5 Questions for Stefan Basler, Managing Director Haeusler AG

Consider, tackle and implement, instead of being held back by misgivings, doubts or the inner pig dog: The "screw it - let's do it" mentality brings benefits in many areas of life. By simply getting started and focusing on action, you can make decisions and put them into action faster, which gives you a sense of control and competence and builds self-confidence.

Stefan Basler is by nature someone who makes considered decisions. But when asked about the best professional advice of his career so far, he says: Screw it - let's do it. Find out more about this maxim and why it was so important to Stefan Basler in our interview of the month.

However, tackling things is often an internal battle with oneself. Whether it's deciding early in the morning to put on your jogging shoes rather than your pillow, or to leave your comfort zone and take on a new, challenging job in a foreign country. Our interview partner of the month knows this dichotomy. Stefan Basler is now the managing director of Haeusler AG, a global company in the metal forming industry and related production lines. After many years of direct and indirect management experience with large global companies, with the management of several departments and experience as a business performance member, Stefan Basler was recently drawn back to an SME. His career path is not straightforward, but it has come full circle at Haeusler, a family business based in Duggingen, where two factors that are important to Stefan Basler come together: SMEs and the machine industry. Stefan Basler began his professional career with an apprenticeship as an electronics technician at an SME and worked in the profession for several years. Even at a young age, he was deployed around the world and gained valuable experience. He did not yet have a clear career goal, but he knew that he wanted to keep several options open. So he passed the Swiss Federal Matura and studied business administration at the University of Zurich. He then joined the service sector of the engineering industry and shortly afterwards was given the opportunity to live and work in Hong Kong for four years - an exciting and formative time for him and his partner. The highly competitive environment in Asia shaped his career and showed him that work-life balance is not everything. He came back to Switzerland convinced that this generation has to do better to compete internationally with the increased competition. Even though there were other stations in his professional career in the meantime, he is still fascinated by the machine industry today, which is characterized by high technical requirements that demand innovative ability.

Mr. Basler, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?

"As a child, I didn't have a clear career aspiration. I liked being outside and playing a lot with my friends in the forest. But I was also always very interested in machines and technology and could often be found in my grandfather's workshop. Instead of the electronics apprenticeship, it could probably have been a forestry apprenticeship. The opportunities presented during the trial apprenticeship and the advice of my parents made me decide against the forest and in favor of the machine industry.

What is your favorite way to start your day?
"My day starts very early: I get up at 5 a.m. and go jogging for about 25 minutes during the week. Yes, the groundhog always greets me, but it's extremely good for me to satisfy my urge to move in the morning - afterwards, I'm much more grounded throughout the day."

What does success mean to you personally?
"For me, success is when I achieve a set and demanding goal. Success also means putting away a personal low and overcoming it. If you don't hang your head and keep going, you master the hurdle and go into the next stage stronger."

What would you work for free for a week?
"As a former Jungwacht leader, I would get involved in a youth association. During this time, I learned an incredible amount about dealing with other people, about leadership and project management. For example, how to organize a camp, how to help each other and pull together, how to discuss problems... I couldn't have learned that in a book. I find this valuable offer for the youth very supportive, you learn for life."

What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"When I was offered the position of Area Sales Director in Hong Kong at SR Technics Group, I had my reservations. Personally, I had no specific know-how about engines and aviation. What finally reassured me was my girlfriend at the time and now my wife: "Screw it - let's do it! We'll just do it now! What's the worst that can happen?" I think it's important to weigh decisions, but it's even more important to take the plunge - sometimes into the deep end. In my experience, it's better to do something and possibly regret it than not to jump and mourn the lost opportunity with 'coulda, coulda, woulda'."

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Basler for his contribution to this article.
This interview was conducted by telephone.