Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: Marco Erbe on his Journey from Crisis to Entrepreneurial Success

Today we share some behind the scenes and learnings from Marco Erbe who is the founder and CEO of schnellestelle.de, a recruiting and personnel marketing consultancy. Marco’s journey takes us behind the scenes of building a successful recruitment consultancy business. He shares valuable lessons learned through trial and error, and offers profound insights for career changers, working mothers, and anyone seeking greater purpose in their professional life.

Do you know that feeling when you sense something’s fundamentally wrong in your career, but you’re not sure how to fix it? In my conversation with Marco from schnellestelle.de, we dive deep into exactly that moment in his entrepreneurial journey – and how facing his biggest business challenge head-on transformed not just his company, but his entire approach to work and life.

When Your Business Is About to Collapse

Our conversation took quite a turn when Marco talked about his greatest business challenge – the near-collapse of his previous venture in 2010. After pouring his heart and soul into developing “Jobmixer,” a platform for job seekers to generate documents and build websites, Marco and his team faced the brutal truth: their product wasn’t finding market acceptance.

“We had to face the hard truth that we’d be out of money in four to six months,” Marco shared with me, the weight of that moment still evident in his voice. “With nearly 20 employees on payroll and significantly more expenses than income, we needed to transform quickly.”

He was at a crossroads. That moment when you have to make a decision that will change everything. For Marco, this crisis forced a complete business pivot from a B2C model to B2B services.The transformation wasn’t smooth at all. They had to drastically downsize from 20 employees to just two and send one company into insolvency. Yet from this challenging experience emerged the successful business model of schnellestelle.

“That was the biggest challenge in my professional life – knowing things are going badly and you can’t stop it,” he reflected. “You have only two options: bury your head in the sand or try to find a solution. I always try to be solution-oriented.”

That ability to look a crisis in the face and still find a way forward, isn’t that something we all need, especially when contemplating our own career transitions?

What Really Makes a Business Successful?

When I asked Marco what he believes has contributed to his success since that pivotal moment, his answer was refreshingly straightforward. It wasn’t about fancy business strategies or breakthrough innovations – it came down to fundamental principles:

Unwavering quality and consistency – “Quality is crucial. It should consistently remain high with minimal dips.”

Exceptional customer care – “Having a direct connection with your customers and taking care of them properly.”

Solid company structure – “Good structures within the company are essential.”

Adaptability and agility – “You must be flexible and quickly adapt to changing market conditions.”

But what did not surprise me was when Marco emphasized building a cohesive team culture. He doesn’t just hire for skills – he selects people who fit well with the existing team’s personality and work style. “We pay attention to how applicants tick, what their views are, and what kind of person they are. That’s part of the secret to creating a good team culture.”

I think there’s something powerful in that approach for anyone leading a team or building something meaningful. The right people create the right energy, don’t they?

Finding Your Purpose When You Feel Lost

For those of you struggling to find fulfillment in your work life – and I know many of you are feeling this especially in midlife – Marco’s advice resonated deeply with me: “Make your hobby your profession. It sounds cliché, but ultimately, you can only be good and successful at things that interest you.”

Marco acknowledges what many of us have experienced – finding ourselves on career paths that no longer serve us because of educational choices we made years ago. Those initial decisions set us on trajectories that become increasingly difficult to change. But here’s the beautiful thing: Marco encourages us not to fear starting something completely new, especially if we discover our current path doesn’t bring fulfillment.

“I’ve always looked for projects and tried to do them well,” he shared. “For me, ensuring my livelihood was the primary concern, but from there, I considered what I’m good at and what I’m not so good at.”

Isn’t that refreshing? Permission to prioritize what you’re naturally good at, rather than forcing yourself to excel at things that drain your energy.

Changing Careers in Midlife? This Is Your Advantage

When I asked Marco what he would advise someone in their 40s looking to change careers – something I know many of you are considering – his perspective on the strengths of his generation was illuminating:

“The strength we have is that we still know what it’s like not to have much. We understand that if you want to achieve something, you have to work for it. This isn’t always the case with younger generations who have grown up in relative affluence.”

He believes employers often appreciate the reliability, diligence, and commitment that more experienced workers bring – qualities that can be incredibly valuable when transitioning to a new field. “Our generation knows what work is, what reliability means, and what keeping promises entails. That’s your bonus when switching careers.”

I love this perspective because it reframes what we often see as disadvantages – our age, our previous career paths – as unique strengths that give us an edge, even when stepping into something entirely new.

Finding Balance in a Fast-Paced World

On the topic of work-life balance – something I know is especially important for working mothers and anyone feeling overwhelmed by today’s pace – Marco takes a nuanced view that made me smile.

“Mindfulness is important, but you shouldn’t try to chill too much either. You can also die at 50 because you did too little,” he says with a laugh that contains real wisdom.

Marco isn’t overly concerned about rapid technological changes like artificial intelligence for his children’s future. “If development and AI are as they are now, you accept it. I believe there will be different times again. I’m not convinced that these are permanent issues.”

He observes something I’ve been feeling too – that people are already realizing that spending 12 hours looking at smartphones isn’t fulfilling: “If you’re at a concert and you’re more concerned with filming videos for friends and acquaintances than experiencing what’s happening, I can’t imagine that being satisfying in the long run.”

Don’t you feel that too? That pull back toward real, lived experiences rather than digital distractions?

What Really Matters: Marco’s Insights for the Future of Work

When I asked Marco what he wishes for his children – and I think his answer applies to all of us seeking more purpose – he emphasized:

Determination – “Believing in things and being able to implement them if you want to achieve something.”

Following their own path – “They should do what makes them happy. I’m not saying they should be lawyers or doctors because that’s promising. No, they should find their own way.”

Health and mindfulness – “Health is the most important thing; you ultimately can’t buy it. You have to be mindful with yourself, your body, and everything.”

Marco’s entrepreneurial journey shows us how facing challenges head-on, remaining adaptable, and focusing on quality and team culture can lead to sustainable success – whether you’re building a business, changing careers in midlife, or simply seeking deeper purpose in your professional life.

What was interesting during the conversation – whether you’re considering a career change at 40+, seeking more meaning in your work, or building something new, the key ingredients remain similar: follow your interests, be willing to adapt when necessary, surround yourself with the right people, and never compromise on quality in whatever you do.

I’d love to hear what resonated most with you from Marco’s story. Are you considering a career pivot? What challenges are you facing in your professional journey? Drop me a message – I’m here to support you every step of the way!