{"id":8454,"date":"2018-02-19T10:24:17","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T10:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/?p=8454"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:25:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:25:49","slug":"18-years-as-an-independent-entrepreneur-a-reason-to-celebrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/en\/18-jahre-selbstaendig-als-unternehmerin-ein-grund-zum-feiern\/","title":{"rendered":"18 years as a self-employed entrepreneur - a reason to celebrate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On 18 February 2000, a grey February day, I paid the 50 D-Mark fee to the clerk in a neon-lit office and put my signature on a piece of paper. This made it official: I was self-employed and the owner of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.down-to-earth.de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Down to Earth<\/a>. I was a newborn entrepreneur. At least a little bit. I still had to grow into the role. That was going to take a while.<\/p>\n<p>Now, 18 years later, I look back on many challenges and successes and reflect. 3 x 6 aspects.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-273 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kerstin Hack - Entrepreneur, ship owner, coach\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Kerstin-Schiff-7-bcm.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>What I am proud of as an entrepreneur<\/h3>\n<p>There are many things that fill me with gratitude and pride. Here are my top 6:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Down to Earth is still here. Unlike 90% of all start-ups, we have survived.<\/li>\n<li>My team and I never stand still, we are constantly learning.<\/li>\n<li>We were able to strengthen and inspire many people and help them move forward in life.<\/li>\n<li>We have found a way in which I can authentically express my convictions.<\/li>\n<li>I have worked well with some people and business partners for many years.<\/li>\n<li>We didn't copy what everyone else was doing, we found our own style.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What I find difficult as an entrepreneur<\/h3>\n<p>When I look back, I realise that I lost a lot of time and energy in unnecessary places. My top 6 mishaps:<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/en\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8460\" src=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2017-12-09-17.59.34-1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Booklists Down to Earth - also part of the life of an entrepreneur\" width=\"206\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2017-12-09-17.59.34-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2017-12-09-17.59.34-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2017-12-09-17.59.34-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 206px) 100vw, 206px\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>We were never super good at controlling - it would often have been good to check a process once more.<\/li>\n<li>Because I'm not really into working with technology and tools, our processes were often too time-consuming and cumbersome.<\/li>\n<li>I often shied away from marketing. I didn't want to be too vocal, so I was often too quiet - people we could have helped didn't find us.<\/li>\n<li>Too much of a good thing can be wonderful - or a burden. We have often done too much (at the same time).<\/li>\n<li>Out of consideration for others, I have often acted too late and then had to bear financial or organisational burdens.<\/li>\n<li>We were too cheap for a long time and still are in some areas. Because we have to give other retailers high discounts, sometimes over 50 %, it is often too tight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In my <a href=\"https:\/\/heartofberlin.de\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">English blog<\/a> I learnt even more about the intensive <a href=\"https:\/\/heartofberlin.de\/work\/business-going-from-helplessness-to-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">internal processes<\/a> of being an entrepreneur.<\/p>\n<h3>What I will do now<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/yes-she-can.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8461 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/yes-she-can-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kerstin Hack - yes she can\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/yes-she-can-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/yes-she-can.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>Standing still is not an option. I suspect that I have not yet fully realised the potential of what we have developed so far.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep learning! I've signed up to a few online courses to gain the knowledge and skills I need. Among others at <a href=\"http:\/\/joinbschool.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Marie Forleos B-Shool<\/a>, but hope to win a scholarship #winBSCHOOL. I have created an English <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8JnV5gnzhTE&amp;t=13s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Video<\/a>\u00a0with a German accent, which you are welcome to watch and comment on. I look forward to your feedback.<\/li>\n<li>I want to actively seek ways for people who don't know us yet to discover what we have to offer.<\/li>\n<li>Optimise processes and use suitable tools to streamline workflows.<\/li>\n<li>I want to learn to think things through even more carefully than before.<\/li>\n<li>Less is more: I want to be more selective about which projects we invest time and energy in.<\/li>\n<li>I want to combine travelling, projects and tasks instead of jumping back and forth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>You can give me a present - a few ideas<\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps you have been enriched by what my team and I have done for you and you have the desire to give something back to us.<br \/>\nIf so, we have a few ideas here:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/magazin.down-to-earth.de\/gratis-e-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5187\" src=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kerstin Hack 100 x lighter into the new \" width=\"229\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-88x88.jpg 88w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/100xLeichter_ins_Neue.jpg 1240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/a>Feedback:<\/strong> Comment and tell me how Down to Earth has enriched you, and\/or send\u00a0<strong>good wishes and blessings.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Memory pictures.<\/strong> If you have photos of events with us, please send them to us.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support,<\/strong> to finalise the solar system for the ship (2500 euros are still missing) so that we are completely environmentally friendly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Valuations<\/strong> of our titles, e.g. on our website or on the major online portals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tells<\/strong> others from Down to Earth - this helps us to inspire more people and also to work more efficiently.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Social media:<\/strong> Why don't you share something from us on social media: for example, your favourite titles, the link to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.down-to-earth.de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Down to Earth<\/a>, to the A<a href=\"https:\/\/www.down-to-earth.de\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Sign up for our free fortnightly inspiration letter<\/a> or to one of our great\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/magazin.down-to-earth.de\/gratis-e-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Free ebooks.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of this would help us to become better known and to inspire and empower more people with the same work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Now I'm celebrating and I'm excited to see what I'll be looking back on in 18 years' time!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Am 18. 2. 2000, einem grauen Februartag, habe ich in einer neonbeleuchteten Amtstube der Sachbearbeiterin die 50 D-Mark Geb\u00fchr gezahlt und eine Unterschrift auf ein Blatt Papier gesetzt&#8230;.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"18 Jahre selbst\u00e4ndig als Unternehmerin","_seopress_titles_desc":"Kerstin Hack ist seit 18 Jahren  Unternehmerin und Inhaberin von Down to Earth. Jetzt, 18 Jahre sp\u00e4ter blickt sie auf viele Herausforderungen und Erfolge zur\u00fcck","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[242,1,21,1078],"tags":[1286,1284,1096,20,378,722,1285,381,1052,950],"class_list":["post-8454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buch-kultur","category-leben-meistern-swing","category-sinn-produktivitaet","category-vision-ziele-kreativitaet","tag-bilanz","tag-buchhandel","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-erfolg","tag-grunden","tag-reflexion","tag-rueckblick","tag-unternehmensgrundung","tag-unternehmerin","tag-verlag"],"featured_image_data":{"id":8459,"url":"https:\/\/kerstinhack.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2017-12-14-14.59.03-e1519035685367-150x150.jpg"},"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":242,"label":"Buch und Kultur"},{"value":1,"label":"Leben meistern - 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