Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas explore the sweet spot between structure and spontaneity—one spreadsheet, one leadership anecdote, and one interrupted intro at a time. This week, we ask the question: Do numbers kill creativity - or can they be the foundation for trust, stability, and a healthier workplace culture?

In this episode, we:

🔹 Argued about analytics and intros – Do Max’s musical openings cause YouTube drop-offs? Is there such a thing as overcommunication? Simon investigates the stats. Andreas just wants to move on.

🔹 Dug into the difference between Entrepreneurs and Unternehmers – Is your business built for a flashy exit or for generational wealth? Max lays out the distinction, Andreas challenges the definitions, and Simon quietly contemplates the future of Mittelstand legacy.

🔹 Talked numbers vs. narrative – Are spreadsheets your north star, or just a safety blanket? From miller beer imports to stock photo disruption, we break down how numbers tell a story—but never the whole one.

🔹 Explored trust in the workplace – With declining faith in media and politics, the company you work for might just be the most trusted institution in your life. We unpack what that means for internal comms, leadership, and long-term employee engagement.

🔹 Highlighted the human factor – From Max’s sister in Tunisia to Duncan Donuts’ loyal staff, it turns out clear expectations, mutual respect, and being treated like a person (not a “resource”) can drive retention and culture better than free pizza ever could.

🔹 Got real about leadership comms – Overproduced videos don’t create connection. Instead, we make the case for informal, eye-level communication—think internal podcasts, weekly check-ins, and just talking with people, not to them.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – New week, new streaks, and no kid songs in sight:

🎵 Countless Skies – Be'lakor (Andreas leveling up his melodic death metal game)

🎵 Over & Over (Marsh Remix) – Leo Wood, Marsh (Simon finally breaks the children’s music curse)

🎵 Trying to Find a World That’s Been and Gone – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Max getting wistful with Britpop brilliance)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for business takes, leadership therapy, and the occasional mic drop moment:

📍 Max – LinkedIn

📍 Simon – LinkedIn

📍 Andreas – LinkedIn

📰 Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter: The Mic Drop

🎙️ Mayhem & Masterplans is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #LeadershipMatters #CompanyCulture #InternalComms #TrustInBusiness #HypecastProductions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.