“I am made out of Teflon” Robert Dahl, CEO & Creator Karls Erlebniswelt

From Doubt to Drive – Entrepreneurs Only

In this episode of From Doubt to Drive, we sit down with Robert Dahl, a third-generation leader of Karls, a powerhouse business that has evolved from a small fruit and vegetable stand to a retail, entertainment, amusement park, and hospitality empire. Named after his grandfather, Karl, who began selling produce nearly 100 years ago, Robert and his family have grown the business to generate over 200 million euros in sales annually, with six parks across Germany and an expansion planned in LA for 2027.

Robert shares insights into the challenges of running a family business, particularly in the third generation, and reflects on the identity crisis Karls faced a few years ago. Through a process of redefining their values and mission, they developed a powerful manifesto centered around their "big WHY." We explore the tough balancing act between family and business, as well as how Robert’s children have become his biggest influencers and the most challenging source of new ideas.

Robert also discusses a pivotal moment in his journey when his father gave him a letter in 1991, which outlined the family's history and strongly advised him to start his own strawberry farm. This letter not only guided Robert but was also crucial in securing the bank loan that would launch the next phase of their business.

In addition to business insights, Robert opens up about the personal struggles his family faced, including the failure of their second amusement park and how they rebuilt confidence in the aftermath. On a lighter note, Robert reveals how ice bathing helps him find calm amidst tough decisions and admits to his addiction to news – to the point where he’s had to uninstall the news app.

Our Key Takeaways from Our Interview

• Try to inspire as many people as possible.
• Running a company can be a lot of fun, with lots of freedom.
• You need to change what you're doing when you're no longer proud of it.
• Define how you want people to see you. For Karls, it was: Creative – Generous – Witty – Family-Oriented – Authentic – Loving – Natural.
• Know your numbers. Daily. And act accordingly.
• Make sure to secure a healthy cash flow, especially during phases of heavy growth.
• Reduce the entrance barrier for your potential guests.
• You need to be out of Teflon during crises.
• Give power to your people to make decisions and take responsibility.
• Get involved in the details.
• Think in opportunities, not in problems.
• Don’t focus on negative news in the world. They don’t change much.
• In a crisis, you need to bring your things in order and clean up. This helps to find the problem and tackle it.

Here more Information about Karls; https://www.karls.de/ Here you can find the White Paper we reference throughout the recording: https://docsend.com/view/k39mnmkghc9irid4

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© From Doubt to Drive Podcast, owned and operated by Aperitivo International B.V Recorded on 7th January 2025 via Zoom in Germany (Robert Dahl) – Netherlands (Mario C. Bauer) – Germany (Florian Schneider).