In 1848, as a less than 18-year-old young man, he took over his father's estate. Although the family business was in debt, he quickly got it out of trouble. He became a wealthy man and went to Paris. In 1853, he founded the first joint-stock company in Silesia called: Śląskie Kopalnie i Zinkownie, he also bought new mines, e.g. in Russia. Guido was also interested in the military and politics. As a Prussian officer he took part in the Franco-Prussian War. In the siege of Metz, he literally crushed the French. Then, during the deliberations in Versailles, he diplomatically finished off the enemy, increasing the French contribution from 1 to 5 million francs.

In 1914 he opposed the German invasion of Belgium. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, he founded a military hospital near Berlin with his own money. He also founded a foundation for the care of the disabled.