Johanna Böllmann works as Content & Communications Manager at Capmo, a Munich-based startup that Digitizing the construction industry In our interview, Johanna talks about her morning and evening routines, her favorite tools, and how she gets out of motivational slumps.
Munich Startup: What is your morning routine?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: I usually start my day from zero to 100 with a workout – preferably with my colleagues at a session with the Capmo yoga crew. After helping myself to our cereal bar and fruit basket in the office, I grab a coffee and plan my workday. My first things in the morning are checking emails, checking the news, and checking the numbers. After our team daily, I start on the first to-dos.
Check emails, check news, check numbers
Munich Startup: What is your favorite work tool?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: Since I like to keep track of my tasks, I'm a big fan of Asana. We use the tool in the Growth team for our sprint planning as well as campaign and content planning. I like that we can track the progress of individual tasks live and, at the end of the sprint, see how much we've accomplished.
Munich Startup: Which three apps are indispensable?
Johanna Böllmann, Capmo: I can't live without LinkedIn, Twitter, and WhatsApp. The Capmo app is also a must-have. I use LinkedIn primarily for networking and finding inspiration. I find it very inspiring to see how other professionals position themselves on certain topics and what campaigns are being launched. Twitter is my number one news medium and a great way to connect with stakeholders. Since, as a communicator, I can't live without communication, there's no way around WhatsApp.
Get out of the bubble!
Munich Startup: Which Munich event is a must?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: In addition to various meetups for marketing and PR, I am mainly involved in the events of the women's networks in Munich Global Women in PR (GWPR) NextGen Muc and Global Digital Women (GDW). While the GWPR is primarily aimed at female communicators, the GDW represents women in digital professions from all industries. For me, these events are a valuable source of inspiration and a fantastic platform for networking and exchanging experiences.
Munich Startup: Which book do you recommend to other communicators?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: I highly recommend Hans Rosling's book "Factfulness." The book reminds us that we often misperceive our environment through media, half-knowledge, and public sentiment, and that we make poor decisions based on this misperception. Keeping in mind that the world out there may not look the way it appears to us in our bubble, and that people think differently than we do, is, in my opinion, an important foundation for successful communication.
Walking meeting provides a creativity boost
Munich Startup: What is your favorite type of meeting?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: Just like Steve Jobs, Marc Zuckerberg, or Barack Obama, I'm Team #walkingMeeting. When I'm looking for a brilliant headline or a new topic for a press release, I take a few steps, and in most cases, a brilliant idea comes to me pretty quickly. After conducting the first walking meetings at Capmo, I can confirm that this creativity boost also works in meetings.
Munich Startup: What is your biggest stumbling block in your daily business?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: Definitely the afternoon slump. While I can motivate myself superbly both early in the morning and late in the evening, I sometimes lack the necessary spark of energy to get going in the afternoon. Since Capmo allows me to plan my day flexibly, I solve this problem by structuring myself accordingly.
I tackle tasks that require my full concentration in the morning or evening. I devote the afternoon to research, proofreading, and the typical tasks that would otherwise be left undone.
The solution for the afternoon slump
Munich Startup: What is your motivation booster in your everyday work life?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: When my motivation wants to announce a break, I pull two jokers. First, I remind myself of our vision. For me, keeping the goal and meaning of one's work in mind is probably the simplest and most effective motivation booster. With Capmo, we want to digitize the construction industry and thus simplify the daily work of thousands of construction managers, architects, and contractors. Until we achieve this goal, still a lot to do — and asked each and every one of us.
Secondly, I follow the principle of "work first, play later." As is probably the case for many PR professionals, my day is planned down to the last detail. Knowing what I can look forward to after work gives me a huge boost and helps me work effectively. If I see a reward beckoning when I look at my calendar, I'm motivated to push myself even harder.
In the evening: Checking off and farewell ritual!
Munich Startup: How do you end your working day?
Johanna Böllmann from Capmo: Before I sign off for the day, I go through my backlog in Asana and move the completed tasks to the "Done" tab. If, like me, you were a fan of checking off boxes on the classic to-do list, this feeling is incredibly similar. If there are any unanswered questions, I try to clarify them—otherwise, they haunt me in my dreams. Then, I mentally plan the next morning and gather the necessary information. And then it's time for the daily farewell ritual: tidying things up, putting away the accumulated dishes, and ringing in the end of the day.
