It is my distinct privilege to present to you a man who is a shining example of someone who dreamt big and overcame some interesting odds to achieve them.

When Howard Putnam was 24 years old, he was a sales representative for what was then called Capital Airlines.  After it merged into United Airlines, the newly formed company held a series of tough interviews with those from Capital in an effort to weed out the weaker ones.  

At one such interview, he met a man named Fred who asked him, “Howard, what is your long term goal?”

Looking at him straight in the eye with an answer that would prove prophetic, the young Howard Putnam said, “I want to be President.”

Fred just laughed and moved on to the next question.  The man probably thought he was just saying that to impress him but Howard didn’t think it was funny.  Not at all - he was dead serious. 

I’ll stop right here and let Howard fill in the blanks with our two-part interview but not before I tell you how we met because it has all the divine characteristics of grand celestial conductors coordinating movements on my behalf.   

Back in 1996, I was just getting started as a speaker and decided to join the National Speakers Association.  They were having their annual convention in Orlando, Florida that year and I had decided, at the last minute, to register and fly down there, hoping to meet new people and learn a thing or two.    

To their credit, NSA generously provided me with two interpreters throughout the entire time I was there.  Very grateful that NSA was reaching out to a newbie like myself, I made sure they got their money’s worth by attending every seminar that was humanely possible.  The interpreters didn’t seem to mind that I was making them work for their money.  In fact, they relished every moment.  They were fun to be with, which made my first time NSA convention experience all the more enjoyable.

After one of the seminars was over, a distinguished-looking man approached us from the back of the room to the first row, where we were sitting, and introduced himself.  I had no idea who he was but something about his demeanor told me he was a man of tremendous accomplishment and inner power.  But his face was kind, and the handshake firm.  He expressed delight at seeing a pair of animated, hard-working interpreters. 

Then he turned and introduced himself to me.  I remember thinking, “whoever this guy is, I’m thankful he took the time to greet us personally.”  Little did I know he would play a major role in my life years later.

I did not yet know Howard was a popular business speaker and a former CEO of Southwest Airlines.  That information would come later.  I was also not aware that he was at one time a pilot.  Neither was I because my boyhood dreams wouldn’t manifest for another 4 years.  The dream was still idling inside my fertile imagination at the time.

Later that night was a black-tie banquet.  It was “Oscar night” for the speaking business where one very prestigious award was given out to a speaker who embodied the spirit of Robert Cavett, the man who started NSA several years ago.  

In my convention package, I was given a number for my table assignment for “Oscar night.”  Decked out in a tux that I no longer fit into (I had bought it for a party I was invited to several years earlier), I was among the first of eager beavers to arrive. 

Quickly finding my table close to the front of the room, I stood behind my chair and looked around, observing throngs of people streaming into the magnificient ballroom.  Waiters and waitresses were scurrying around like hyperactive ants, putting finishing touches to the tables.  Beams of different colored lights crisscrossed the ceilings, reminding me of opening night for a major motion picture. 

My heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.  I was wondering who would be sitting at my table when a light tap on my right shoulder jolted me out of my reverie. 

It was Howard Putnam.  I could barely contain my surprise.

Standing next to him was his lovely wife, Krista.  Both were dressed to the nines.  They were beaming.  Reaching inside his dinner jacket, Howard playfully pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to me.

It was the same number as my table!  

I let out a sigh of relief and smiled happily. 

Right at that moment, I knew that the placement of this man and his wife at my dinner table was no small coincidence.  Like everything in life, the meaning of something significant like that sometimes doesn’t become apparent for several years.  In our case, it was ten years to be exact.

As the night wore on, I learned he had been a former CEO of Southwest and Braniff Airlines.  I literally choked on my food when he said this.  Up to that point, I had never met a person of such distinguished stature.  It was like meeting a celebrity of the business world.  I was impressed with how someone like that could be humble, gracious and yet command tremendous inner power.     

We talked for several hours amongst ourselves and when it was all over, exchanged business cards and vowed to stay in touch.   Our conversation that night burned indelibly into my consciousness.

A few years later, I dropped out of NSA because my boyhood dreams of flying came roaring back to life when I found out, quite by accident, that there were other deaf pilots flying the skies.  I had no idea!  My aspiring speaking career was put on hold while I focused on flying for the next 7 years.  Howard and I kept in touch, exchanging brief emails from time to time.

It wasn’t until I became the first deaf pilot in the world to become instrument rated in 2006 when our relationship capitulated to the next level.  Since Howard was a pilot, he knew how extraordinarily difficult it was for hearing people to obtain the coveted instrument rating. 

I think it increased his respect for me many times over.  In fact, the news of that momentous occasion sparked in him a strong desire to become my professional speaking mentor and friend. 

Ironically, 2006 happened to be the year in which NSA was holding its annual convention in Orlando, Florida in the exact same hotel where Howard and I first met ten years earlier! 

No matter how hard anyone tries, no one could have orchestrated such a series of events like that.  The universe continues to amaze me with its precise timing -talk about a powerful and benevolent universe!

Seizing upon an opportunity to be reunited again, we made special preparations for me to attend the Orlando convention.   Arrangements were also made for me to be the first ever guest speaker at an event sponsored by the newly formed group of professional speakers with an aviation background called “Speaking Eagles.” 

It was there where I made several new friends, including another popular business speaker, Mark Sanborn, author of mega-business best-seller “The Fred Factor.”  Mark also has an aviation background.  He ended up doing a video testimonial, a copy of which you can see at my speaking website if you’re interested.

Before we start the interview, let me briefly mention, before I forget, that if you are curious about how a high ranking executive, whose focus was on maintaining integrity and honesty, managed to survive during a very tough time within the airline industry, you’ll enjoy his book ”The Winds of Turbulence.”  It is available for order directly from his website.

