Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Nuts!

As the Southwest Airlines meltdown played out over the holidays, I went searching for a book in my library that I likely hadn't touched in 20 years. Nuts! (by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg) tells the fascinating saga of Southwest's initial fight for life and ultimate emergence as a dominant player in the airline world. And, they did it by breaking all the rules.

What caused me to pull the book for a skim was an open letter from a veteran Southwest pilot that explained that early leadership of the company was based on operational optimization. Things changed when accountants took over from founder Herb Kelleher.

What also apparently changed was the unwavering focus Herb had on placing employees first. One of my favorite stories about the Southwest Airlines culture was that you'd never find the then 60-something CEO in his office on the day before Thanksgiving (one of the busiest travel days of the year) because he would be on the tarmac at Love's Field slinging luggage with the baggage handlers. That's leadership.

Though the book is approaching its 30th anniversary, Nuts! is worth your time...because Herb's vision and leadership was timeless.

Impact Sustainability Travel & Tourism is Back

Earlier this year, on the DMOU Podcast, we hosted Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria to talk about his organization's outsized role in environmental sustainability. In one of our questions, we delved into an event they helped launch in 2018 called Impact Sustainability Travel & Tourism.

After a scaled back COVID-driven virtual event last year, the event is back in Victoria as a live event set for January 22-26. If you're a Tourism pro in Canada, you know you must go. If you're from anywhere else, you know you should go.

Best Places to Wait Out the End of Days

Researches from Anglia Ruskin University have determined that the best places to live out the final days of humanity would be New Zealand and Australia (especially Tasmania), along with a few other island nations.

Not to be dismissive of their work...but, if we read or saw "On the Beach," didn't we already know that?

Just sayin...

A Lesson Relearned

One of the greatest lessons I ever learned came from the greatest teacher I ever knew, a humble yet passionate man named Guisto Patinella. And yet, I today acknowledge that I haven't lived up to that learning, once again.

"Mr. Pat" once told me the story of a student a few years ahead of me that tragically died after falling from a scaffold while decorating the Eastridge High School gym for a dance. He was the President of the Student Council and universally loved by his classmates...but he had confided in Mr. Pat that he didn't think people liked him because no one ever invited him to parties or nights of cruising the Square. In retrospect, he never got those invites because everyone assumed he had other plans...because he was the most popular guy in school.  So, he had no way of knowing how loved he was.

I remember the evening Mr. Pat told me...don't ever let an opportunity pass in which you don't tell someone how much they mean to you. Because they may not know...and they could be gone tomorrow.

With Terri...that's easy. We share those words of affection, admiration and respect every day. And often each day, even when I'm on the road. But, to many of my friends...I have failed to follow Mr. Pat's advice more often than not.

I was friends with almost everyone in my High School class. Not unlike Ferris Bueller and Matthew McConaughey, I hung with with the stoners and the preppies, the jocks and the nerds, the rockers and the kids in band. But, I have stayed connected with too few.

One of the kids in band turned out to be an amazing entrepreneur, author and columnist. His name is Gary Moore (pictured above) and, after decades pursuing our own paths, we reconnected five or six years ago after I saw one of his uplifting columns that was syndicated in my hometown newspaper. I discovered that we were both published authors. I attempted to arrange a book signing and reading here in Madison for him, but it never panned out.

And then, through Facebook, I watched as he struggled with a disease that was robbing him of his body...but not his spirit. He was going to beat this insidious illness...until he wasn't. He inspired people through his column and online. Until the other day, when he posted what he called his "hardest column."

Gary...your books are an inspiration and I've shared my copies with several friends (sorry, I should have made them buy their own). You've led an outstanding life and created an amazing family. And, you made a boatload of money helping others. It doesn't get any better than that. Yours has been a life extraordinarily well lived.

I love you, brother. And, I can only hope we can reconnect in the next life where I can thank you for enriching the lives of so many (and give you a big hug).

Godspeed and safe passage, my long lost friend.

It's Called Product Placement

Thanks so much to our friend Tammy Potts-O'Kelley (CEO of the Heart of Carolina Visitors Bureau) for deftly sliding my book, "Destination Leadership" into the shot when she was recently interviewed by Fox8.

That's got to be worth more than a few drinks next time our paths cross.

