Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1173860
S ean O'Leary is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hussey Seating Company, a 184-year-old, 6th generation family-owned business based in North Berwick, Maine. Hussey Seating is the dominant player in the spectator seating industry with over $100MM in annual sales. Whether it's seating New England Patriots fans at Gillette Stadium, Chicago Bulls fans at the United Center, or the majority of North American gymnasiums, Sean and his team provide innovative seating solutions to global au- diences. Sean graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned his MBA from the University of New Hampshire. Sean spent his early career in engineering and construction management roles before co-founding a general contracting firm in Washington state in 1990. After five years, Sean returned to Maine with his family and began work at Hussey Seating Company, holding multiple roles culminating as the Director of Major Projects Sales. Sean O'Leary Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hussey Seating Company PA N E L I S T 1. Hire great people and get out of their way: Maximize the strengths of your team by delegating and empowering them to be successful. Provide the tools and support as necessary but don't micromanage and don't solve their problems. 2. Don't wait for someone to leave before giving them more: Take care of your top performers. Be proactive with recognition and reward before they ever start looking for another job. 3. Encourage pushback. Communicate openly and transparently and encourage others to do the same: Foster a culture that rewards challenging the norms where people are free to agree or disagree professionally and respectfully. 4. Put your family and yourself first. It will show in your work: You can't manage the business without managing yourself and your well-being first. This starts with family and includes health, wellness, relationships, physical, spiritual and mental health. Consider your priorities. 5. Quality starts when we answer the phone: Everything we do sends a message. The attitudes, actions, response time and attention to detail you have, speaks volumes about your organization. 6. Be curious and inquisitive. Strong leaders never stop learning: Expand your mind. Life is never boring for a curious person! 7. Act with a high sense of urgency: Don't wait until tomorrow to complete tasks that can be done today. Set an example. 8. Don't be low bid. Be different. Sell your value: If you're selling on price, you're doing it wrong. Whether you're selling yourself in an interview or as a business selling a product. Sell value, sell quality, sell solutions, sell your brand. Tell your story and be authentic. 9. If you don't like your situation change it: This applies to business and family. Inspire others to have the courage to guide their own destiny. 10. Time is the most precious commodity we have. Manage it wisely: Decide what is most important, at work and in life, and then prioritize. Get organized and stay focused on the prize. Build in time to 'do' and time to 'plan'.