Thinking “no time” blocks priorities. We invest much in new thinking, action. The next generation will think, act differently, easing things. It won’t take long for it to get lighter. I agree 100%. It won’t be long before conditions change. I feel it’s soon. We can create a better world together with new know-how, mindset. Studies show free education’s 40-year history in Germany—evidence it’s right. How that power manifests varies—how many free schools launch because people want them. No one will build a school for your kid to bike to. You must do it. That’s exciting, daunting. Many adults, parents, grandparents think kids must learn uniformly. A free school principal said parents ask at first-grade enrollment what degree their child will get. Degrees are overrated, saying little about a person’s worth or skills. Example: A friend in India homeschooled during Corona. Her daughter and two friends are ready for Realschulabschluss. In Thuringia, homeschooling’s allowed. They attend a course at the adult education center, having learned independently. Educators are thrilled at their self-structure, ambition. Maybe they’re naturally so, but it shows parental effort pays off. The kids know their goals, shown by independence. These kids are strong to accept “no” and need space to unfold, gain experience. Some learn by instruction, others by experience. Kids need many small learning moments to build their own. Those with freedoms, experiences will break old thought patterns holding us in old ways. Forest kindergartens: Kids outside all day, unfolding freely, often don’t fit traditional school. We need concepts building on these to keep their energy. Doing something beautiful, fulfilling energizes us. I told a friend it’s key to feel that joy in us. My Fridays, working for myself, others, not the firm, are priceless. Helping friends gives huge joy, more valuable than workdays for money. More such opportunities would spark immense energy. Friday’s special—I do what I love. It’s not about cars or mortgages but living, not surviving. Ideas exist to change this gradually. We aim for joyful, peaceful coexistence. We can prepare mentally, create spaces for free growth. You see it in apprentices, those abroad a year, like New Zealand, living freely, rediscovering themselves, escaping the hamster wheel. Some in my circle never joined it, doing their thing, working independently for travel, joy, consistently. That’s a different mindset from building, paying off a house, constant work. Sickening structures—same tasks, food, talks, shows—are outdated. Life needs new thoughts. This time, talks like this, are key for new growth. We must let people hear other views, question themselves. Many adults can’t answer what makes them happy—they’ve never thought about it. They’re in the hamster wheel, never taught to think outside it. We must relearn fulfilled, quality life. Many live to work, vacation as reward. It should change. Corona showed much isn’t right. We learned we must interact, decide differently. We’ve read, watched videos to grasp the world, formed views, shared in groups. These experiences opened a new world, like childhood milestones—walking, biking, swimming. It’s about standing for what’s right, acting. I wish this for many—it’s real life. Recent highlights come from what we’ve done. Many work, vacation their highlight. Nice, but true growth is different. This planet offers more than work, vacation. I’ve done much, but true experience is different. We must regain childlike openness to challenges. That’s the biggest task—relearning, acting. Dare new things, even with mistakes. What’s the worst? School buildings, projects: I’ve said it’s sad. 70-80 years ago, village schools were simple—few windows, doors, a shed. Teachers lived above or beside. Kids learned basics. It was simple to set up, teach. Today, imparting knowledge in modern schools is hard—I’ve discussed this. We must find simple ways within what’s here. Others think it’s complex. I respect the local school project: courage, focus on the goal. Things were simpler before, on a different basis. We see our system’s from the 19th century, teachers 20th, kids 21st. It’s worth debating in parliaments how sensible this is, how open we want it. People like you, with such energy, will be invited for your ideas. It won’t suit all kids—each needs different things. But these projects must be seen publicly, not as crazy but serious, worked on step by step. The seed’s sown; soon it’ll bear fruit. Political frames constrain, but it’s crumbling. Interviews like this, inviting politicians, show committed people with concepts, spaces. Support is needed—the kids from these projects are stunning personalities. We need personalities, not order-takers. Old systems made order-takers; we don’t need that. Young joiners are so free, different, they act on thought. It’s about listening, evolving, creating new. I want in—it’s exciting. Many found passion, take responsibility—a big, underestimated lever. Take responsibility, don’t pass it. Stand for things, pursue sustainably. Don’t fall at first resistance. Stick to your idea, find supporters, overcome limits from education or upbringing. And to really stay true to yourself, to stick with your idea and keep developing it further, I completely agree with you. It's just a fascinating story that ultimately reflects life, doesn't it? Because life in a community—everyone has their own reality. You mentioned earlier how it is when all these groups come together or support each other, when networking meetings or regional connection gatherings take place. These are exciting stories that are now flourishing all over the country. Despite everything, it's still about each individual's own reality, isn't it? If you throw the question into a group of 30 people, "What is the world?" you'll get 30 different answers, right? And that's just so symbolic of the different approaches and perspectives, because everyone has their own model of the world and their own map. Definitely. The map is not the territory, and that's just such a fascinating story about how adults can serve as role models for children in the future, showing what community could look like. How we can manage to come together again without egos ultimately becoming overpowering and tipping the community off balance. That's the big challenge now. I can add to that, or rather, share my experiences from recent years. We're lucky that the people in my circle now—four or five years ago, we didn't even know each other. And now, through all these many experiences we've had, starting with all those protests and the influence we had, sometimes even in political circles, and in other groups, dealing with hostilities toward friends and all that chaos we went through, we've become a community that works on so many different topics. The school project is just one thing, right? The knowledge-sharing we do here, and the other thing that's very, very exciting, and I'm very, very grateful for this time, is that we're now with people who basically share the same core idea but still think very independently. We're not always in complete agreement, but the big common goal, where we want to go—this free world, or simply a higher-quality way of being together—we put everything into making that happen in some form, each in their own area, where their strengths lie. We recognize that, and we respect and value the skills each person has. If it's in the area of volunteer work, one or two people take the lead and dive in, while others contribute. Or if it's about building things, like when we're