“It’s much more important to know what I can’t do” – Axel Kaiser from Denttabs

Axel Kaiser is the founder and CEO of Denttabs, an impact company that not only stands for healthy dental care with toothpaste tablets, but also for a sustainable economy. In addition, Kaiser has been a member of the board of the German Sustainable Economy Association (BNW) since 2007 and is a co-founder of the Circular Packaging Initiative.

In the “5 things I can’t work without” series, Axel Kaiser reveals what he personally needs in his everyday work to be productive.

My limits: It’s good to know what I can do. It’s much more important to know what I can’t do! I’ve had to learn the hard way over the years that even I can’t give more than 100 percent energy and burn out trying to do everything myself. My learning for a long time is therefore: I do everything that nobody else can do better. And I support all the people around me who know an important topic better than I do.

Coffee and cigarette: I’m not the classic morning type and, like many others, I don’t have an extended morning routine that stretches over hours. It always took me a little longer in the morning. That’s why I like to get up early before work, sit on the balcony with coffee and a hand-rolled cigarette and let my thoughts wander. This is how I slowly start the new day, calm inside and full of energy at the same time.

Mobile office: Like everyone else who still knows a world without smartphones, Zoom meetings or Google Docs, I still remember very well the time when I had to rush to the technical department, i.e. to the office, to write an email or read a fax. I’m a big fan of taking everything with me these days: iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Teams and Asana. Because I love being able to work flexibly in terms of space and time. I am convinced that this is the future. Many of the people I work with are hundreds of miles away from me. If you do it right, it can often be much more productive than the classic shared office.

Bahncard 100: I hate having to plan appointments and the associated travel bookings well in advance, for example to get the best price for a train ticket. That’s exactly why, and because I’ve always wanted one, I’ve bought myself a Bahncard 100. It’s a great thing.

Trust and Intuition: Not only do I believe that our product is right and important, I know it. And I have faith that all the knowledge and insights that come with it will prevail. Without this inner security I would not have been able to go down the path I have taken so far. This basic trust guides me in my work and has helped me to clear many stumbling blocks.