What is the best thing that I love about my work? What I love best about my work is that I get to make a difference in people’s lives while doing things I thoroughly enjoy. It sounds banal, but it’s very much true.
What is my idea of happiness? My idea of happiness is to be able to get up in the morning, look at the day ahead and say “I’m looking forward to this.” – if most days are like that, I’m a happy clam.
What is my greatest fear? Being stuck in a life I’d rather not live. So far I’ve managed to avoid that, but the fear is there.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I am not particularly fond of the inner voice I have that says “Don’t just smile and move on. Tell them exactly why you disagree and make your position clear. Even if it burns bridges and makes you enemies you didn’t really wish for.” That voice gets me into trouble time and time again, and I still haven’t learned how to shut it up.
Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? One of my heroes is the British ad man and behavioural economy expert Rory Sutherland. I admire his expertise, his eloquence and his sheer joy of discovery and good-natured humor. So that is definitely one hero. Another is the (ironically enough, also British) actor, facilitator and high level moderator David Pearl. David is a good friend of mine, but he is also the guy I want to be when I grow up. And finally, to add a third hero to the list, I have deep respect for the American youtuber and businesswoman Codie Sanchez. I’m not sure she and I would get along if we ever met, but I love her passion, rough-and-tumble style and way of inspiring entrepreneurs to go out there and make a difference.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? This is a slightly petty thing, but what I dislike most about my work is how hard I find it to get through to people who can actually use my help. I have gotten much better at this, and have access today I’d never have dreamed of a decade ago, but I still get frustrated with having solutions to problems that organisations and individuals struggle with, without managing to position myself in a way so that they trust me to help them. I find that the hard part is rarely doing the work – it’s getting inside the room where the work is done in the first place. That is a thing I dislike, even though it’s also very much due to my own limiting beliefs.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Put me on a stage, and you’ll see a happy Claus. I wish I had a more deep and beautiful answer, but it’s really that simple.
If I could, what would I change about myself? Oh, where do I even start? If I could, there are many, many things I would change about myself, but I think that if I could only choose three, they would be: Become better at establishing healthy routines for my body, become better at letting go and ignoring voices I don’t really care about, and become better at just smiling and waving instead of feeling the need to share my views.
What is my greatest achievement in work? I’m lucky enough that this isn’t an easy question to answer. I think if I had to roll my achievements into one, my greatest achievement would be the communities I’ve been part of building and the humans I’ve managed to inspire and impact. It’s a bit of a warm and fuzzy answer, but that doesn’t make it less true. If I look at my current work, then it must be either The College of Extraordinary Experiences or MSEED – The Management School of Events, Entertainment & Design; both of which are institutions I am very proud of, and that I’m very happy that I’ve played a part in bringing to life.
Where would I most like to live? Switzerland. I have a thing for mountains, and trains, and things that work, and Switzerland seems to be a pretty nice mix of those!
What is my most treasured possession? I’m not really material enough to have a treasured possession, so I’ll answer the question in three ways. If we talk about what would be the one thing I’d save if I could only choose one, it would be my iPhone, due to its sheer versatility and power as a tool. If we talk about a thing I’d hang on a wall alone to gaze at with fond memories, it would be a certain picture of me, my daughter and my fiancee. And if we’re talking what’s an odd item that I keep around even if it doesn’t really have that much value to anyone else, then it’s probably the half-burned 50 kroner note that comes from a tongue-in-cheek ritual in my old roleplaying organisation, The Roleplaying Factory.
What is my most marked characteristic? Physically, it’s probably the unkempt-Jesus-lookalike hair and beard, that I’ve had for twenty years now. Personality-wise, I’d say it’s my unflagging drive, and if we talk about skills, it’s probably my ability to navigate tricky situations with a smile and a cool head. That’s of course just what I think, and perhaps others will say something completely different!
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? I’m lucky enough to live right next to a spot where six canals meet, so I look out on water just outside my window every day. That is hard to beat, honestly.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? Copenhagen is a bit of a food city, and I’m a simple guy, so I don’t really do it justice, but I love Tivoli as a place to eat, actually. The world’s second oldest amusement park, it’s also the location of multiple great restaurants and a very distinct vibe. I love going there for a bite, even if I rarely treat myself to that, since it’s somewhat expensive!
What books influenced my life and how? Oh, there are many! I’ll mention three here, that are wildly different from each other. One is the sci-fi novel “The Warlock in Spite of Himself” from 1969. This is where I got my signature saying from, which is a quote from the main character’s robot horse. “Sometimes mistaken, but never in doubt.”, which is something that’s been said about me often enough. The second book is Seth Godin’s “Linchpin”, which I swallowed when it came out, and which made me see work a bit differently. Finally, a third book that has clearly influenced my life is the roleplaying theory anthology “Beyond Role and Play” from 2004, which opened my eyes to how one could take a hobby seriously in a way I didn’t truly appreciate until then. It’s an incredibly niché book, but impacted me quite a bit.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? Let’s change it from last day to last moments, to make the playlist a bit shorter. If I had to choose right now, it would probably be Kygo’s “At least we stole the show”.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Depends on the fiction! But I’m a great fan of heroines and heroes who keep their spirits up, don’t make the world harder than it has to be, and who are both sharp, sassy, forgiving and brave. Vaiana (from the Disney movie) is on the list along with D’Artagnan from the 1974 Three Musketeers, but so is Bruce Campbell’s king of thieves character in Xena the Warrior Princess and Erroll Flynn’s Robin Hood interpretation in the 1938 Robin Hood movie.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? They exist in many shapes and sizes, so I’ll stick to three, as I’ve done in other answers. From a business perspective, the ritual designer Tiu de Haan is one hero of mine – for choosing to work with hard subjects and deep, human emotions in a way that makes lives easier and richer. From a personal point of view, I admire how the filmmaker Barnet Bain manages to be both extremely grounded and approachable while also being deeply thoughtful and intentional. The fact that I count both as friends certainly doesn’t hurt!