renovating a building right now, and today this or that needs to be done, the people are there, and they just pull through for the action we're doing. In different areas, there's always a leader, and they're the leader, and that's exciting because it promotes and creates community and strengthens this togetherness. We keep solidifying it—not just that we share an opinion because we don't like something, but we really take action. We help each other. There are also several construction projects with friends, where you lend a hand and implement things together. When you see what you've accomplished, it always creates this connection: we did this together, we developed it further, we finished something. And we see now that this spans across so many areas. I couldn't even explain how such a group comes together. I couldn't tell you, if you were a stranger, how we could replicate this. But the key is that we just tackled it, that we did it. So, I always tell people who aren't that far along yet or don't have any groups with similar thinking or perspectives on the world, who say, "I don't have any groups or people around me I can talk to, exchange ideas with, or maybe start something new with," to just stay active in some way, to get involved somewhere. And as you mentioned, the problems that arise when I'm alone in my world—everything's great, I'm the boss, I can live out my ego. But as soon as I enter a relationship, a partnership, a business relationship, a community association, or a group where we want to implement or organize something, that's when you realize where your own flaws still lie, where you still have something to work on. You notice, "Oh, I'm so set in my ways, and everything has to be like this, the table has to be placed this way, the chairs like that, not diagonally or whatever." But to accept that and see it as a challenge, and in all these areas, to keep the big goal in mind: I can learn something about myself again. Being able to observe yourself from the outside—I think that's something admirable about our circle now. Many have learned this over time, to look at themselves from the outside and not get hung up on the many small issues, the little problems. We have a wonderful togetherness and a great time right now, with so many experiences and moments that enrich us. When we look back in 10 or 15 years, the density of experiences will be incredible. Even though a lot of it hasn't been easy for us, and even though the school project here is very demanding and takes up a lot of time, you still see that the field is being cultivated. People aren't doing it badly; it's fun, definitely. But I mean, it's not there yet. And when you think about when it is there, when the first one is standing, and you say, "What's next?"—definitely the second one. I already know that because this desire to show that such a great idea in this world takes time. And through this joyful anticipation and this constant persistence and gathering more thoughts for the idea, it will become so good that it will be copied, copied, copied. It will find so much resonance and positive feedback that it won't just remain a single project. Because the need is there, and if we get to a point where people can freely decide where to send their children, we can change the situation where kids are assigned to certain schools in certain regions. If that barrier is broken, it should be obvious that a child can go to the school that's best suited for them, without a big fuss beforehand. Because the goal is to preserve and support children's minds and their abilities. That thought—that a person's abilities should be at the center of all actions—is really a guiding principle for me, where I say that's absolutely crucial for everything we do from now on. I think so too, because the common goal is to give children a healthy and great start in life, with all the experiences they can gather, to really get the maximum out of it for them. When I see, whether in political circles or other adult gatherings, how quickly children's needs and childlike needs stop mattering—those are just preconceived assumptions that get argued away, quickly dismissed as "we can't afford that, it's too expensive," without even thinking through what kind of framework or financial scope it would actually involve. Because it's not that big. But these are things that get brushed aside so quickly, with horror scenarios or huge bubbles built around them, where I say, "Hey, take the pressure off, just approach it smoothly, everything is doable." There are already hundreds of free projects; it's not like we're doing something completely new. Anyone can do it, but someone just has to tell people that they *can* do it, because most people are shocked to learn that anyone can start a free school. They don't know that, and maybe they shouldn't. But maybe it also takes conversations with people, especially those who have children, in various circles—whether it's the municipal council, the regional council, or the county council—that the influence of citizens in these bodies, where they could show up, is still far too low. People generally say, "What can I do there? That area isn't for the public anyway, and it’s all pointless." But if we can show up with that strength and energy and stand up for things, like a new kind of school, where several parents demand, "We want this project implemented here in our region, what can you do for it?"—then clear demands come, clear calls to action. Then, for example, the municipal council has to deal with that issue. Why would they do it otherwise? It's obvious—they have their agenda set in advance, and everything that's been there so far just flows into it. If nothing comes from outside, nothing comes from inside either; no one thinks to prioritize a topic like schools or even put it on the list. When people demand it from a community or a city, that citizen participation is, from my perspective, absolutely crucial for what's coming next. You can't just say, "They won't do it, there's no money, it's such a victim mentality." And I think getting out of that victim mentality, knowing exactly what you want, doesn't require hundreds of people. Ten or fifteen people who say, "Okay, even hundreds, sure, gladly," but to be realistic, a solid group that has set out to do this with very good arguments about why children, for example, should be educated in such a school, and who can argue convincingly about the benefits, what it does, and what it means for the future, for the next few years, for a region—what kind of personalities will emerge from it. Those are the things that speak so strongly for it, but you still need confrontation in those circles. Like, "This is possible, we can offer this, we have the option to do this and that, so what's it going to be?" And I think that's already showing in many areas. We have so many new people getting involved in the upcoming elections, saying, "I want to contribute to something." I have a real vision for the future. I mean, once you're in a municipal council, regional council, city council, or county council, you quickly realize it's always a track we're put on, and that train moves forward, and you can turn left or right, but you can still steer and influence things with certain ideas. You should take advantage of that within the scope of our regional possibilities. So, I can only advise everyone listening to show up with your ideas, whether it's a school project or something else, to make yourself heard and then stick with it. Say clearly, "We have this vision for our region or our city, and