Persevere. Keep at it. Win

This exciting topic attracted over 300 business representatives to the SME SWISS The event drew a large audience to the Campus Hall in Brugg-Windisch. In three presentations and a panel discussion, successful entrepreneurs gave an insight into their careers and reported on what it takes to realize a vision. Robert Nussbaumer's statement was representative of all: "Visionaries always get up again. The key is to persevere. Keep at it. Win."

All panelists after the official part.The perseverance geneKeynote speaker, trainer and author Robert Nussbaumer is convinced that a visionary must have a "perseverance gene". In his first speech, he emphasized that it is not enough to have a dream, you also have to take action. However, many people are afraid of failure, of hurdles that need to be overcome, or they are not motivated enough. The second speaker, Roland Brack (Brack.ch), agreed with this and added that it takes a lot of courage to implement a vision: "When I made my biggest decisions, I was always thought to be crazy at first." He initially supplied customers with electronic goods from the attic of his parents' house. His company now employs 550 people and the online store stocks 150,000 items.Fly like a birdOliver Furrer showed in his last presentation that you can literally take off with a vision. The multiple world champion and record holder in skydiving is approaching his dream of "flying like a bird" step by step. In addition to his work as CCO of the airline SkyWork in Bern, he jumps off cliff edges at the weekend with a wingsuit and helps to improve the wingsuit.A sympathetic ear for employeesIn the second part of the SME SWISS podium, presenter Tamara Sedmak welcomed the legendary Hausi Leutenegger to the stage. The four-man bobsleigh Olympic champion, film actor and founder of Hans Leutenegger AG gave an extremely entertaining account of how he never looked "left or right" in his career and always went his own way. His company now employs around 1,000 people. Leutenegger advised the participants to treat people in a friendly manner, to listen to employees' concerns and to trust them. In addition, an entrepreneur should be open and communicative and always look ahead.Everyone falls flat on their face sometimesMarc Gianola also made the leap from sport to business. The four-time Swiss field hockey champion and OC President of the Spengler Cup Davos believes that top athletes are well equipped to realize visions. Athletes need to be ambitious, determined and persistent in order to succeed in a tough environment. Robert Nussbaumer and Oliver Furrer joined us again for the final panel discussion. Everyone had a lively discussion about visionary behavior and emphasized that, in addition to a vision, what is needed above all is fun and passion for the cause. These help to provide the necessary stamina when things don't go according to plan. After all, everyone falls flat on their face at some point, that's part of it.Establish and maintain contactsThe SME SWISS Podium, which traditionally takes place once a year in September, is not just about the presentations and the panel discussion. Just as important for the managers and entrepreneurs are the encounters during the breaks, at the stands of the 35 exhibitors or at the dinner afterwards. This is where valuable contacts are made and cultivated. The guests philosophize about visions and who knows, maybe one or two ideas will be implemented. In any case, the same applies here: stay tuned!