The Person
Like anybody else, I remember happy times and sad times when I reflect on my childhood years. I grew up in a Jewish family during World War II. We lived on a farm in a small village in Switzerland, close to the German border. The love and shelter I received at home stood in stark contrast to the brutal war raging practically at our doorstep. I remember many different faces from those hard years that trigger in me today the wish to relate with compassion to people in difficult situations. Those early, dramatic years also sparked in me a lifelong passion to understand why so many people are uncritical – why they unquestioningly believe everything they are told.
Now that I am in the third act of my life, I often ask myself: “What did I learn?” and “What was it that turned the country boy with low self-esteem into a balanced, positive, and successful person?” I have reduced the essence of my life experience into three seemingly simple points that you can read by clicking on “My Top Three Beliefs”.
I now live in Toronto, Canada, and feel very much at home in this beautiful country.
Animal lovers take note: My passion is dogs. One of my favorites is Shaya, my Golden Retriever. The dog in the picture above is called Tick Tock, because she wags her tail all the time.
The businessman
I have always had a passion to understand how people think and why they think the way they do. I am especially fascinated by the way people communicate under tough conditions. It’s no coincidence, then, that I have always worked in fiercely competitive businesses.
The first company was a wholesale food chain for a big company that I worked for. I called it Cash and Carry and it became very successful. But after a few years I decided to go in business for myself. I needed a lot of courage, because I didn’t have enough money for this venture. I was very grateful to my employer for giving me a loan that allowed me to move on.
The first company that I built for myself was a low-cost food discount store that I called Pick and Pay. We (my wife, Lucie, and I) opened the first store in Zurich, Switzerland. Over a period of 14 years we developed it into a chain of 19 stores and then sold it.
I am and have always been a techno-junkie. So it was again no coincidence that I opened the first computer store in Switzerland. I gave it the name Microspot. After a few start-up problems, which I describe in detail in my book Wet Behind the Ears, it became very successful. I eventually sold it to a big corporation.
After selling my companies, I became a journalist, author, and speaker. It felt great to receive this note from my publisher: “You have a unique writing style and you are an expert in breaking complex matters into smaller components to make them easily understandable and fun to read.” Thank you, Martin!
The author
I have written nine books, of which several have been bestsellers. Allow me to reflect on the books that are available in English.
Don’t Take No for an Answer
I strongly believe that one of the key factors for success is the ability to persuade others on a give-and-take basis. That is exactly what this book is about. In it, readers can learn how to get what they want without making enemies.
Wet Behind the Ears
This book is my life story. I wrote it to help others be successful in business. My aim in this book is to help them learn from my mistakes – and thus avoid making the same mistakes themselves.
Not at My Expense
I wrote this book for people who have a problem defending their own interests and are often taken for a ride. The book has dramatically improved the self-confidence of many who have read it.