it's needed." Then things will happen accordingly, but it takes persistence. We know that just complaining doesn't get you anywhere, but working in concepts, solutions, and suggestions—whether from the private sector, an association, or other areas—matters. That people really take on this self-responsibility, which has been completely ironed out, trained out of us. People know everything that's going wrong and what's bad, but the next step would be to say, "And that's why we have an incredibly clear mind." I think you could describe very well what the solution would be. We solve problems every day, from morning to night. If we didn't constantly solve problems in construction, we'd never finish. It's always about a situation, an issue, that needs to be resolved, ideally efficiently and cost-effectively. You have to think creatively, and then there's a solution that's beneficial for the client and, ultimately, technically sound for us. That's true in every area. I really like moving in circles where, no matter what topic is being worked on, people think in a solution-oriented way. When you sit together in the evening and talk about a topic, you come out saying, "Okay, we're a step further. There was a new idea, someone had a great suggestion, and this or that still needs to be done." It might be completely offbeat, but let me say it, think about it. That's what's going to shape the future—that all these great ideas come together and manifest from thoughts through words onto paper. That's definitely happening, and we see it in entrepreneurial circles. Many people are fed up, don't want to pay taxes anymore, and are just like, "What's the point of all this?" Because we've realized we're not just working to keep the company and employees thriving, but the huge amount of money we funnel into various institutions—social security, construction insurance, health insurance, chambers of commerce, guilds—those are funds we're massively pushing through so that other institutions, from my perspective, only hold us back from working and create costs in the end. Constantly writing letters, filling out forms, providing proof for this or that—it has little to do with real life anymore. More and more people are recognizing this and complaining, but the question is: What could it look like in the future to become self-sufficient and support projects like these with the possibilities we have? A good example we mentioned before: the Flemmingen kindergarten that was supposed to close because the city of Naumburg thought there weren't enough children, and they could sell the property for money. But the village of Flemmingen decided there would be no sale. The community rallied, with various clubs and a core group and different working groups, to partially rebuild the kindergarten and make it bigger, letting it flourish anew. They've been working on this project since February, and it's exciting because a place that previously had a new housing area and an old one, with little interaction, is now being brought together again through this kindergarten project. Energies and forces are emerging that wouldn't have connected otherwise. That's why I say, in this situation where we can only complain, even as entrepreneurs, that everything's terrible, firms are now stepping up. We said we'd contribute to this renovation, and now firms are working together that never would have collaborated otherwise. We meet, coordinate, and get things done, and it's amazing what's being achieved. It's not just about something going wrong in this country and everything being bad, and now we do this out of necessity. Things and connections are happening that make me look to the future with gratitude, like back in the day in the forest. We have to take back this responsibility. We need to tackle it. Spending time and energy complaining about what's going wrong—sure, we might need that briefly to see clearly—but the moment you stop complaining and say, "Let's do it," and look at what new opportunities arise that day, what conversations, what can be implemented—everyone's happy we're there, and all the other firms that are there are happy too. It's an incredible togetherness, and interestingly, in this case, it has nothing to do with money. We give our labor for a few hours, and everyone's happy. That's a reward that, at the end of the year, outweighs whether we earned money for those hours. We'll remember the joy of the people who thanked us, called out to us, said everything was great, brought sandwiches, and set out coffee. That joy will stay in my memory, and surely my employees' too, longer than the money we could have earned, which we earn every day anyway. It's a fascinating story, and the responsibility of entrepreneurs for the future lies exactly at points like this—supporting things that are emerging anew, where people are forming groups, saying, "We're volunteering our time, planning, organizing everything. Can you help us financially, with labor, with your knowledge?" And that's where I think the school project is incredibly needed. I can only call on everyone who sees or hears this interview to really engage with this. Maybe you can say something about these events you always hold, where you talk about the school project, so that others might be interested in joining and listening. That we come together more and more and get out of this mode of complaining and grumbling. Instead, I have something I can tackle, where I can contribute, where I see it's not all pointless. Maybe schools aren't my big thing, but someone’s doing something, and they need support. The moment I support it, I realize, "Wow, the world isn't so bad." It's not all terrible; we just set our focus wrong. If I spend every day and every hour thinking about what's going wrong, nothing else can show up in my world but what's wrong. But if I start thinking about what good I can do, what I can implement and develop in my own environment, then I meet someone like you, who has this school project, and I help out there in some way. Then I have a part in it—now the kids can go there, they're in that school, and we made it happen with so many people. After the first one, two, or five years, the first kids come out, maybe do an internship, and they're amazing, really sharp. I can already see it. So, a call to everyone who wants to support something like this in any way—this is the opportunity to break out of this mindset that everything is so heavy and fleeting. We can get out of that by actively participating in things that are new, so to speak. The times demand it. Thank you. I think I have a lot of conversations day in and day out with many people, no matter where they are or what they do, whether they work or not. Everyone notices, no matter their position, that things can't go on like this. The range of needs is, of course, immense, and anyone, whether they have kids or not, can gladly support that, no matter where the project is. And especially because we're also active in entrepreneurial circles, as a regionally well-known large entrepreneur by now, you have an incredible reach, which I really admire—how you spread this in those circles, push new ideas, and pass them on. I think that's a absolutely key factor, even in networking meetings or when meeting online via Zoom. It's not about the communication channel but about consciously focusing, with your actions and your way of speaking, on not just the positive but on what's possible, what can emerge. And really reflecting on your own actions—how do I get to a point where I align my camera like that, not always