That doesn’t work like that, don’t even try it!

It must be possible to crack it!
It is entirely in order if humans are content with that, which can be reached indeed.

Statements like, you have to accept that, that’s not possible, or that’s without alternative, incite me to contradiction. There must be a way to crack that!

The history of human progress is full of examples where things which were held for a long time as impossible suddenly became a reality. We owe such progress to women and men who were unsatisfied with the statement, which is impossible but tried it anyway. But, of course, with the risk of failure. So many failed in their attempt to find a solution until someone finally made the breakthrough.

Careful risk analysis shows wisdom and a sense of responsibility. But if it leads to taking only manageable risks, it will not be possible to go beyond the scope of what is conceivable now and to find new ways of thinking and acting.

Great researchers and entrepreneurs are characterized by the fact that they have jumped over the safety limit. They have counted on the fact that where they could not look, there is solid ground that supports them. And often enough, this risk has been rewarded with success.

We must first try and possibly fail, perhaps even fail several times, before we can be satisfied that things, at least at the moment, do not (yet) work. So simply pointing out that it can’t be done and is too dangerous does not convince me.

This is true for my daily work as a consultant and coach, and it is also true for the current situation of our world.

When one of my coachees tells me something can’t be done any other way, I naturally ask: „What alternatives have you tried? If he tells me that there are no alternatives, I work with him to find options and accompany him in trying out alternatives. And, of course, some are feasible. It is possible!

When I was still a young employee of the Protestant church, we had a heated discussion about whether the Sermon on the Mount by the man from Nazareth could guide political action. We were told at that time that it was not possible, as it was too unrealistic!

Now, 50 years later, I see that what was then considered realistic behaviour has led to the brink of destruction. So what prevents us from subjecting the alternative program of human love and care for each other to a radical practical test? This risk is manageable compared to the failure of the previous program of action.