Leaving a Company You’ve Been Fully Invested In All Your Life - Episode 11

“I got sick of my own conversations… of my own victimizations. When I learned that in her eyes I was not the man I can be and in my own eyes I wasn’t — that’s a freaking crisis.”

In this episode of Traust du dich zum Frank, I speak with my brother from another mother, Rich Rothman, one of the most self-developed people I know. I consider myself blessed to have him in my life. Together, we delve into Rich’s transformative journey, navigating a personal and professional crisis that reshaped his life.

Rich recounts his experience of trying to make a U.S.-based consulting business succeed in Asia, grappling with cultural differences, headquarters’ rigid perspectives, and the unique challenges of integrating family ties within the company. What began as a “dream family adventure” gradually morphed into the most challenging environment of his life. For four years, Rich faced tensions between personal values and professional obligations, all while feeling increasingly disillusioned and betrayed by the very institution he had poured his life into.

This episode is about more than just leaving a company — it’s about stepping out of the shadows of those we admire, regaining lost self-confidence, and being true to ourselves. Rich’s story embodies the courage to preach and live an authentic life, even when that means jumping out of the fifth-floor window because staying in the flames is no longer an option.

We explore how crises serve as portals to new worlds, enabling us to arrive as someone unrecognizable to our old selves. Rich reflects on rebuilding relationships in powerful, transformative ways, and how hitting rock bottom can lead to profound personal growth.

This conversation isn’t just about surviving crises; it’s about thriving and embracing the transformation they bring.

Shownotes:

Book recommendations

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/4-Hour-Workweek-Expanded-Updated-Cutting-Edge/dp/0307465357

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Blake-Mycoskie/dp/0812981448

https://www.amazon.de/s?k=seth+godin&__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=1258IZC81G0S0&sprefix=set%252Caps%252C931&ref=nb_sb_noss_1