focusing on the negative, which then amplifies into the future or a possible future? With this positive mindset and behavior, you can inspire others without imposing a worldview, but sensitizing them to what it does to you. It doesn't have to work today or tomorrow; sometimes it takes two weeks, sometimes half a year, but for most people, the penny eventually drops that it's a beautiful story. We've already touched on various things in this interview—how wonderful it is to create something positive in people. That surely does something to you as a person, another positive leg for your belief system. It's a great story. Even when I meet someone during the day who has a business and is tackling something, they know what's going on, the tricky situation we're in in this country. Everyone's thinking, "What can we do?" Knowledge is one thing, but acting on that knowledge and having a stance on why you're doing something—that's the challenge for the coming weeks, I'd say. I can gladly talk to people for half an hour or three-quarters of an hour when I meet someone here or there, exchanging ideas about this or that. But at some point, I think, "Knowledge alone isn't enough; it needs action." It needs that moment where I say, "I'm doing something different now." It starts small—we don't have to upend our entire lives—but simply saying, "Where's my task? Where's my area where I can wholeheartedly engage in things that feel good to me and ultimately benefit the community?" The future isn't "I"; it's "we." From the experiences I've had in recent years, everything that happens in groups—when someone wholeheartedly tackles something and needs help in some form, and a few others join in—it’s happening faster and better now. This "we" makes so much possible and makes this world simpler, more peaceful, lighter, and brings about entirely different experiences. Through this "we," we rediscover ourselves—where do I actually belong? You used the term "matrix"—we've let ourselves be pressed into something, and sometimes it feels nice, going to work, earning well, paying off the house, this and that. But now it's getting weird because the money's worth less, and somehow it doesn't cover everything anymore, but you still go out to eat once a month, and it's fine. But this thought of joy, which we've mentioned a couple of times, is increasingly coming into focus. That feeling of being valuable with others, making incredible experiences, and recharging through them—it’s energetic in some way. When you do something, it gains more and more importance. I have to say, even among the people in my circle, the monetary aspect—earning money and having status—is fading into the background. The development we want for the future, this beautiful, vibrant, less restricted world—the term fits quite well because, in a moment where there are no rules or laws, like during that flood disaster, which was a moment of anarchy, everything was chaotic, and people drove there and brought order with all the relief supplies and possibilities to support people. We were there weeks later; they were sitting in a tent with a laptop, with a list of construction sites where something needed to be done. We showed up, said, "We can do this and that, here's the tools, sign this little note, go there." It was low-threshold, simple, all based on trust, and handled by people in the simplest way. That’s how the world works, in my view. It’s a bit unimaginable because we still want repaired roads and maybe some regulations or something, but fundamentally, life and coordinating processes can be totally simple. The question and thought now is: How do we get there? Maybe we really need differently thinking minds to rebuild this giant vehicle driving through the world with all its rules, laws, and norms—how to steer it differently. That’s going to be a challenge, I think, and unimaginable for many. But I have this vision where we can do it if we create enough awareness and imagination that it’s fundamentally possible. It will manifest in some form. It’s not about how we do it, but that we can imagine it. In my whole life, I’ve imagined things I wanted in some way or form, and somehow I got there. I won’t tell too many stories because it might get a bit chaotic, but the imagination of what we want is so crucial—not how we get there. Opportunities and things arise, life pulls them in, and we’ll be surprised by the paths we sometimes take to reach that goal. And if you add the feeling that you already have it, you’re on a completely different energetic frequency than just thinking about it. And if a group does it, like with something as high-quality as a school, bringing that into such a structure is already a challenge, but the energy flows where the attention is, and it’s constantly on this school project. That’s how it is with all my other things. Sometimes I’ve thought about things casually, put real feeling into it, let it go, and today every second guru talks about how wishing or manifesting works. Ultimately, you have to align your own experiences with this knowledge to solidify yourself in what you want to create and talk about these things in such groups. Are we really convinced of it? Do I live it? Am I truly inwardly ready for this school project? If there are still questions or doubts, it’s good to work on clearing those to finally attract it. I find it fascinating with you all—no matter who from your group talks about it, no one talks about doubts, no one talks about what went wrong, no one says others are to blame. Instead, it’s, “Something didn’t go well, we learned from it, next step, new focus.” That’s why it’s only a matter of time—not if, but when it will happen. That’s going to be great at the right moments. That’s why I think your regular meetings and the vision are awesome, that people can come who might just want to support it, saying, “I want to hear about it, meet you all.” This analog connection, sitting at a table, exchanging ideas, drinking coffee, eating cake, and recreating this “we” thought—that’s how we’ll create new worlds. I already see it: people who couldn’t imagine being worth anything recently, even big entrepreneurs who earn a lot, realize that what’s truly valuable is when they feel joy, when they’ve done something good. Good entrepreneurs know that when they give something, they get it back in some form. Life works like that—you put something into a group, a friendship, a relationship, without expecting anything, and it comes back in some way. We see it in our circles; everyone helps each other somehow. It’s not about, “You owe me an hour because I helped you for an hour.” We help, we do, and it comes back somehow, and we’re grateful it all works like that. When you start living that bit by bit, you notice how everything flows more. As we say today, money shouldn’t be hoarded; it needs to flow and move. Then we can all benefit, thrive, and do things. But if we start holding back because we think we need to pile it up, the whole market we’ve created stops working. If it’s a small regional market, those are the things that make me happy when people experience it now—saying, “I got involved somewhere, did something, and wow, it came back.” When we get to experience that insight from others, that’s already amazing. Then I see that things are changing for the better. If you want to see it, you find so many starting points, ideas, or things that have already emerged over the years, fundamentally. Or you can stay in that “everything’s bad” bubble and just poke at it. School founders and school projects live off community; they