mo: Ms. Halmich, you will be opening this year's Surface Technology Days of the German Surface Technology Association as the guest of honor. How did this invitation come about, or rather your decision to open the event with a speech?Halmich: After ending my active career, one of the things I do is give motivational speeches to well-known companies. When I was asked to give the opening speech at this year's Surface Technology Days of the German Surface Technology Association, I was immediately thrilled.
mo: What points will you mainly address in your opening speech? From your point of view, what are the most important aspects of your recipes, derived from boxing and your career as a whole, for running a successful business and surviving in a tough competition?Halmich: The speech is about my path: It all began with an idea, a vision - and the successful struggle to assert myself against all external odds, my passion, the burning desire to achieve the seemingly unattainable goal of becoming boxing world champion. This includes the indispensable will, ambition, training and burning for the achievement of his goals. The willingness to give everything for it and to subordinate much to it. And the team that stands behind you. Becoming world champion is one thing - remaining so is another: From being the pursuer, you become the pursued. Everyone wants to challenge you for the title of world champion - or for market leadership. Always facing new challenges is a basic principle of success. It's not only acting in a tightrope walk that makes you a winner, but also clarity of mind. Mental strength is enormously important. You become a world champion with your head and fighting spirit.
mo: At present, industrial companies in Germany, especially small and medium-sized companies, are fighting many battles which they not only have to survive, but win, in order not to disappear from the scene in the near future. In a fight situation with many unknowns, in terms of opponents and circumstances - how do you face this as a boxer? How do you best plan the use of your own strengths if you don't know what to expect?Halmich: In order to not only survive in the ring and in business, but also to deliver outstanding results, you have to: Realizing your potential, constant development, motivation, self-reflection and alert analysis of your opponent or competitor. When you step into the ring, you have done your homework. Everything has to be in place and ready to go. Just like in a company. It's a matter of applying the right technologies and demonstrating competence and willingness to perform, but also creativity. Every challenge has to be met with top performance.
mo: You draw many parallels between success in boxing and success in business. It's probably clear to everyone that boxing involves hard work if you want to be successful at it. But what about business life, in your experience? Is there a lack of awareness, perhaps especially in the SME sector, that you must never let up, even if the status quo is satisfactory? And where, in your opinion, is the antithesis to the rigor with which one must assess one's own performance in order to create and maintain a climate of prosperity and success in the company?Halmich:Here's a quote from Henry Ford: "Those who always do what they can already do always remain what they already are. He's right. Facing new challenges keeps us agile. If you want to achieve something, you have to be able to accept defeat. It's a matter of getting back up again, analyzing your mistakes and taking up the fight all over again. Learning from mistakes - and not giving up - is also part of success. To succeed in the face of resistance requires unconditional will and conviction. Other components of a success concept are undoubtedly concentration, discipline, ambition and perseverance - and very important: mental strength and passion. Anyone can land a lucky punch once, but that's not enough in the long run. Even through the pandemic, companies have some equally sweaty and forward-looking rounds behind and ahead of them. And those who lose touch will very quickly lose their competitive edge. It is important to train and promote the skills of employees and managers - without overtaxing them. To awaken the desire to take on challenges. Competence enhancement must be understood and communicated as an opportunity and not as a burden.
mo: You were unbeaten as a professional boxer for twelve years. You have used your fame in many projects for good causes to benefit weaker people - it seems to be a matter of course for you to derive something good for others from your own success. How is that in the economy - do you also see a responsibility and role model function there with the "giants" towards the smaller ones, who, however, also do their best and perhaps just have too difficult a starting position to stay afloat, let alone play at the front?Halmich: I think it's very important that once you've achieved a certain level of positive publicity, you also use it to draw attention to grievances and thus raise public awareness. If we want to live in a society worth living in, it is essential to give as well. Role models are important - on both a small and a large scale. It's not always a matter of focusing only on "more, more" and "stinginess is cool"; you have to broaden your horizons for other, less privileged people. Or to put it simply: doing something meaningful makes you and others happy.
mo: You didn't choose boxing from the start and were initially successful in kickboxing. Do you believe that it is necessary to enter new territory again and again, with the knowledge of what you have experienced behind you, in order to find or not lose your golden path to maximum success? The end of your boxing career and the professional reorientation at the right time turned out to be the right decision in your case - you are still a successful woman, but in a different working life.Halmich:Daring to try something new is part of life. If you don't dare, you don't win. I always advise young people: Don't get discouraged and don't get pigeonholed. Failure is also part of life. But it is not a preordained destiny to go through life burdened from now on. Getting back up again, learning from one's mistakes, possibly also correcting one's goal - that is what makes up our life. Not everyone is called to become a world champion. That is not so important. It is more important to find your own way. My favorite saying: I have never taken a step backwards - unless it was to take a running start.
mo: There are still an almost infinite number of questions. Instead, here's a question for you: What three things would you change if you had unlimited power?Halmich: I would make sure that all children and young people have the same educational opportunities so that they can go their own way. All children and young people should be able to play sports free of charge in clubs, experience fair interaction and compete with each other according to rules. And: women and men should be paid the same for the same work from now on.
mo: Thank you very much for this interview. We wish you a successful appearance at the opening of the Oberfächentage on September 13!
For more information on Regina Halmich's career and her projects, visit her official website at www.regina-halmich.org