The picture shows the bacterium that accompanied us at our trade fair two weeks ago. My daughter Janina Snaidr is wearing the costume, and it was great fun!
Daughter as a bacterium?
This combination makes more sense than you might think at first.
Microbiology is my life. Ever since I saw a colony of the luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri for the first time during a practical course at university, I have been driven by the idea of working with microorganisms.
This drive led to the founding of vermicon AG in 1997 and the founding of Magnospira GmbH & Co. KG 20 years later. While the former company focuses on industrial applications, the latter aims to inform consumers about the benefits of microorganisms.
For me, the idea of a family business was the driving force. Building up a company for a few years and then selling it may work for many, but for me, it was out of the question.
“Corporations think in years, family businesses think in generations.” I heard this saying many years ago at an event organized by a family business, and there is a lot of truth in it.
Family businesses are not about making a quick profit. Rather, it is about combining passion with vision, customer needs with sustainability, and planning with patience. A family business IS like a family. Not only because many family members work in it, but because the atmosphere in the entire team is always familiar and friendly—even in stressful times.
A family business is also inextricably linked to your own family and is often the dominant topic at the dinner table.
My children were able to learn from the very beginning what it means to take responsibility and take risks. They were able to experience how important it is to be passionate about a vision. They saw successes and defeats and a never-ending mountain of work. Work-life balance—we don't know this term. Work is life and vice versa. Both are one and a real joy.
The famous Stoic Seneca said: “It is not because it is difficult that we do not dare to do it, but because we do not dare to do it that it is difficult.” Sometimes you have to act without having planned everything down to the last detail.
Jumping without a parachute.
That's why I was delighted when my second daughter Laura Snaidr joined me in the management of Magnospira GmbH & Co. KG in January 2024.
The daughter as a bacterium?
Yes, of course, because bacteria are my family too.
And always will be.
#bacteria #microorganisms #familybusiness
CEO at xBiologix
1wIt's the best of times, Kat!