are community projects. We see across the country that the demand is so incredibly high. I see it in the resonance on social media or when I get messages—how many parents, principals, teachers reach out to me with all sorts of topics. It’s a massive field we can and should tackle. I can only invite everyone to take a look at it. Even with school authorities, building departments, or various offices you come into contact with, where school founders might have fears, we can quickly dispel those. There are grandmas and grandpas, moms and dads sitting there. With proper preparation for those conversations, what you can do communicatively and rhetorically, you see successes. It’s not like everything is massively rejected—not at all. These people see when we come peacefully and with love—not that we bend over backward to please the city, not at all. But when we argue our case peacefully in those conversations, with good preparation, knowing what we want, when we want it, and with which community—having enough people behind you who are passionate and committed, no matter the context—then it’s a completely different fire than if you’re just a small group of four or five simmering your own soup. That’s this commitment, this “we,” and sometimes it’s good not to be alone in certain circles. Whether it’s principals, teachers, or conferences, when people gradually find each other and collectively say, “We see it differently, we want it differently, we need it differently,” because this school system from the 19th century is definitely no longer relevant. It’s even starting to hit the mainstream that people are talking about it. We don’t need 100% agreement that we need something else; we just need a small percentage who persistently bring solutions. Not just complaining in some meeting, saying everything’s terrible and we don’t need this or that, but standing up and saying, “I’ve thought about how we could do it. Here’s a suggestion. Maybe we don’t need to hash it out today, but as a working hypothesis, let it sink in, and next time we’ll see if we’ve all thought about other possibilities.” Instead of dismissing new ideas right away, let them sink in, so those who haven’t seen it that way yet have a chance to engage with it. I might not be against it because it could be good for some. A different kind of schooling might be better for many kids. Some really need that individualized approach, while others thrive in a regular class—that’s totally okay in Germany. People in all areas are starting to speak up more, which is great that you mentioned it. That’s what’s needed now—not just thoughts or sitting at a pub or roundtable complaining, but going out and expressing solution-oriented ideas repeatedly. I see it everywhere I go—when conversations are solution-oriented, others can at least start thinking, “Okay, we have something to consider.” Often, the old-world thinking is, “But how are you going to do that?” If you’re interested in discussing it, let’s meet again and talk. You can’t do everything at once, but the thoughts need to be free enough that it’s possible. We want a different school because we see the need to create something great. Then, of course, people in those circles are important to keep spinning those thoughts and take the pressure off others so they don’t have to work against it, saying, “Not my thing, but if you think it’s good, go for it.” Bringing that into all these circles and communicating it—I think that’s where we are now. I’ve realized after these four years of chaos that the time for talking is over in many areas. You don’t need to dissect everything anymore; more and more projects that have moved past thinking and talking are now being implemented. Things are starting in more areas, mistakes will be made, and they’ll be developed further, but now is the time for real implementation in so many fields. I have to say, it’s always nice with people—some you can party with, but working together doesn’t work at all. I’m grateful that in my circle, it’s not just the desire for a new world or something great, but also actively contributing and tackling things. Not everyone has to be active in every area, and if you feel you have to contribute everywhere, you have to say, “I can’t do it, I can’t handle it, and that’s okay.” Focus on other areas if needed. The key is that we get into action, and that’s what I tell everyone I meet daily: the main thing is we start doing. Even if it’s something small, just do it. Sometimes it can just be a donation—a small donation for a kindergarten or a school project. If you can’t do anything else, give 500 or 1000 euros, and you’re already doing something. You’ve helped the community. The kids are the foundation, even if we adults are managing it societally now, but the kids are truly the treasure that will shape tomorrow’s world. We have no idea what that will look like—it’s in their hands, ultimately, and what we can do to prepare. Just trust that the kids will do it, saying, “Okay, you can do this, I’m giving you the chance.” Like in entrepreneurial circles, preparing networking opportunities or practical orientation for kids. That’s often the argument I encounter. In my earlier life as an employee in the commercial sector, managing trainees or employees, what comes out of schools isn’t necessarily the quality a company needs. Entrepreneurs have been telling me this as long as I can remember—my dad’s an entrepreneur, and as far back as I can think, that’s what colleagues and business owners said. That’s my own experience too, and it’s an opportunity for entrepreneurs to contribute societally, giving young people and kids the chance to explore in their business—whether it’s woodworking, plumbing, or whatever. Let the kids loose, let them sniff around: “What’s this? Does it interest me?” My daughter has worked as a butcher, for vets, all sorts of things. Just let kids explore. Don’t worry about them getting hurt or regulations—screw that. If you have responsible adults or parents who aren’t overly cautious but prioritize giving kids an exciting, practical framework, it’s a playground for entrepreneurs, thinking ahead to succession planning, getting loyal trainees or employees by building long-term connections through internships or whatever you call it. Different regions can design it however they want. If I’m a founder, I can say, “I’ll do a quarter-year internship this school year because it’s good for little Hans.” You package it that way, and it only happens if you want it. It’s all organizable. These are beautiful things we give to founders as a bouquet, a toolkit of possibilities, because the range of what we can do is immense. Every founder’s vision is different, and everyone understands something different by a single word. Philosophically approaching what a core idea could be is exciting, especially at networking meetings where incredible power, motivation, and lighthouses emerge. It gives people courage, especially after these four exciting years. It makes people feel, “I can do this, not just support or help, but I’m part of a community, I’m not alone, I’m worth something, life is beautiful.” These things motivate founders, and sometimes things move fast—bam, bam, bam. Over 100 years ago, entrepreneurs were aware of how important it was to see employees not just as producers to make money but to create entire residential areas, parks—a deeper sense of ensuring people’s well-being, keeping them, and creating new spaces. Today, it’s heading in that direction again, but back then, big entrepreneurs did it differently. From anecdotes