Growth in Troubled Times
Author: Jim
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16 Feb 07
In the post 9/11 world, the airline industry was in dire straits. Cost cutting was rampant industry-wide, but Continental Airlines took a different tack. They bought up gates, accelerated expansion efforts begun in the late 90s, and put additional focus on serving customers. CEO Gordon Bethune described his actions this way, “Now is not the time to take the cheese off the pizza.”
Business has recently enjoyed a very strong market, but if and when it takes a downturn, remember Mr. Bethune’s lesson: It’s possible to increase your market share—even in a declining market—by satisfying the needs of your customers.
February 18th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Hi, Ed! One time when I was with your brother, Dave, in the Houston airport, Gordon Bethune was going up the opposite escalator. He called out to your brother, asking when he would be “coming on board� in management again? I was impressed by that because I had seen him on TV. Gordon Bethune was a CEO with vision, and the courage to act on his convictions.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Yes, courage and conviction to act that apparently rubbed off on others. I know Dave would never make a pizza without cheese.