Part-Time Lifestyle: “Kids aren't proud of Dad because Dad has so many important projects.”

Wolf Küper, a coach and bestselling author, says something that will blow your mind: “Children are not proud of their dad because he has so many important projects.” Think about it: how many adults do you know who boast about being constantly busy, about having a thousand things to do, and who believe that this is a sign of worth? The truth, according to Küper, is that free time is not just a luxury—it is the raw material of happiness, as the key phrase in his book states: “Time is the substance of which well-being is made.” And his personal story proves it. After a brilliant career in research, Küper found himself faced with a choice: to continue climbing the ladder or to stop and truly spend time with his daughter, who had a disability. His experiment with “a part-time life” – the so-called lifestyle-Teilzeit, meaning the conscious choice to work less in order to live more – began right there. And the scene he describes is powerful: sitting with his daughter, reading a book with her at three in the afternoon, while outside the world is rushing by. Küper doesn't talk about giving up, but about gaining. He explains that, today, the true status symbol is not a packed schedule, but the freedom to turn it off. And he mentions what he calls “social envy from above”: not the envy of those who would like more money, but of those who wonder why they can no longer find the time to read a book before four in the afternoon. One statistic gives him pause: in Germany, the number of men who work part-time by choice is rising, but they remain a clear minority compared to women. For many, the sense of guilt is still too strong. Yet those who have tried it say that the fear of “falling behind” disappears after a few weeks. According to Küper, the real challenge is learning to distinguish between what is urgent and what is important. And here comes the game changer: we grew up thinking that a person's worth is measured by productivity—yet no child will ever want to remember their father for the hours he spent in meetings. A thought-provoking statement that leaves its mark. Now, try to think about how many of your friends would be willing to say, not without a touch of pride, that at three o'clock in the afternoon, they were reading a book for pleasure instead of responding to a “very important” email. And if you think this is just a matter of privilege, Küper flips the coin again: those who have less often find it easier to muster the strength to say enough is enough. True courage, he says, is choosing to take time for yourself when everyone expects you to do the opposite. Ultimately, the takeaway is this: no amount of success can replace time spent together. If this story resonates with you, on Lara Notes you can press I'm In – it's not a 'like'; it's your way of saying: This idea is now mine. If tomorrow you tell someone that the true status symbol is turning off your calendar, you can note it on Lara Notes: Shared Offline is your way of saying that conversation mattered. This Note comes from Der Spiegel and has saved you at least six minutes.