Herb Kelleher Born : March 12, 1931 Browse All Authors Top 63 quotes by Herb Kelleher I learned it by doing it, and I was scared to death. Herb Kelleher life-death life-lesson scared Wild Turkey whiskey and Philip Morris cigarettes are essential to the maintenance of human life! Herb Kelleher turkeys maintenance essentials Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility. Herb Kelleher egomania boat responsibility The Wright Amendment is a pain in the ass, but not every pain in the ass is a constitutional infringement. Herb Kelleher ass aviation pain If you don't treat your own people well, they won't treat other people well. Herb Kelleher treats leadership people The people of Southwest have always been my pride, my joy and my love. Their indomitable dedication and esprit de corps have taken Southwest from a three-airplane dream to a 500-airplane reality. Herb Kelleher airplane taken dream Everybody in Texas would tell me that they thought I was nuts trying to start Southwest Airlines. There probably weren't 10 people in the state who would have given a plug nickel for our chances of making a dollar. So sometimes, you need a little courage, too, just to buck popular opinion. Herb Kelleher texas nuts people You have to have the service mentality in the sense that you subjugate your own ego, and you subjugate a large part of your own life to really helping other people, being successful on their behalf. Herb Kelleher helping-others successful people Hire for attitude, train for skill. Herb Kelleher skills train attitude Sometimes you need a little courage too just to buck popular opinion. Herb Kelleher bucks littles needs I've always been able to make erroneous decisions very quickly. Herb Kelleher able decision You have to treat your employees like customers Herb Kelleher employee treats customers I think my greatest moment in business was when the first Southwest airplane arrived after four years of litigation and I walked up to it and I kissed that baby on the lips and I cried. Herb Kelleher airplane baby thinking It takes nerves of steel to stay neurotic. Herb Kelleher aviation nerves steel The clear, unmistakable sign of a bureaucrat is somebody who worries about whether he has a window. Herb Kelleher egomania worry window The tragedy of our time is that we've got it backwards, we've learned to love techniques and use people. Herb Kelleher design tragedy people You [the employees] are involved in a crusade. Herb Kelleher involved employee crusades I forgive all personal weaknesses except egomania and pretension. Herb Kelleher egomania forgiving weakness Succession planning has been a major priority at Southwest for quite some time. We think we have come up with a winning combination of talent for our company reorganization. Herb Kelleher priorities winning thinking The more time I spend with our people, the more I find out about our business. Herb Kelleher more-time people