Did you enjoy the first part of our interview last week, particularly the story of how we met?  If you haven’t had the opportunity to learn more about Howard, Part I will do the job of introducing you to Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines. 

Well, here we go with the last part of Stephen Hopson Interviews with Howard:

11.  At Adversity University, I often talk about the value of changing our perceptions in order to deal with adversity.  How have you dealt with adversity in your life?  Give us specific examples of adversity and what you did to overcome them.

I am a pragmatic person.  Ross Perot, founder of Electronic Data Systems in Dallas, said one time in a meeting I attended:  “Things are never as bad as they seem and things are never good as they seem.”  So I try to find a balance.  The worst adversity was taking on Braniff International and finding out after we had resigned from Southwest to save Braniff, it was an Enron.  They had been cooking the books.  We only had ten days of cash.  We kept it alive for seven months and then had to put it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  We stayed with it for another sixteen months and got it reorganized, sold and flying again.  We had to put 10,000 employees out of work and reorganize a billion dollars of debt.  Then we got 2500 of the employees back to work.  We worked six-seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day for seven months, keeping it alive.  We had a great small senior management team and we supported each other, our families and we kept our senses of humor.  We also kept our honesty and integrity on the front-burner.  There was never one single lawsuit against the board of directors or management.  Why?  We laid everything out in the open.  No shortcuts, no hidden agendas.  Just do the job.  I also kept an exercise and jogging regiment daily.

Stephen’s Response:  I simply cannot fathom the degree of difficulty involved when being forced to let go thousands of people and reorganizing billions of dollars of debt.  That is simply gigantic.  It takes a certain individual to be up to those kinds of tasks.    Good thing you had a solid management team - that always helps.  I find this fascinating, Howard.

12.  What would you say was the defining moment that forever changed the course of your life?  For example, was it someone who made an impact on you or was it a spiritual revelation?

I have always been a strong believer in God and faith is part of my DNA.  But I can’t think of one moment where the lights flashed spiritually and my life was changed.  In business, a defining moment was age 25, Capital Airlines where I started in Chicago, loading bags, was merged into United Airlines.  By then, I was a sales representative and 1st level of management.  When I was interviewed by one of the United psychologists, he asked me what my long range goal was.  I said, “I want to be President of an airline.”  He laughed at me.  That was always the driving force inside of me as I worked my way up the corporate ladder through ten more jobs before becoming Group VP Marketing for United at age 38.  Two years later, I was recruited to leave UAL and become the 2nd CEO of fledgling Southwest Airlines.  Then psychologist by then was retired and dying of cancer.  But he called to congratulate me.  He said:  “I have never forgotten the day I asked you your long range goal.  You were really serious and I apologize and offer you my congratulations.”  It took a man to make that call and Fred Ampt died of cancer three months later.  I will never forget him.  If you have a goal, don’t let anyone talk you out of it.  Just like with you Stephen, wanting to learn to fly and then accomplishing the impossible, and becoming the “world’s first instrument rated deaf pilot.”  Congratulations to you as well!

Stephen’s Response:  First of all, THANKS Howard for your congratulatory message about my historic instrument rating achievement.  I also believe in God and the power of having faith, especially when the outcome is uncertain.  It took a lot of guts for you to tell the interviewer at United that you wanted to become President.  But it is precisely because of the amount of courage that was involved that the universe moved mountains for you to make that a reality.  I believe the more courage you execute in the name of a dream, the more help from God and the universe you will get.  The higher the risk you take, the higher the payoff when it comes.

13.  What 3 books, blogs and/or mentors have influenced you and why?

The mentors are many more than three, probably 20.  Some did not know they were my mentors.  I observed them and studied their skills.  To name three:  Virgil Putnam on that Iowa farm and he taught me how to fly.  James S. Taylor, my journalism teacher in Bedford, Iowa, who was left handed, as am I.  He also followed my career after high school and offered words of encouragement time and again.  Edward Carlson, “Eddie” who was Chairman and CEO of United Airlines and co-founder of then Western International Hotels (now Westin) in Seattle.  He was a great people person and had integrity and honesty to boot. When I left UAL to go to Southwest, he spent an hour with me on how you work with a board of directors when you are CEO.  I still have the envelope I wrote the notes on in his office in 1978. 

