Annette Meisl: Why change is sometimes the only way forward

There are people who plan their lives. And there are people who go with the flow. Annette Meisl belongs to the second group. Many know her as the ‘cigar lady’ from Cologne, the founder of the cigar salon La Galana (her The events are legendary!), cigar maker and cigar roller. Others know her as Author, Singer or violinist. In the LAGERFEUER interview, however, she does not talk about cigars. She talks about the decisions that have repeatedly steered her life in a new direction. From France via Spain and Cuba to Cologne, a common thread runs through her story: change begins where familiar security ends. Annette Meisl says of the LAGERFEUER interview: „No journalist has ever asked me questions like that – not in any of my many interviews. That really says something!“

The desire for a different life

You can watch the whole LAGERFEUER conversation on YouTube – it’s public, so you don’t need an account or to log in:

Watch the video podcast on YouTube

This conversation is part of the video podcast CAMPFIRE. CAMPFIRE brings together people who have experienced, inspired or changed something. The conversations are honest and inquisitive, and explore the questions that are often overlooked in everyday life.

🎬 You can find the full interview with Annette Meisl on YouTube.

Every major change begins with a moment when one’s life as it was is no longer enough. For Annette Meisl, this moment marked the starting point of a journey that led her time and again into the unknown. In the LAGERFEUER interview, she describes how freedom does not arise suddenly, but grows step by step. Every move to a new place, every new challenge and every encounter became another building block in her life.

She doesn’t shy away from talking about the difficult times either. Anxiety, uncertainty and even depression were just as much a part of her journey as her later successes.

The moment of absolute freedom

One statement from the conversation sums up her attitude: «Now I am free; nothing can happen to me anymore.» This is not a statement about carelessness. It is the realisation that fear loses its hold once you have already taken that decisive step. This insight runs through the entire conversation. For Annette Meisl, freedom is not a place. Freedom is an inner decision.

Cuba is changing more than just our perception of cigars

Cuba holds a special place in this conversation. The island became a source of cultural inspiration for Annette Meisl. The music, the people and the way of life there shaped her future development. These experiences later gave rise to the cigar brand La Galana, which reflects her personal journey. However, in this conversation, Cuba is not the focus as a travel destination, but rather as a symbol of how new cultures can change one’s outlook on life.

Creativity knows no bounds

The diversity of her projects is remarkable. Alongside the world of premium cigars, she has produced books, music, readings and new creative ideas. For Annette Meisl, every chapter that comes to a close seems to mark the beginning of a new one.

One of her statements describes this process particularly well: «Everything converges at a single point, and from that something great grows.» Experiences do not disappear. They intertwine and form the basis for new ideas.

Safety and risk go hand in hand

Towards the end of the conversation, the discussion turns to a question that is on many people’s minds. How much security does one need to lead a fulfilling life? Annette Meisl does not offer a simple answer. Instead, she describes a path that everyone must find for themselves:

«You have to strike a balance between security and risk.» It is precisely this attitude that makes the conversation so interesting. It’s not about giving everything up or constantly taking risks. It’s about recognising the right moment when change becomes more important than standing still.

A conversation about life

This LAGERFEUER interview is far more than just the story of a cigar entrepreneur. It is a conversation about courage, new beginnings, doubts, creativity and the willingness to keep steering one’s life in new directions. Anyone who has only known Annette Meisl from the world of cigars will discover here a woman whose story extends far beyond that subject – and that is precisely why it leaves a lasting impression.

Annette Meisl and the Cigar Queen

Find the book in your local bookshop or on Amazon; it’s also available as a Kindle edition.

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