I know, when they walked through a factory, they looked after their people, connected with them, saw them. Today, it’s different—every worker is interchangeable, a number. That’s the disorder of our time. I can share a short anecdote from my master’s training, where there was a section on apprentice training. You’re taught how to treat apprentices so they learn. There were various systems, and one part was about motivating the apprentice. I said, “If an apprentice needs motivating for a job they actually enjoy, something’s wrong with them. They’re just in the wrong place.” If they need to be pushed because their girlfriend dumped them, sure, that happens, but if they need motivating for what they’re supposed to do, something’s off. That doesn’t fit my world. If someone needs constant pushing, they belong somewhere else—it’s not a big deal. With our interns, it’s rare that we say they should study instead. Some just want to explore, and afterward, you say, “That was nice, but I see you doing something else.” But the ones we attract, honestly, many go from internships to apprenticeships, fit well in the team, have a real drive to work, and have certain standards for what they do. We just have to make sure we don’t do the same thing every day, offering variety so what they learn with us can be applied at home. Compared to my training firm, where we cut and set up roofs daily, it was always the same routine, rarely a renovation or something challenging. It’s different with us now. That variety makes it exciting for those learning or interning with us, and that’s inspiring. That’s why I’m still optimistic. Our interns show up in wind and weather, even when it’s muddy all week. There are tough ones out there. When people complain there are no apprentices and nothing works, I say we can train them. Last year, we consciously didn’t take any, but otherwise, we can train one every year. That might be due to the group or team now, but it keeps attracting new people and offering internships—letting them come for a week or two, sometimes come back to check again. It’s not just about their skills but whether they fit in the group. Our group is calm, not much talking or fuss—that’s just how it is, and it has to fit. If someone talks non-stop and disrupts everything, that doesn’t work either. You can shape your company or areas to make it work well. It has to function in the group because the collective is a interplay of many individuals, and if one is completely out of sync, it can disrupt the group. In our ice cream company, with some personnel restructuring—three or four new people—it’s interesting to see how they contribute. We have to show them our processes and work methods, but the initiative each brings, because they’re all doers, is amazing. How the team comes together is always a challenge, but it’s surprising how something new forms and works strongly. That only works with people who have some reflection, drive, and passion. When someone leaves their old job because it no longer feels good and needs something new, like selling ice cream, where there’s appreciation—both in the team and from customers saying “thank you”—it does something to you. On a construction site, a 16-year-old told us how great we rebuilt their apartment, thrilled with our work. A 16-year-old saying that—okay, thanks! That people say and share such things is amazing and maybe a sign of the times to pay more attention to what’s done well, what works, and keep the focus there. What you described with the staff restructuring at your ice cream company can be applied to a large school family. It’s an enterprise, starting at point X, with families, adults working with kids daily. If you see the school community not as teachers and parents but as adults jointly engaged in a project for the kids, with different aspects, it has an incredible communal pull. Bringing in the idea that we’re one big whole as adults for and with the kids creates a big school community. But it’s a shift when a new family joins because you’re taking in families, not just kids. If we found new learning spaces with the mindset of only taking in kids, you lose the visions of the adults. They might stand at home asking for grades, certificates, saying, “He can’t do this, she played all day, oh my God, that’s not okay.” I like to sprinkle in the vision of truly taking in families, shaking up the social structure, requiring reflection from the adult community to see themselves as a living organism that grows, adapts, and changes. Nothing’s worse than setting up a system and sticking to it for 30 years. That willingness for liveliness—we wake up early, dedicate ourselves to this school, and every day is different. We don’t do math in the morning, then German, then this. We have a rough plan, sure, like on our construction sites, but we’re flexible. Things need to get done, but how exactly happens organically. It sounds simple, but it makes the day fitting. Last week, I had a day where every two hours I did something else—meetings, building a fence, starting early, with hour-long meetings in between. It was an incredibly interesting day, a bit hectic, but I mostly hit my goals and had so many experiences. It felt like a Waldorf school. We had an evening where we learned how to link left and right brain hemispheres, keeping everything alive, not getting tired, staying in our power. That’s how that day was, and that’s how I imagine school or other interactions where people spend their day differently, even in regular work settings. If we’re renovating or rebuilding houses, it should happen in a way that we can do other things in between to stay in flow, not doing the same thing until we’re tired and done. That day was exhausting but fulfilling—emotionally charged, mentally a bit drained from so much, but happy, truly satisfied. It wasn’t stressful; it flowed together, rich in experiences. That liveliness, that parents see when they come to such a school—“Oh, it works differently”—and try spending a day contributing, maybe cooking, gardening, teaching something they know, rediscovering their own abilities, questioning what they can do, creates a process. That does something to parents—they feel their own liveliness again, realize there’s more in them, it’s fun, the kids listened, found it cool. Maybe only the kids who find it interesting join, and then I’m challenged if they want to build a mansion instead of a birdhouse. That pushes me to think about how to quench their thirst for doing things, how to support it. Everyone’s in this liveliness, this joyful, energetic state. Going home after such a great day is a huge fulfillment and the drive to keep going. I see it coming—it’s a matter of more people wanting and needing it. When the first one’s there, I can feel it. It needs consistency—not just students, parents, educators, supporters—they all need to come together more. The many conversations we’ve had, and I’ve shared with others how important this is, are finding traction faster and faster. We see how quickly a week or month passes—May’s almost over—but it’s not about how fast time goes or stressing about it, but what I did with that time. Did I use it meaningfully? When I go to bed, would I change anything about the day? Do I need to do tomorrow differently, or am I good with how it’s going, falling asleep joyfully and gratefully, saying, “Tomorrow, let’s keep going”? That makes getting up fun when you’re already looking forward to it at night. As entrepreneurs or adults generally, we have the exciting task of giving kids a learning environment where they