2022 and the rise of statworx next
Last Friday, December 31, an amazing year came to an end, both for me and for statworx. The year 2021 was marked by (too) much work, great successes and victories, but also bitter defeats and losses. So many things happen over the course of a year that are worth experiencing, be they good or bad, and that remind me again and again why I love what I do. 2021 was certainly one of the most exciting, challenging but also rewarding years of my professional career so far. Like last year, I've decided to start this year with a brief review of 2021 and give an outlook on what's on the agenda in 2022. Spoiler alert: This year is already casting big shadows ahead — due to the rise of statworx next.
2021 - The year in review
Despite the ongoing pandemic, statworx had a very successful financial year in 2021. After a rather unspectacular year 2020, my team and I succeeded in significantly increasing the turnover, size and impact of our company in 2021. The important 4th quarter in particular had a different effect this year and once again significantly increased our sales and earnings figures. In addition to pure figures, our teams have achieved many great things: We have introduced new departments and functions, both in the front and back office. We're now using OKR as our official goal-setting framework. We had a Exit our first start-up investment in Databricks. We have invested in three more AI start-ups. We have joined several associations, such as KI Federal Association and AI Frankfurt. We have trained young people in AI. We have attended great events such as the Fifteen Seconds Festival in Graz, the Startup Safari in Frankfurt, Deploy (impact) or SDS201 in Switzerland participated and contributed to it. And so on, and so on. The list could go on and on. Here are a few more personal impressions from this great year at statworx.
Last but not least, 2021 was also our 10-year company anniversary! In January 2011, the first StatWorx website went online. I've written a separate blog post about this. The year 2021 brought us some really great experiences, but at the same time it also brought many new challenges for our growing company.
Successes and challenges go hand in hand when it comes to growth
It is difficult to let a company grow. It's really hard. As we approach the 100-employee mark step by step, many things in the company are changing — and must change. “Disseminating news over lunch” becomes “official communication.” “That's always been the case” becomes a documented process. Promotion criteria are standardized. Career paths are being developed. Personal situations are changing. Employees leave the company to seize new opportunities. Internal politics are coming up. You know the deal. Don't get me wrong, growth is a good thing and something we're proud of, but it comes at a price. As with any other object, more mass also means more gravity — more things are pulled in. Mostly positive things, but also challenges and problems. The bigger the company gets, the more difficult it becomes to keep the overall structure together. It reminded me of a lecture on Greiner's growth model From my time at university:
When a company grows, the importance and desire for a common goal, a common vision eventually becomes inevitable in order to lead the company and all its employees together and purposefully into the future. In the past, many team members at statworx were highly motivated because they saw that the company was successful and in demand on the market. However, the famous “Why” was unclear to many for a long time. You grew with the company. Monetary success and growth have carried us the first few kilometers of the way. But do they motivate on a linear scale? Definitely no. Not every new customer generates the same motivation and enthusiasm as the first big deal.
statworx therefore asked me the question: What drives and drives? Even in difficult times, such as the COVID year 2020? What is our goal? Why do we do what we do? I needed to find answers to these questions. That was the start of the journey to Statworx Next.
The journey to statworx next
Driven by these questions, I embarked on a journey between the years 2020 and January 2021 to develop a vision and goal for the future of statworx. Looking back, this was — without question — one of the most important things I've ever done for the company. But also one of the hardest. I spent many days and nights researching and brainstorming, working my way through endless articles, videos, and books until I finally arrived at my destination. In the first week of January 2021, statworx next was born. The answer to our why. A vision. A destination.
In a motivational speech in the last week of January 2021, I presented statworx next to all employees of the company and explained what I envision for statworx in the future. Following Cameron Herold's “Vivid Vision” approach, I have written down the entire vision in a document so that everyone can clearly understand and imagine what I see in front of my mind's eye. The “Vivid Vision” is a written expression of what the company should look and feel like in the future. In the document, I describe statworx in the future, highlighting all key areas of the company: divisions, services, products, people, culture, etc.
But statworx Next is more. It has a deep, inspiring core. It has meaning. It gives our company a reason to do what we do the way we do it. It is a beacon for every employee that defines our path of growth and our role as a company in our current and future economy, society and environment.
After presenting statworx next, the entire company immediately started moving. Special vision OKRs have been developed, which cascade down to our corporate goals, business departments and back office teams. Employees were hired for our new divisions, which emerged from statworx next. Internal initiatives were created at the interface between statworx next and our core business. Employees began working on innovation projects. The energy was insane. Seeing that has me The elementary meaning of “why” clearly presented in a company. Lesson learned.
Throughout 2021, the entire company worked hard behind the scenes on statworx next. Now, in 2022, at the end of January, we will officially present statworx next to our customers and the public. For this reason, I firmly believe that 2022 will be the best year for our company in history!
In 2021, we grew — and gained in impact. We're ready to move on. In 2022, it is time for the next chapter. Time to challenge the now. Create the next. Shape the future. For the better. It is time for statworx Next.