Books:  Wow, I scan many books, don’t have time to read them word for word, and I am asked to endorse a lot of business books, which I also scan.  The Bible has to be in the top three.  I still don’t understand a lot of it, even though I read it cover to cover while teaching a Bible study course twenty years ago when we lived in Texas.  It is the flight plan for all of us.  “Last Man On the Moon,” by former astronaut Eugene Cernan is an excellent read about life, how being an astronaut and being gone so much, ruined his first marriage.  How his courage and authenticity got him to the moon and back.  And Kirsta and I know Captain Cernan and he has had a great impact on me.  I guess the 3rd would be “The World is Flat” by Tom Friedman about three years ago.  Thought provoking on changes in the economy and which countries are causing those changes.

Stephen’s Response:  In all the years I’ve known you, I had no idea you were left handed!  I usually notice things like that.  Wow, well, that’s a new one for me.  As for the notes you took on your meetings with Ed Carlson, what a treasure.  I’ll bet it brings back memories when you look at it.  And as for the Bible, I’m with you - I never understood it myself but I’m slowly getting acquainted with some parts of it through some of the stories in there.

14.  Name the top 3 to 5 articles from Howard Putnam Leadership eSeries that readers at Adversity University would benefit from.

As of this writing, I have written 186 of them, nearly four year’s worth.

1. My Top Ten Leadership Attributes
2. The Course of Least Resistance Makes Men and Rivers Crooked
3. Before It is Too Late:  Thank Your Mentors
4. How Many Rabbits Can You Chase:  If you chase more than one, you won’t catch any

15.  What do you hope God will have to say to you when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I would hope he would would say that my reputation and integrity would allow me entrance.

Stephen’s Response:  Oh, Howard, I have no doubt you’ll be the first in line with a qualification like that!

16.  Being deaf, I am always curious to know which sounds other people love and hate to hear.  Tell us a sound you absolutely adore and a sound you detest.

I love the sound of a piston airplane reciprocating engine, world war two vintage at the Reno Air Races where I was on the board for seven years.  Like a P-51, deep, powerful and soothing.

Detest:  Being at a cocktail reception where everyone is talking at once and you can’t hear anything.

Stephen’s Response:  People who talk and not listen are a turn-off to me as well.  Particularly those whose eyes roam all over the place when you’re talking.  That’s a huge pet peeve I have.  It drives me crazy! 

17.  We all have our likes and dislikes.  What would you say turns you on and what turns you off?  Give the first answer that comes to your mind without censoring or editing it.

• ON:  The story of an underdog succeeding against tough odds.
• OFF:  Telemarketing phone calls, tattoos

18.  What is your favorite word?  Least favorite?

• FAVORITE:  Freedom
• LEAST FAVORITE:  Politicians

19.  What’s next for Howard Putnam?

Keep speaking as long as folks listen.  Spend more time at the NC beach house with Krista.

20.  And finally, but not least, where can we find out more about you?

• Howard Putnam Website:  www.howardputnam.com
• Speakers Office:  www.sperakersoffice.com
• My book, “The Words of Turbulence” Harper Collins, but find it through me at www.howardputnam.com

Turning to the audience:  Well, folks there you have it.  Former CEO of Southwest Airlines, Howard Putnam.  You’re free to leave comments, thoughts about some of the things we talked about. 

Next week’s interview will be with Karen Putz, a deaf mom who blogs about her life’s experiences who became an Internet sensation after Steak N’ Shake refused to serve a couple of milkshakes for her and her kids because she couldn’t use the drive-in speakers to order.  She went up to the window instead to order and was told to go back to the speaker and order!   She blogged about it and created quite a stir!

Until next time, enjoy!

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