Without further ado, let’s talk to Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff Airlines. 

Howard!!!  Good lord, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we?  From the moment I met you at that black tie banquet over ten years ago, I knew it was a meeting spiced with incredible possibilities.  And here we are, I’m now interviewing YOU.  How exciting is that?

Shall we?

1.  One of my favorite questions when I want to learn about someone is by asking them to give me their 5-second introduction when I post the question:  “What do you do for a living?”

Speak professionally, sharing experiences and ideas based on my career as a former CEO of Southwest and Braniff International.

2.  Tell me in 3 to 5 sentences we can’t read in your bio at your Howard Putnam website or your electronic newsletter to clients.

Began singing solos in church in Bedford, Iowa (and in the choir) when I was 12.  Have sung in choirs, barbership quarters and do solo work ever since.  Also played the trombone and drums in high school dance band.

Stephen’s Response:  That’s really interesting - a former CEO who can actually sing!  You can come and sing at my church anytime!

3.  One of the reasons I invited you to be interviewed here is because as my personal mentor, I’ve seen you speak and write about the value of maintaining a sense of integrity and authenticity.  Where did this come from?

I grew up on an Iowa farm and learned out to fly out of a pasture in a Piper Cub soloing when I was 16.  I had responsibility at an early age driving a tractor, baling hay, etc.  My parents gave me a lot of freedom to make decisions which defined who I was.  Also, at age 10,  I tried to “steal” some reflectors for my bicycle and got caught.  That was an important learning experience and taught me the value of honesty forever.

Stephen’s Response:  It’s amazing how we remember little things from our childhood.  I remember when, as a teen, I got fired from working at a gas station because I was caught goofing off with the boss’s son.  We were playing a game of marbles behind the station, thinking no one would bother to check back there.  I didn’t dare tell my parents what had happened – for a whole week afterwards, I hid in the woods behind the house, pretending to go to work and lied about how great of a time I was having at the new job.  Eventually I was forced to fess up.  My Dad firmly told me to go to my room and think about what just happened.  It was a strong lesson for me.

4.  You have a popular newsletter called “Howard Putnam Leadership eSeries” of which I am a subscriber.  Why did you start that?

I wanted to have a lasting impact on my audiences with some follow-up and added value to reinforce my leadership message.

Stephen’s Response:  One of the things I like about your newsletter is that it’s very brief, to the point, yet full of good information.  You seem to follow the “less is more” format, which I think has worked very well for your e-series.

5.  For the benefit of my readers here at Adversity University, why don’t you describe what the Howard Putnam Leadership eSeries is about?

The weekly eSeries focuses on tidbits of leadership, change and ethics experiences and lessons.  Only 3 to 4 short paragraphs and you receive it every Monday.  You can sign up for it at Howard Putnam. 

Stephen’s Response:  The lessons in the newsletter are applicable to everyone, not just business leaders.  I’ve never been CEO of a corporation but I manage to find tidbits of wisdom that definitely apply to my own life.  Topics like integrity, following your intuition and things of that nature are revelant to everyone. 

6.  The reason I enjoy reading your weekly e-series newsletter is because you offer short, well written synopsis of some of your own experiences in business.  How did you learn to be so concise with your words? 

I don’t know that I do write that well, but thank you.  I learned it is important not to waste words when talking or writing.  In high school, I was one of the editors of the school and city paper as part of journalism class.  Then as I moved through many leadership positions in business, it was reinforced to write like you talk; to the point, down to earth and try to create a mental image and visual for your listeners.  Folks can absorb one or two facts but not seven or eight in the same memo or breath.

Stephen’s Response:  And what’s interesting about this is that even when I speak to you in person, on the telephone or via email, your words are always short, clipped and to the point.  You definitely don’t waste words or energy!  Contrast that with my style - I love giving long-winded, sometimes emotional responses.  So when I first met you, it took quite some time to get used to conversing with you!  

7.  What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  Given?

Put your people 1st and treat them as #1.  They will then treat their customers as #1, as we did at Southwest Airlines. 

Best Advice ever given:  Same thing!

Stephen’s Response:  Amen to treating others as #1.  It is congruent with my belief that people want to feel valued and important.  They want to be heard.  It’s sad to see some business leaders who treat their employees with disdain and take them for granted.   Thank goodness you weren’t one of them.

8.  What would you consider your proudest achievement in life?

Two parts:  personal and business

Personal:  Having a great wife, Krista, all these years and two super children, Mike who is an airline Captain, married with two daughters in high school and Sue, a former airline PR manager now studying PR and communications at a university.

Business:   Being chosen as CEO for two airlines, Southwest and Braniff International.

Stephen’s Response:  No wonder you’re in demand as a business speaker - everyone wants to hear your story - how you ran two major airlines during the toughest times within the airline industry.  Takes a lot of courage and guts to run an organization like those two.

9.  We all have a dark side, what’s yours?

If I have one, I don’t know what it is.  I asked Krista and she couldn’t think of one.

Stephen’s Response:  Ah, I’ll let you get away with that Howard.  But someday, I’ll find out!  (Disclaimer:  Hey, he’s my mentor so I can say that, I think….).

Turning to the audience:  Well, was that interesting or what?  My favorite part with all of this is how my meeting Howard at the seminar and later at the banquet table that night would prove to be a fortuitous event.  I even remember saying to Howard at one point, ”You and I met for a reason.  There are no coincidences.”  He agreed. 

Next week will be Part II of our interview, so if you aren’t a subscriber yet and you don’t want to miss out on the next installment, there’s a little box beneath this post, making it super easy for you to subscribe to Adversity University either by email or RSS feed.  (Click here for Part II.)

Until next time, enjoy the rest of the week!

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