Because I realized that the stories we carry with us need to be told. Because life is full of lessons that should be shared so that they can help others find their own paths. Over the past almost 60 years, I've experienced many things: moments of success, times of failure, encounters with good and bad friends, the experience of wealth, and the survival of crises. But all of these experiences have led me to a point where I understood that true happiness lies not in material things, but in the insights we gain from life.
"At the End of the Rainbow" is more than just a title; it's a metaphor for the search for what truly matters. The rainbow, many say, leads to a treasure. For me, that treasure lies in the experiences, encounters, and lessons life teaches us. I've been fortunate enough to find that treasure—not in the form of wealth, but in the form of wisdom and inner peace.
The anecdotes I share in this book aren't just stories. They are moments that changed me, that made me reflect, and that now compel me to share them with you. They are experiences that might never have come to light if I hadn't realized how important it is to speak the unspoken and bring the hidden to light.
This book is my legacy—a part of me that I want to leave behind for the world. It's a testament to the fact that we all have a story to tell, that our lives are full of secrets waiting to be discovered. And maybe, just maybe, you too will find your own happiness at the end of the rainbow by reading the stories I share here.
In 1989, when the idea of my own dance school in Friedrichshafen was just taking shape, I was full of enthusiasm. The name "Dance School No. 1" was meant to be a promise – the best address for dance enthusiasts in the city. The first premises were found in the "Hirschen" restaurant on Charlottenstrasse, and I immediately set about designing flyers and registration forms. Back then, these weren't easy tasks; the forms were printed using carbonless printing, which was expensive and time-consuming to produce.
No sooner had the printing been completed and the first flyers distributed than I received an unexpected message. The long-time top dog among dance schools in Friedrichshafen, who practically owned the market alone, had initiated legal action. He was suing for advertising and trademark infringement – the name "No. 1" was a thorn in his side. "How dare I call myself Number 1?" his message seemed to be saying.
Panic gripped me. What should I do now? Thousands of expensive forms, all useless? Then my mother had an idea that was as ingenious as it was simple. With a smile on her face, she said, "Son, grab a pen and your friends. Change the 'No. 1' to 'No. 10' with a circle." And so it happened. Within one afternoon, we transformed "Dance School No. 1" into "Dance School No. 10."
Who would have thought that this seemingly improvised idea would not only avert the impending lawsuit, but also lay the foundation for a name that endures to this day? A perceived crisis gave rise to a brand that is still well-known in Friedrichshafen and beyond. Sometimes, it's just at the end of the rainbow that happiness lies in unexpected ideas.