This is my compass. Not a map, but a mindset. It doesn’t promise shortcuts – it offers orientation. It’s how I choose projects, partnerships and priorities. It’s how I stay aligned with what matters. My compass doesn’t chart a fixed path – it reveals how I navigate complexity, choose collaborations, and stay aligned with what matters. Each direction reflects a principle I return to when the terrain shifts: Integrity, Curiosity, Empathy and Pragmatism. Together, they guide how I show up – professionally and personally.
- NORTH – Integrity
- I commit to clarity, honesty and follow-through. I don’t overpromise. I don’t underdeliver. Integrity is my anchor.
- EAST – Curiosity
- I ask questions that challenge assumptions. I read widely, think deeply and stay open to surprise.
- SOUTH – Empathy
- I listen before I speak. I consider context. I care about the human side of systems and decisions.
- WEST – Pragmatism
- I value ideas that work. I seek elegant solutions that are grounded, sustainable and actionable.
WEST – Pragmatism
- Grounded, actionable thinking
NORTH – Integrity
- Staying true to my principles
SOUTH – Empathy
- Understanding people and systems
EAST – Curiosity
- Always learning, always evolving
This compass also translates into my offered pragmatic Consulting and advisory rooted in global experience – guiding leaders and teams to navigate complexity, optimize operations and drive results.
“If a free market economy exists, was that a business anarchy?”
– Eric Roth
The Present
Here is a short but very inspiring speech about (professional) life by Coca Cola’s former CEO Bryan Dyson delivered at the 172nd commencement of Georgia Tech on September 6, 1996.
This speech is commonly called the “30-second speech”. In reality, the speech lasts longer but the part that was isolated is the one that’s largely passed around. His insight is as valuable today!
“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them ‘work’, ‘family’, ‘health’, ‘friends’ and ‘spirit’ and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that ‘work’ is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – ‘family’, ‘health’, ‘friends’ and ‘spirit’ – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.
You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.
How?
- Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
- Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
- Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
- Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
- Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
- Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.
- Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
- Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly: and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
- Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
- Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
- Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
- Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift: That’s why we call it The Present“
The Future
The global economy is rapidly transforming, making adaptability essential for career success and informed investments. Technological advancements reshape industries, while inflation, trade uncertainty, and climate risks threaten financial stability. High sovereign debt and shifting monetary policies further complicate economic planning, creating challenges that require careful navigation and forward-thinking strategies.
These factors contribute to an unpredictable landscape that demands strategic resilience. Even small disruptions ripple across markets, highlighting the need for proactive management and global cooperation to sustain stability. As economies evolve, those who can anticipate these shifts and implement adaptive strategies will be better positioned to mitigate risks, seize emerging opportunities, and ensure long-term growth.
Planning to apply to an international company or take your career abroad? Your Swiss degree title is valuable – but will international employers understand it? Ever wondered how your non-academic, yet hard-earned Swiss degree title correctly translates into English? Let’s break it down:
The use of titles is regulated but there is no national legislation. The SERI (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) has published a Reference Paper dealing with this issue.
My Quotes
“Pull your finger out and leave your footprint.”
– Eric Roth
“One might very well look into the possibility of creating ground for demand chain or even value chain responsibles for the sake of a healthy mix of competencies and responsibilities.”
– Eric Roth
– Eric Roth
- “Revenue is generated by sales but profit is made in procurement.”
- “Do procure at favourable price but do not procure at cheap, low price.”
- “Transform your procurement staff in your enterprise into entrepreneurs in your procurement team.”
“If a free market economy exists, was that a business anarchy?”
– Eric Roth
“You’d better check out very carefully about the applicable laws & regulations in your – and don’t you forget about the nodes! – area before going into cryptocurrency gambling.”
– Eric Roth
“Consulting is about asking the right questions, not just having the right answers – advisory begins where answers alone fall short of guiding true alignment.”
– Eric Roth
“Business Excellence is not a destination but a continuous journey – driven by innovation, refined by resilience and sustained through a commitment to quality and growth.”
– Eric Roth
“ISO standards are the silent guarantors of quality, safety, and efficiency in our global marketplace, setting the benchmark for what is trusted and reliable.”
– Eric Roth
“A strong corporate culture is most likely a hybrid model of adhocracy and market type. It fosters innovation, integrity and a sense of belonging turning a company into a community.”
– Eric Roth
“Who said quotes only originate from (more or less) famous people? Sometimes such statements and others come to my mind. Are these then quotable notes or notable quotes?”
– Eric Roth
