Sorgenfrei ApS

"I asked you what time it was... Don't build me a watch" We’ve all been there. You ask a startup entrepreneur about what their business does, and ten minutes later, they’re still talking, and you still aren’t sure. And it’s one thing if the person has you cornered in a room, but if you’re looking at their website, you’ll click away and move on to something else. We have so little time to convey our ideas and visions, and we’re so overloaded with information hitting us from every angle. Because of that, I’ve been working the last year to hone my skills in creating clear, succinct written communications. Here are the three most important things I’ve learned: ✍️ Plan and organize your thoughts. Create an outline or a mental map of the main points you want to convey. This will help you stay focused and ensure that your writing flows logically. ✍️ Use simple and precise language. Avoid using overly complex words or jargon unless necessary for your specific audience. (here’s a simple fix - replace “utilize” with “use”) ✍️ Edit edit edit. It’s easy to fall in love with your first draft. Don’t. Look at your copy with a critical eye. Read it out loud. If you stumble when saying it, they will when they’re reading it. And with that, I’ll keep this short; see you soon!

Comparison vs. Compassion Today, I compared my life to someone else’s, feeling that they had everything while I had nothing. Ironically, just this week, I counseled a client who felt the same way, advising him to reflect on his life and priorities and consider if what he had wasn't already enough. As a reminder to my client, I told him that people look at him and feel jealous because of his successful career, happy family, and the exciting life he leads. Yet, we all compare ourselves to others more often than we should, leading to feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and sadness. This habit of comparison only brings us down and gains us nothing. To change my perspective, I realized that my life is unique and the best it can be simply because it is mine. I acknowledge that everyone faces challenges and feels jealous of others, but it’s important to avoid dwelling on these feelings. Instead, I have minimized my pangs of jealousy through meditation on compassion, cultivating kindness and empathy for myself and others. Whenever jealousy creeps in, I remind myself that it’s a natural feeling that makes me human, but it’s not worth my time and attention. Instead, I treat myself kindly and focus on the good things in my life.

5 things you can do to boost your energy throughout the day 👇

Let people work from wherever the hell they want to. While back, it was in the news that Zoom would start requiring employees who live within a 50-mile radius of an office to be in-person on a part-time basis. Sure, it made for some funny headlines that the company who most supported remote work during the pandemic was doing this, but they’re far from alone. Organizations across the world have started to mandate coming back to the office - some as stringent as four days a week. This needs to stop. Companies are thinking about this the wrong way. While the bosses can talk about bringing people back to have more opportunity for face-to-face collaboration, it’s balderdash. They’re just trying to recoup their sunk real estate costs by filling seats in offices. And who does this hurt? Those who are most vulnerable. ☹️ People who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. ☹️ People with lower incomes who have to pay for childcare. ☹️ People who support elderly parents. It’s time to rethink the way people work... permanently. By requiring people to come to an office, you’re eliminating hiring the best person for a position if they don’t live in the right place. If my ideal candidate lives in Dubuque, Iowa - that’s who I should hire. Want to build in-person camaraderie? Great. Here’s a plan. Downsize your corporate office space. You’ll save lots of money not just on the real estate, but also heating and cooling costs, maintenance, etc. Use that saved money to bring your team together in person a few times a year. If you end up having a cluster of employees in one geographic area, rent some shared office space so they can see each other occasionally. Remote work is not going away and trying to fight it is folly. As the saying goes: “You can’t stop the waves, so you might as well learn how to surf.” What does everyone think about mandating returns to offices?

Shanti shanti shanti I've written about the myriad of benefits I’ve experienced by jumping into the frigid ocean every morning. But great things also come from doing just the opposite - meditating. Now, I’m sure many of you know all about the positive effects of meditation - lower stress, calmer and clearer thinking, and more. My journey to meditation was not a smooth one. I struggled with the act of meditation for years. I tried recordings, apps, you name it - but I found sitting still and being totally quiet impossible. Well, as I am wont to do, I took extreme measures. I went on a silent retreat for five days. 120 hours of no speaking - just calmness... meditation… and peace. And it stuck. I now meditate every day, sometimes sitting in silence in the early morning, sometimes guided by an app. But I also meditate in less formal ways - something I call “snap meditation.” It can just be a few seconds of calmness and centering when I feel the stress start to rise - whether I’m in the car, waiting at a long security line at the airport, or on hold with the cable company. To the outside world, this snap meditation isn’t apparent - they just see a calm exterior that is responding to events… instead of reacting. My clients notice it too. In fact, some of them call me an old, wise monk. I really like that nickname - and not just because my smooth skull matches the description. I appreciate it because I know that if I’m calmer, I can bring some of that stillness to them in the midst of their stressful jobs. Namaste.

My son (12) asked me what it takes to become “successful.” This is the list I came up with: 1. Be honest 2. Care for others 3. Try to be positive 4. Do the best you can 5. Say thank you and please 6. Cheer for others’ success 7. Do what you say you will do 8. Make your bed, put your clothes in the hamper, set the table, do your homework, laugh at my jokes, never move out, keep being awesome, etc.

I teach non-people persons to become people persons pronto. (say that quickly five times) Want to manage people 1:1 better? Here are four quick ideas you can apply today: 1 )Before offering constructive criticism, inquire about their self-assessment. 2 )Before dictating a course of action, ask how they would tackle the issue independently. 3) Before taking on a challenge, solicit their suggested approach. 4) It's often not expertise they lack, just the courage to apply it. Happy to chat if you feel like your people skills could be improved :)

Avoid getting lost in meetings Have you ever been in a meeting where nothing got accomplished? Never? Congratulations - here, have some cake 🎂 If you have, here’s one reason why: The group has not agreed on the question(s) it is trying to solve for. Agree on the questions, if not the answers, and you will be 90% of the way there to an effective meeting. That’s it. (almost) The rest is: clear agenda, prepared people, additive contributions, right people in the room, clear outcomes and todos, not too many people the room, etc. 😎

Your reality Your reality is someone else’s past → Reach out and up, people are happy to help, soothe or give you a kick in the pants as needed. Your reality is someone else’s future → Offer support, listen, explain and guide. They might feel lost, and you will make a difference. No matter where you are, you are not alone, use it and be useful…. 🖖

This is how I learned how to get the right stuff done in the right order 😎 (if you don’t struggle with this, congratulations, no need to read further) Early in my career on Wall Street at UBS, I was taught the importance of prioritization under pressure. Yet, my entrepreneurial ventures truly tested my ability to focus on what matters most. Building companies from scratch taught me that prioritization isn't just a skill—it's essential for survival. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 I developed a system to evaluate and prioritize tasks based on their potential impact on my businesses, drawing from my diverse experiences from UBS to launching my startups. This approach helps me, and now my clients, stay focused on strategic goals rather than being overwhelmed by daily tasks. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Reflecting on my years working across global markets—from Copenhagen to San Francisco—I realized the immense value of diverse perspectives in maintaining accountability. Connecting with fellow founders and CEOs in my international network isn't just about sharing advice; it's about holding each other accountable to our commitments. Whether it's a check-in call with a peer in Mexico City or a strategy session with a partner in Zurich, these interactions reinforce my commitment to my prioritization system. 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: 𝗔 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 No matter where I am in the world, from the bustling streets of Paris to the quiet of my home office in Copenhagen, I always return to my system. This iterative process of reviewing what works and refining what doesn’t ensures I remain agile and focused. Like you, I’ve struggled and learned. But through a consistent system and a supportive community, I've found a path that works—not just for me but also for the many founders I coach around the globe. Remember, the right system and people can transform your struggle into success.