can work out the meaningfulness themselves. Only if I know why I need to acquire knowledge—like wanting to perfect a birdhouse with materials—does the desire for learning come from within. Then I automatically seek sources for that knowledge, needing to read, write, and calculate. That’s the natural thirst for knowledge, the curiosity kids are born with. If we manage in learning spaces not to destroy but to fuel that natural curiosity, offering a diverse range of topics and inspiring adults who pursue their work with passion—if someone loves woodworking and comes to you, that’s gold. Or someone focused on health topics—there are countless possibilities we can offer kids to see passionate adults. If they see adults are excited, they might think, “That could be fun for me too,” and try it. If you go into companies where 99% of employees are sitting, waiting for the end of the day, saying, “This sucks, can’t wait to call in sick,” why do we expect kids to know what they want after school when they have few role models showing what a positive, happy life looks like? Or even experience in their close circle—parents, aunts, uncles, family—having fun learning, acquiring new things, talking about it with euphoria, like reading a book or an article on a new topic. If kids grow up in an environment where their parents are interested in learning new things, they see learning differently. I can share an example from my close circle: a little boy, hyperactive, gets his pills to calm him down, isn’t the brightest in school, and it’s devaluing—special school, things like that. Instead of looking at how to support him, promote his abilities separately from reading, writing, and math, which are essential and need to be solid. But his skills, what he can do, his energy and joy despite the medication—he’s got it. I talked to him, and he said, “I’ll only help if there’s money.” I said, “Look, all these people helping do it for lunch, coffee, ice cream, because they like helping.” Eventually, he joined in, helped out, and at the end of the day, there was a soda. He didn’t want to leave and came back the next day, asking, “Is there something tonight?” It’s not about rewarding with a soda—that’s appreciation, but being in a group that values him for being diligent, active, sharp, and engaged. You can say, “Thanks for you, you little champ who’s so fit and motivated.” That gives him the feeling that school doesn’t matter—it’ll pass. Reading, writing, math, you’ll figure out somehow, but having someone say you need special school or more pills because you’re a bit hyper? Let that energy out somewhere, do something else. That’s a classic case of high talent, motivation to work, but totally misplaced. That’s my motivation for this interview—to talk about this, highlight a few things, and encourage others to care about these future-defining issues. We don’t want to break kids who are highly motivated, funny, and have their own thoughts. Not destroying their self-worth because they’re not great at reading is essential. He might be a great farmer or something because he can live that out at home. But destroying something that can’t be easily rebuilt—teachers sometimes don’t see it, stuck in their routine, slotting kids into a system, saying, “This school’s better for him.” What that does to them—maybe they just need different support or a different teacher. Some teachers you just don’t connect with; you don’t want to understand them for some reason. Some are just misplaced, but for other students, they might be great. I knew teachers in my school days who worked for me but not for others, and vice versa. Maybe we should make schools more tailored so learning and development happen faster, not sitting around wondering how long it’ll take to master things. Focus on interests after the basics—whatever’s their passion at that moment needs to be nurtured. Everyone in such a school needs to be flexible—not upending everything daily but saying, “Here’s the opportunity.” Teachers need to be so flexible and joyful because they see results faster—kids developing, growing, becoming active, so you don’t even have to monitor them. Like a family with five or six kids—they raise each other, grow, and you can’t keep up. In my entrepreneurial circle, checking kids’ homework is called “self-responsibility,” done. You can’t control everything, and it’s not the end of the world if homework’s not done. With the kid you mentioned who only wanted to work for money, two themes come together: experiencing self-efficacy—what can I contribute to the group, even as a kid?—and acceptance as a valuable community member. Kids rarely have that opportunity societally to feel valuable and contribute. Even in Saxony-Anhalt’s school laws, it says parents and kids can participate and have a say, but in practice, it’s sad. Giving kids the chance to be creative from the start—how do we shape the school, what projects do we do?—together, not just deciding but creating, taps into a well of creativity and ideas. Adults can trust that kids don’t have to do it alone but bring valuable ideas we can appreciate. Kids often think simpler, outside the box, and we can learn from that. The radical way—starting something completely new—is, in my view, the only way. Reforming existing schools with new teachers and pedagogues is so sluggish and can’t lead to something truly new. A new school within the current system can achieve more, be simpler, and truly come alive. Trying to revamp an old school with new staff doesn’t work because not everyone’s fully on board or only half-hearted. A new approach only works if everyone involved truly wants something new. Maybe some parents need convincing because they’re unaware of what their kids can do or how to support them, conditioned by the system we’ve all been through. We need to break and question that. When someone comes with completely different ideas, it might seem odd, but say, “Let’s not judge, see what comes of it, let’s tackle it.” Why shouldn’t it work? Even if we’re trying to think progressively and positively about the future, the craziest ideas shared now could be just as crucial. We need to step back and say, “Let’s try that too.” That’s elemental, and more will emerge. I’m very grateful for the many people who’ve come together in recent months and years, ready to stand up for something new. That makes life fun again—when we don’t do things as before, not living like 2014 or 2015, where a vacation or big renovation was the highlight. These new implementations bring completely different things—this sense of being creators, with energetic connections and possibilities to build with our hands, minds, and tools. If we let ourselves be guided well and trust in togetherness, nothing can go wrong. We don’t need doubts or fears. I’m constantly surrounded by fears in conversations, people not daring to take the next step. I love discussion rounds where there’s real strength, clear ideas, and formulated wishes. Years ago, at a protest, we had people write their wishes for the future, and they wrote worries and woes, which was fine. But now, years later, we’ve done similar things, and people write full texts, knowing what they want, what matters, how it should feel. Through this “we,” we already see it—we can walk into the school, smell it, experience it. It’s just a snap away. Today we’re talking, and a year from now, we’re sitting there, cleaning windows or something. That’s a beautiful thought. I’d love to clean windows—not at my place, at others’. Got a slot tomorrow? We’re installing window sills tomorrow. Okay, I’ll