Stand Out International

Introduction: Simon Vetter works with executives who want to create positive changes and professionals who want to create a STAND OUT brand. Over the course of his career, he has coached, trained and advised managers and teams from Agilent Technologies, CalPERS, Callaway Golf, Daimler, Gallo Winery, Johnson & Johnson, RE/MAX, Siemens, Toyota, UBS and others. March 16, 1997 was a turning point in my life. It was late afternoon when I landed at San Diego’s Lindbergh Field airport. I picked up my luggage – two suitcases and my mountain bike – and I stepped outside the airport terminal. The sun was setting on the horizon, coloring the western sky from orange to dark blue, and I felt a refreshing ocean breeze on my face. I felt like I was on vacation and I said to myself, “This is a nice place to be.” I came to San Diego to refresh and improve my English. By mid-June, I had finished my English studies and decided to stay in the US. I liked San Diego, the California lifestyle and the weather so much that I wanted to live and work here. After rigorous networking, I landed a sales job for an international training organization, Dale Carnegie Training. With lots of dedication and long hours, I became an award winner and top sales producer during my second year with the company. As a reward, I was invited to the company’s international convention in Seattle, Washington, in December 1999. I discovered that “sales” is not only an essential business function; it’s also a highly reputable profession. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn and practice the fine art of sales for four years. My employer eventually offered me an opportunity to participate in a variety of training programs. I attended courses in communication, presentation, interpersonal skills, leadership, management and sales, and absorbed as much as I could to increase my skills in those areas. The more training I received, the more my interest in teaching grew. In my first year of working for the training company, I became an assistant instructor and two years later, a certified instructor of communication and leadership programs. I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching, whether it was facilitating a course in high-impact presentation to managers or teaching public speaking to 35 business people. I discovered teaching was my passion. I had found my “calling” – or as Aristotle put it, the place “where your talents and the needs of the world cross.” In 2001, I decided to open my own consulting and coaching business. With no clients to start with, I did what I love to do most: I met people, networked, and talked about business and marketing. This led to my first client, then more knowledge, experience and more business. Now I enjoy working with companies, managers and professionals, teaching them the skills, attitudes and knowledge to Stand Out.