SowhatareDavidNeeleman'srulesforhissuccesswithJetBlueandpreviouslywithMorrisAir,OpenSkiesandWestJet?Inessence,therearefourteenruleswhichhebelievescanbeusedtosucceedinanybusiness:
1.Dowhatyoufeelpassionateabout──becausethat'stheonlywayyou'llhavethepersistencetoseesomethingthroughtotheend.
2.Alwaystryandthinkoutsidethebox──thatis,refusetoacceptconventionalwisdomandtrytoseeproblemsinnewways.Havetheselfconfidencetodosomethingoriginalandcreative.
3.Workalongsideandlearnfromthebestinyourfield──orinotherwordslearnbyfollowing.DavidNeelemanbasedMorrisAironSouthwestsowellthatSouthwestendedupbuyinghiscompany.WithJetBlue,hehasconsistentlytriedtohirepeoplehecanlearnfrombecausetheyareverygoodatwhattheydo.
4.Alwaysbereadytomoveon──meaningdon'tlookattemporarysetbacksastheendofthestory,justastheendofonechapterandthestartofsomethingnew.Ifyou'renottieddowntoimperfectassumptions,beperfectlywillingtomakeagracefulexitfromanythingthatdoesn'tgoasplanned,largeorsmall.
5.Buildabettermousetrap──dothingsbetterthaneveryoneelse.Ifyoucancombinethebestproductwithalowprice,you'llsucceedinanyindustry.Don'tworryaboutthesizeofyourcompetitors──thebusinessworldisfullofDavidversusGoliathtriumphs.Doyourhomework,assembletherightpiecesandthenpushaheadfearlessly.
6.Alwaysbewellcapitalized──withacashcushionsoyoucanrideoutanythingunexpected.Ifyouhaveaweakfinancialposition,yourcompetitorswillexploitthat.Don'tgetintothatsituation.
7.Takegoodcareofyourpeople──becauseanybusinessultimatelysucceedsorfailsontheperformanceofitsfrontlinepeople.Ifyouremployeesdon'tfeelyou'relookingafterthemwell,theywillbeunlikelytobemotivatedtotakegoodcareofyourcustomers.Demonstrateyourcommitmenttoyouremployeesintangibleways,includinggettingoutandworkingalongsidethem.Youshouldalsohaveinplacetangiblewaystosharethewealthsoeveryonedoeswell,financiallyandotherwise.Doallyoucantocreateahappyworkforceandtheywillautomaticallybeproductive.