Thank you, Tammy...and congratulations for recently nabbing the Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Travel and Tourism International. So deserved...

 

Is Mobile Phone Shaming Next?

I saw Stanford researcher BJ Fogg (author of Tiny Habits) a number of years ago at Brandworks University...and I use one of his prioritization tools to this day when I work with DMO Boards attempting to collectively decide "what next?"

So, when Terri saw this article transition through her feed today, there was little doubt that I'd be all over it. The professor, who though his "Persuasive Tech Lab" at Stanford helped launch the founders of Instagram, has recently opined that 2020 may well be the year that we begin to shame people that are addicted to their mobile screens, much as many shun smokers.

Where being buried in one's screen once signaled a degree of status, that we all have such devices now means that you're just a self-absorbed asshole (my words, not BJ's) when you're more interested in said screen than you are the people around you.

Fascinating turn of culture, wouldn't you say?

Place Branding for All

Destination Marketing pros that don't have a copy of Bill Baker's initial tome (or its second edition) on the subject of Destination Marketing on their bookshelf have been, sadly, operating with half a deck. But, never fear...Bill is back with his latest effort, "Place Branding for Small Cities, Regions and Downtowns."

And, for those of us that highlighted and sticky-noted our dog-eared copies...the new book expands upon the tenants of the original with new case studies and an updated attitude to reflect the ever-evolving dynamic that is Destination Marketing. Indeed, our friend Reyn Bowman (former CEO of the Durham CVB) said, "Bill has taken a great book and, unexpectedly, made it better."

You can find the new masterpiece here. And, for a deeper dive into the mind of Bill and what you'll find in the new book (plus a big reveal), check out his interview with Florian Kaefer in The Place Brand Observer.

Congratulations, Bill...and thanks for all you do your our industry!

On Being Aware of Your Surroundings

Gary Moore is an interesting guy. An accomplished businessman, he has pivoted to become a respected author and motivational speaker. His books, The Final Service and Playing with the Enemy are among our personal favorites (and of our former neighbors, who loved our referrals). And, he has recently begun writing a weekly column for his hometown newspaper.

It is a hometown that has seen more than its fair share of hard knocks. But, it's clawing its way back. I know that, after a recent visit, I'm thoroughly impressed with the sparks of vision and development I saw in several parts of the county. While I saw pain during my visit...I saw more positive than negative. And, for our hometown that's a good thing.

Yeah...Gary and I went to High School together. He stayed. I split.

I left because, in my chosen field, I could go no further there. And, as much as I have loved my 28 years in Madison, I'd be lying if I didn't admit to feeling those pangs of longing for those days in my hometown as I drove through the old 'hoods last month.

But, here's the thing. Gary stayed. And, through his weekly column, he is helping our shared hometown shake off the negativity that is so prevalent when "lifers" bitch about how the old days were so much better. But, ask anyone that has recently transplanted to the county? They love it.

I'd link to one of Gary's columns designed to encourage locals to get over the past and embrace the future...but, you don't live there, so it wouldn't resonate.

Instead, I encourage you to read one of his most recent columns...that of becoming more aware of the beauty that surrounds us.

Gary and I so need to reconnect after all these years. I have been a lazy friend...and an invisible fan. But, on my next visit to my hometown, I look forward to that bearhug between old friends.

The CEO's Life

62 hours a week, on average. 4 hours a day on weekends. 2.4 hours a day on vacations.

Is this what we signed up for? Is this how life is enjoyed and savored?

Certainly not in Tim Ferriss' world. While he says he sometimes cringes at some of the things he wrote eleven years ago...his book, "The Four Hour Workweek," still resonates.

It's so worth a read if you haven't.

The Short Smart Read

While the complexities of Destination Marketing often conspire against short posts in this space, it is always our goal. And, our friend Bill Baker (Total Destination Marketing) has just inaugurated a free 10 e-book series on Destination Branding that are smart as they are short, quick reads.

Designed to tackle many of the issues that can sometimes challenge small cities as they attempt to get their arms around brand development, refinement and execution, the first e-book in the series was released last week. 

To score the first e-book and sign up for the series, simply complete the sign-up box at  www.DestinationBranding.com.

And, tell us what you think.