Finding My Footing: German and the Pursuit of “Erfolg”

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Berlin was the biggest thing I’ve ever done. It’s incredible, chaotic, and sometimes… utterly overwhelming. Part of that overwhelm, I’ve realized, comes from the way Germans talk about success – it’s just… different. It’s not always about climbing a corporate ladder like I was used to. It’s about something deeper, something about Erfolg – which, as I’m learning, isn’t just “success,” it’s a whole concept.

The First Few Weeks: “Wie geht’s?” and the Pressure of “Gut”

The first few weeks were pure survival mode. Just trying to navigate the U-Bahn, figure out the supermarket checkout (seriously, everyone pays in cash!), and, of course, answer the ubiquitous “Wie geht’s?” (How’s it going?). I kept defaulting to “Gut, danke!” (Good, thank you!) which, while polite, felt… empty. I quickly learned that “Gut” often isn’t enough. It’s like saying “okay” when someone asks how you are – it shuts down the conversation.

I had a slightly awkward encounter with my colleague, Thomas, at the Kaffeepause (coffee break). He asked me, “Wie läuft’s?” (How’s it going?). I answered “Gut!” and he just nodded. Later, I overheard him talking to another colleague about seinen Erfolg – his success – and it sounded like he was talking about a big project he’d just finished. It made me realize I needed to be more specific.

Learning to Talk About My “Erfolg” – Small Wins Matter

The key, I’m discovering, is to shift the focus from grand achievements to smaller, more consistent things. It’s not just about landing the ‘perfect’ job, it’s about the small victories. I’ve started practicing phrases like:

• “Mir geht’s gut, ich lerne Deutsch!” (I’m doing well, I’m learning German!) – This is a surprisingly common and accepted response to “Wie geht’s?” It acknowledges the effort I’m putting in.
• “Ich habe heute einen Kuchen gebacken!” (I baked a cake today!) – Seriously! I’d been trying to learn German recipes, and finally succeeding. This felt like a mini-achievement. It was a perfect example to share with my new friends.
• “Ich habe endlich die Fahrkarte zum Fahrradverleih gefunden!” (I finally found the ticket to the bike rental!) – Getting my bike was a huge step! This felt like a significant accomplishment.

Thomas, seeing me actually talking about my progress, actually asked me, “Was hast du heute Schönes gemacht?” (What nice things did you do today?). That felt… much better.

The Importance of Mut (Courage) and Ehrlichkeit (Honesty)

Germans value Mut (courage) and Ehrlichkeit (honesty) when talking about setbacks. I made a großer Fehler (big mistake) last week – I completely messed up a presentation at work. I was mortified! I expected to just brush it off, but my boss, Herr Schmidt, didn’t want to hear excuses. He simply said, “Das ist okay, jeder macht Fehler. Wichtig ist, was du daraus lernst.” (That’s okay, everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is what you learn from it.) It wasn’t comforting in the moment, but his honesty was a relief. It showed me that acknowledging a mistake and focusing on improvement is more valued than trying to hide it.

“Erfolg” Isn’t Just About Money – It’s About Lebensqualität (Quality of Life)

I’m starting to understand that Erfolg here isn’t necessarily tied to wealth. It’s more about Lebensqualität – the quality of your life. My friend, Lena, told me she considers learning pottery to be a huge success. “Es macht mich glücklich!” (It makes me happy!). She says it’s ihr Erfolg (her success). That made a huge impact. It really changed my perspective.

My Vocabulary – Building My Language of Fulfillment

Here are a few phrases I’m actively using to talk about my journey:

• Ich bin auf dem Weg. (I’m on my way / I’m progressing.) – Useful for discussing my language learning.
• Ich bin stolz auf mich. (I’m proud of myself.) – For celebrating small victories.
• Ich möchte mich weiterentwickeln. (I want to develop myself further.) – For expressing my goals.

It’s a slow process, learning not just the German language, but also the German way of thinking about success. But with each conversation, each small triumph, I’m feeling more grounded, more connected, and closer to finding my own Erfolg here in Berlin. Weiter so! (Keep it up!)