Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines, delivered an inspiring and often funny keynote address at the opening session of the NWFA's 2013 Wood Flooring Expo, reminding everyone in attendance that while "turbulence is inevitable, misery is optional."
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Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines, delivered an inspiring and often funny keynote address at the opening session of the NWFA's 2013 Wood Flooring Expo, reminding everyone in attendance that while "turbulence is inevitable, misery is optional."
In his speech, Putnam described what he did as the CEO of Southwest Airlines to earn profits every year while his competitors were struggling to avoid bankruptcy during a financial crisis in the airline industry.
He offered several recommendations-hire people with good attitudes because skills are easier to develop, work to increase the size of the market rather than steal from each other, and communicate with the co-pilots, as their ideas are just as valid as the CEO's. However, his mantra for keeping a business afloat: simplify, simplify, simplify.
"That's what we did at Southwest. One kind of plane. One kind of tug. One computer system. Go back and take a look at your own organizations: How many vehicles do you have? How many different kinds of equipment? Is there a way to simplify that? Take some of the cost out and still be efficient?" he said.
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.
