WDIC - What Did It Cost

Oliver Küchholz

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Business
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True stories of success and what you had to give up!

Oct 15

Stress Is Not The Enemy

Does stress make you successful? I surveyed 120 working people, from €20,000 to €376,000 a year, to find out. I expected the answer to be yes. My own data proved me wrong. In this episode of Leading Through Change: – Why the top earners in my study reported less stress, not more – The one factor that mattered most: how you cope with pressure– What did not hold up: two of my own hypotheses, and the surprising result on social support– The biggest weakness of my study, and what other research says about it– A 30-second self-check: are you in the low, the optimal or the high zone right now? The guiding idea: it's not the stress that decides your success. It's the price you're willing to pay to cope with it. Tell me in the comments: low, optimal or high. Where are you right now? SourcesLazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping.Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation.Korman, J., Van Quaquebeke, N., & Tröster, C. (2021). Managers are less burned-out at the top. Journal of Business and Psychology.Richardson, K. M., & Rothstein, H. R. (2008). Effects of occupational stress management intervention programs: A meta-analysis.DAK-Gesundheit: sick leave analysis, first half of 2026. This episode is about everyday work stress. It is not medical advice. If stress is affecting your health, please talk to a doctor or therapist. WDIC – What Did It Cost. Hosted by Oliver Küchholz.
Sep 24

Change Is The New Constant

In this first episode of a new season, I'm not starting with theory — I'm starting with the number that made me start this season in the first place: roughly 51,500 jobs disappeared from Germany's auto industry in a single year (6.7% of the entire workforce). And the sector keeps shrinking. If you've ever repeated the claim that "70% of change initiatives fail" — so have I. Turns out, no real study has ever proven it. I trace exactly where that number came from, why it's stuck around for three decades anyway, and what the real, verifiable numbers on organizational change look like instead. You'll also get: Why most change efforts actually stall (Kotter, 1995) — and it's rarely the strategyThe difference between "change" and "transition" (Bridges, 1991) — and why most leadership advice only talks about the first oneA 3-question self-check you can run today, no five-year plan requiredThis is "Leading Through Change," the new season of What Did It Cost, hosted by Oliver Küchholz. Sources: Kotter (1995, Harvard Business Review) · Hughes (2011, Journal of Change Management) · Bridges (1991, Managing Transitions) · Destatis/EY · Institute of the German Economy (IW) Watch the full video version on YouTube! https://www.instagram.com/wdic_whatdiditcost/
May 22

The Expectation Gap

Why do we feel disappointed even when nothing actually went wrong? In this episode, we explore the hidden force behind frustration, conflict, and unmet expectations: the gap between what we expect and what reality delivers. From overhyped parties to performance reviews, relationships, and special occasions like New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day — it’s often not reality that hurts us, but the story we created in our minds. Backed by concepts like Optimism Bias and Expectation–Disconfirmation Theory, this episode breaks down why we systematically overestimate positive outcomes — and how that quietly sets us up for disappointment. More importantly, you’ll learn how to: recognize invisible expectationscommunicate them clearly in work and relationshipsand close the gap without losing ambition or meaningBecause in the end: We don’t suffer from reality — we suffer from the difference between what we expected and what actually happened.
May 15

The Price of Distraction

This episode explores why most people fail to reach their fitness goals — not a lack of effort, but distraction. Backed by research, it shows how smartphones, weak intensity, and unclear goals destroy progress, while focus, training close to failure, and simple biohacks unlock results. You can optimize the path—but never remove the cost.
May 8

The Point of NO RETURN

A powerful exploration of life´s defining decisions, thistalk reveals why most people avoid the "point of no return". Blending personal story with psychology and real-world examples, it challenges the audience to confront fear, reclaim control, and ask the ultimate question: What will it cost if you don´t ACT?
May 1

234 vs. 78 hours - The 30min Training - failure with precision.

This method proves that intensity beats time: short, controlled, high-effort workouts trigger maximum muscle growth through mechanical tension, metabolic stress, and full fiber recruitment. By training to failure with precision, you achieve better results in 30 minutes—without sacrificing your time, energy, or life.
Apr 24

Losing Yourself

Reveals the hidden cost of fitting in and the power of being authentic. It shows that true impact comes not from conforming, but from being yourself - and ask one key question: What is it costing you not to be you?
Apr 17

The Cognitive Limit

This episode explains how constant distractions overload the brain’s limited capacity—your “cognitive tube.” Studies show interruptions, multitasking, and noise reduce focus and productivity. The result: mental exhaustion, poor decisions, and lost performance—the hidden cost of modern work environments.
Apr 10

BEAUTY is STRATEGY

WDIC - What Did It Cost? explores why great work alone isn´t enough. From presentation to perception, this Episode dives into how beauty, design, and intentional choices shape success and the price you pay when you ignore them.
Apr 3

If you´re NOT VISIBLE... you DON´T EXIST.

If you're not visible, you don't exist. This episode explores how to break out of the crowd, build influence, and create opportunities by being seen in the right places, at the right time.

10 Episodes

True stories of success and what you had to give up!

Creator

Oliver Küchholz
Years Active

2026
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Oliver Küchholz
Show Website

WDIC - What Did It Cost