“Think small and act small and we will get bigger, think big and act big and we’ll get smaller”
Yesterday, Herb Kelleher, one of the world’s iconic business leaders passed, and it is no coincidence that he was also one of America’s first CEOs with the vision and understanding of human nature that became a case study on how culture could be a strategic business advantage.
Southwest, had humble beginnings as a Texas in state airline, and won by reinventing the rules, thinking small, ultimately become the largest airline in the world as measured by passengers carried.
Kelleher was a Wild Turkey drinking, cheese cracker eating, cigarette smoking Texan, who never “hankered to be part of the corporate life”, and for who “Southwest employees were like a fountain of youth”
Steve Jobs may be a more famous CEO, but Herb Kelleher showed how his passion for his business; love of employees and customers can create what many thought were impossible.
This, How I Built This podcast from a couple of years ago, is worth the listen.
RIP Herb.
