People with different personalities, different approaches, different values succeed not because one set of values or priorities is superior but because their values and practices are genuine.

One piece of advice that always stuck in my mind is that people should be respected and trusted as people, not because of their position or title.

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.

You don't hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills.

The more time I spend with our people, the more I find out about our business.

You have to treat your employees like customers

Your employees come first. And if you treat your employees right, guess what? Your customers come back, and that makes your shareholders happy. Start with employees and the rest follows from that.