A Day in the Life of a Researcher - Herbert Höckel

If I had to describe my life in just a couple of words, it would be vivid and colourful. From intense professional responsibilities and high-octane personal adventures to deep intellectual pursuits and quality time with family, my life is a sum total of diverse parts.  Living in Düsseldorf, Germany, I run three companies - moweb research, AMR Advanced Market Research and FFG Facts & Figures Group - love riding motorbikes and authoring books apart from obviously being a devoted family man.

Herbert’s mornings are packed with activities that range from meditation to packing school bags before rushing to the office on his motorbike

My day begins as early as 5:00 AM which allows me to devote myself to my physical health, meditation, reading and personal development. This is a precious time that energises me to manage the busy day ahead. I firmly believe that a day that starts with positivity is more likely to end with a sense of achievement and success.

Around 6:30 AM, I switch gears and dive into family responsibilities. Together with my wife, I take on the rather daunting task of preparing our two sons for school. This morning ritual is grounding but often chaotic as the kids are in a state of sleepy grumpiness and need a lot of effort to get them ready for the day. Despite their lack of morning enthusiasm, we do manage to get the boys to school on time, most often through sheer determination rather than gentle encouragement.

On bright sunny days, right after the school run, I eagerly jump onto my beloved Aprilia RS 660 motorbike and ride to work. Riding (and sometimes even racing) isn’t merely commuting; it's a passion, providing an unmatched feeling of freedom. Occasionally, I even choose to take a longer, more scenic route through country lanes to extend the few joyful moments before the office stresses engulf me.

Herbert’s mid-mornings usually consist of back-to-back meetings executed with clockwork precision that transition into a welcome lunch break in the form of Beer and Haxe

Once at the office, my professional life kicks into full gear. My mornings consist primarily of meeting with my colleagues on diverse topics that the companies face. I greatly value teamwork and believe in close collaboration with my talented teams at moweb, AMR and FFG, ensuring an environment where fresh ideas thrive through collective energy and intelligence.

Living in Germany, I am very conscious of German punctuality - famously known as "Deutsche Pünktlichkeit" - it is almost central to my daily rhythm. I have the saying: "If you’re not five minutes early, you’re already late!" This mindset ensures meetings remain precise and efficient, but occasionally I must admit that it leads to frustration when rigid timekeeping forces one to prematurely end discussions. Being responsible for three companies needs my ability to switch gears quickly but also to be flexible in my time schedule.

Germany may be renowned for “Lederhosen, Bier & Bratwurst”, but my personal favourite is Haxe (pork knuckle), traditionally served with Knödel (dumplings) and Rotkohl (pickled red cabbage). Though it might not win awards for visual appeal, it's irresistibly delicious - especially when paired with a cold beer from one of Germany’s nearly 2.000 house breweries. If you ever find yourself in Düsseldorf, I warmly invite you to join me for a traditional German lunch. It’s an experience you will never forget – I promise!

(Note from the Editor: Readers don’t miss the generous invitation!)

Herbert’s afternoons are reserved for connecting with the business world and usually ends with a nice cold beer (how stereotypical)

Afternoons are typically reserved for client meetings, presentations and networking events. These interactions provide meaningful opportunities to implement research-driven strategies and solve real-world business challenges effectively. Delivering keynote speeches is particularly fulfilling, allowing me to share insights, engage with wider audiences and foster meaningful conversations within and outside the industry.

While business meetings in Germany tend to be straight to the point and minimise small talk, once business concludes successfully, the German efficiency transforms into relaxed, friendly and heartfelt interactions, frequently accompanied by a few beers and enthusiastic conversations about soccer.

Because family sometimes falls short in my busy schedule, whenever business takes me away from home, I try to bring the family along. Because we love sharing new experiences as a family and we all love city trips.

Cosying up with family over a hearty home-cooked meal followed by a dose of intellectual stimulation, ends the day for Herbert

My evenings revolve around my family. Dinner is an essential daily ritual in our family and my wife is an exceptional cook. We cherish these moments to connect, share experiences and slow-down from our fast-paced lives.

Post-family time (after 9 p.m.) my focus shifts to intellectual pursuits, e.g. writing books, articles and columns and reading. Currently, I'm eagerly anticipating the release of my first English-language book on customer centricity - a passionate project aiming to reach a global audience. My excitement and pride in seeing this book come to life are immense.

I have heard many people say that beyond research, a researcher’s life does not have room for other things. My vivid days, hopefully, will convince them that a researcher can successfully embrace many worlds in a single day and enjoy every moment of it. But this can at times be exhausting and it’s not uncommon for me to nod off on the sofa…