And then there’s my mother-in-law, Kirsten, whose fierce heart and compassionate soul are an inspiration, even though she and I also get on each other’s nerves from time to time. For someone who struggles with a lot, she manages to give even more.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? There’s only one I can really say here. “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”, an odd humorous film from 1965. Yes, it’s strange, and quirky, and probably not considered one of the greats by anyone, but I’ve seen that movie again and again and again, and it has so many lovely elements to it, that I can’t help but name it here.
What role play stories in my life and work? A massive role. I’ve been a storyteller all my life, and have worked with stories professionally since I was 23. At heart, I am a storyteller first and foremost, and I’ll spin a tale at the drop of a hat. So the answer hear must be “A big role!”
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me? It means that I agreed with my friend Dave Zaboski (an ex-Disney illustrator and artist) when he talks of “a created life”. The idea that you can control many of the narratives you tell yourself is one I subscribe to – and then some! So those words mean that while we definitely can’t control everything, and that “You can do anything!” is pure BS, there is a lot we CAN do, especially when it comes to stories and how we see our lives.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I honestly don’t know. For many years that person was my ex-wife Marie, but while we are still close, I can’t honestly put her in that position anymore. My fiancée Siv is wonderful and amazing and supports my work, but I would lie if I called her my greatest fan – though she is definitely my strongest sparring partner. It’s definitely not our daughter, and I’m not one of those whose parents gush over everything they do. So if the classic options are out, who is my greatest fan, sponsor and partner in crime? I don’t know if it’s strictly true all the way, but my good friend Hans Peter and I have a mutual appreciation of each other that stretches back nearly 30 years, and if I ever need someone to pick me up and boost my confidence, I know I can call him (and he me). Oh, and we’ve recently written a book together, which surely doesn’t hurt!
Which people or companies would I like to work with? There are so many brilliant people and organisations out there, but here are 10 I already know, and who I’d love to work with, if I got the chance!
1. Michael Jung from Disney Imagineering. We’ve met only once, but I got an amazing first impression of him, and I’m still saddened my brief interactions with WDI back in 2014-2017 didn’t end up turning into projects.
2. Carsten Frank from Novo Nordisk. Carsten and I were in a leadership network group together, and got along well, but it never turned into work collaboration; and since he today works with learning and training at Novo, I’d love to get a chance to work with him.
3. Sara Thacher is also from Disney Imagineering, and we have done small things together before – and every time I’ve met her, she has left me inspired and motivated and enriched. So if she wrote tomorrow and invited me to be part of something, I’d say yes at once.
4. Megan Henshall is one of Google’s secret weapons, and I’ve been privileged enough to do work with her before. She brings compassion and fun and vision to whatever she touches, and if she and I end up doing something together again, I’d be thrilled.
5. Barnet Bain, director of the upcoming “Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus”. We’ve talked loosely about doing things together, but so far it’s only been small things. If he called me tomorrow, though, I’d pick up the phone with joy.
6. I couldn’t make a list like this without David Pearl. I’ve mentioned him elsewhere, and he and I have done numerous projects over the years already. It’s always been a genuine pleasure, and one I’d love to see repeated.
7-8-9. Sangeeth Ram from the Middle East office of McKinsey, belongs on this list, along with Tom Isherwood, Margaux Constantin and more McKinsey people. Sharp minds, big thinking, and kind hearts – and huge projects that I’ve enjoyed being part of in the past. Would do so again any day!
10. Finally, Rory Sutherland must be on this list. I don’t know how I’d help him (apart from once again inviting him to the College of Extraordinary Experiences!), but I know that if I had the opportunity to do something with him, I’d grab it!
What project am I looking forward to work on? Right now, I have two huge projects that excite me. First is the College of Extraordinary Experiences, which is moving towards its tenth anniversary in 2026, and a more recent one is Bhavan’s College MSEED – the Management School of Events, Entertainment and Design, which I am helping make come alive in Mumbai at the moment. Both of those projects are with wonderful people and huge ambitions – and both are visions I believe strongly in.
Where can you see me or my work?
http://www.extraordinary.college
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? I can’t imagine ever retiring. It’s that simple. Changing style, changing methods, and changing focus, sure. But retiring? I just don’t see that in the cards.
Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story? If you say hi from me, here are ten names I’d like to nominate for this:
1. Scott Gould, a speaker and specialist in engagement
2. Paul Bulencea, one of my co-founders at the College of Extraordinary Experiences
3. Matt Langdon, who works with workplace heroism
4. Paula Roundtree, a facilitator and event hero from down under
5. Divine Bradley, a multi-faceted artist and community creator from the North-East USA
6. Elena Rodriguez Blanco, who works with impact experience design and tourism
7. Mike Hodzelmans, an L&D executive with a passion for people and humanity
8. Jateen Rajput, the dean of MSEED, who I work with on that project
9. Francine Boon, an escape room designer out to change the world a bit
10. And of course, David Pearl, whose story is interesting and worth the telling
How can you contact me?
www.clausraasted.comclaus@clausraasted.com+45 22 34 24 80
The Hero's Journey 