Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

What he learned from his mother

Herb Kelleher had a strong bond with his mother, as his father had died in 1943 at a fairly young age. He has reflected on the influence Ruth Kelleher had on his life a number of times.

He and his mother used to sit up late at night talking of all sorts of issues and topics. She was the biggest influence in how he developed his work ethic.

In an interview he said: "My mother said that positions and titles signify absolutely nothing. They're just adornments; they don't represent the substance of anybody."

Herb had a wise mother, and it's something we all need to take into consideration. It's the substance of who people are within that counts the most.

Some of the other things Ruth Kelleher taught Herb:

* Treat people with respect

* Judge on merit

* Don't judge on appearance

I remember the appearcance aspect of things especailly, when a district manager was looking to hire somebody in a company I was working with.

A young man walked in you was very handsome, tall, and had all the outward qualifications some people foolishly look for. I always remember the comments the district manager made when seeing him, "he's a player."

He based all that on what he looked like on the outside, before ever interviewing or talking with him.

About a year later I ran into this individual that had been hired, and he was already gone from the company. I found out while he had all the outward appearance going for him, he was extremely juvenile and immature.

Anybody can be trained in outward things, it's simply a matter of practice. But the inner substance of someone cannot be trained, as it's inherent to who someone is.