check how clean those windows are. For me, it started in school, during the pioneer days, post-reunification. I was 10, lining up for roll call, marching in step, “Be ready, always ready.” It always gave me unease. Even in kindergarten, leaving home to join groups gave me discomfort—it wasn’t warm, something was missing. I had friends, was well-liked, always pushed to be class speaker, but I never did it. I was an agitator in fourth grade or something—I can’t even explain what an agitator does, but there were meetings where the pioneer leader talked about stuff I don’t even remember. There was a time in school when I didn’t cope with the academic side anymore; it threw me off emotionally. I rejected it deeply. In math, around eighth or ninth grade, I asked the principal what what we were learning had to do with our lives—it was so absurd, and he said, “You’ll never need this, no matter what you do.” That was a key moment. Learning about pyramids, how they were built with giant blocks rolled up ramps—it felt like nonsense as a kid. Building in the forest, moving big things, it didn’t add up. There was always a sense that much of it wasn’t right, reported one-sidedly. After leaving school, I was briefly upset, but mostly relieved. The time between school and apprenticeship felt like now—no obligations, doing what you want. Not in school, not yet in training, every day something new, a bit of work to check off, but otherwise free. That freedom, I wish for everyone tackling something now—that feeling when going to school or work, starting new projects, without being forced, pressured, or dealing with teachers who throw you off. More sensitivity in schools—that’s why this is worth supporting. We shouldn’t have to learn through suffering or heavy experiences. That might have been practical before, but in the future, I see it through joy, interest, lightness, attracting those experiences. That’s a different foundation for how we should learn, and I see it more and more in myself. In a pre-conversation with a friend, we talked about staying in joy, focusing on what we love doing, and only that can manifest. If we focus on “it’s raining again, the tank’s empty, everything’s heavy, I have to go to work tomorrow,” the outside can’t show up differently—it’s just thoughts forming reality. Watching your thoughts is key—not forcing positivity, but in the morning and evening, saying, “I slept great, what’s today, I’m excited.” Take it as it comes, do your best, and at night, reflect: “It went well, with all these things—work, calls, interviews, emails—so many things I get to do, how I’m important to others.” That sense of value is a key, like for the kid we talked about, staying on his path. We should watch out for that without making a big deal—it just happens, and I try to do my best in every moment, reflecting that to others, uplifting everyone. At the end, everyone’s in a good mood, saying, “Today was great, it was fun.” If you can say at the end of the day, “It was an awesome day, I enjoyed every minute”—not every minute has to be great, but self-determined, free, reflective—that’s worth so much. How many people don’t have that? That shows the potential in our community. It’s worth thinking about leaving those old patterns, knowing it’s possible. That flexibility starts with thinking it’s worthwhile to engage with it. Everyone does it differently—some need to get sick first, read a book, attend a seminar. At some point, many start wanting to identify with something else, explore it, watch a video, think, “That’s interesting, it touches me, gives me a new perspective.” We reprogram ourselves that way. The more valuable and joyful those thoughts, the more we build ourselves energetically, have joy, feel less tired, do more, attract like-minded people. It adds up, which is why we’ve mentioned it several times—maybe it’s getting repetitive, but I can confirm it, and everyone engaging with these topics will too. That’s life, liveliness, flexibility, truly experiencing yourself, making it worthwhile and meaningful. I’m excited to see where this leads in the future. There was a vanguard—Flower Power movements, people wanting change, bringing new thoughts. It didn’t fully blossom, got stuck, but was crucial. What’s happening now, in recent years—groups and individuals worldwide tackling things, sharing online—if one starts planting a forest, another plants a tree daily, and now it’s green again. Do, dare, start—every small step can be the beginning. My dear Konrad, would you like to give our viewers one last thought, idea, or call to action for upcoming meetings or initiatives you’re part of? I’ll give you the final word. Basically, I can only advise everyone to show stance, to speak up at the right moments. Sometimes it’s wise to hold back emotionally, because when you’re charged and venting, you can destroy more than you build. When you start approaching people who think differently with solution-oriented ideas, you can achieve a lot. I wish everyone that once you engage with these topics, you change yourself, gradually attracting the people you need in your life. I can only report this from my intense recent years. Those who know me and what we’ve achieved know what I mean. I wish everyone that we leave this world we’re in as quickly as possible, but that’s up to each of us to take a small step. No one’s coming to make it all nice—no messiah, no Trump, no savior. It starts with our thinking, having the courage to say, “Where’s my task? Where do I see myself?” We can talk about others who might be misplaced, but look at ourselves and say, “Today, I’ll change something.” I wish that courage to all of us. We’ll keep evolving, but start by opening up to new thoughts and ideas. Once you do, it’s a bit childlike—kids are so open, absorbing everything, filtering what they need. We’ve experienced that enough in recent years. I wish that for everyone because it speeds up processes, gets things moving. It’s happening massively now. For those who don’t see it yet, I can encourage you—every small step engaging with this new thing is so worthwhile. Sometimes it’s just a tiny thing that tips big things or brings the right people together. That’s my task—connecting people who want it, are ready, for a wonderful future. Thanks for the conversation, dear Konrad, for your open, honest way, sharing your life, thoughts, and visions. I’m excited for every future meeting, from window cleaning to more. Heartfelt thanks for having us. If you feel inspired and want to contribute an idea or thought to our words, leave it in the comments—your ideas, wishes, visions, or feedback on what you liked or want in future interviews or partners. I’m grateful for any feedback. Otherwise, I encourage everyone to be the change. If you want the outside to change, start with yourself, reflect on your behavior, what you can change. You can’t expect the outside to change without influencing it with your actions, taking responsibility. A heartfelt invitation to all who want to change, support us, or back various projects—find more info on my social channels, linked below the video. I’m excited for the next interview, heading north soon, another exciting story. Share your wishes and dreams; we’ll work on them together. For now, bye, and I’m excited to hear or see you soon. Enjoy the time, enjoy life, and be the change. My name is Christine Beutler, your coach for personal development and founding free learning spaces. Bye for now! Author: AI-Translation - Christine Beutler | vor dem 01.07.2024 |
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