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I tell my employees that we're in the service business…

“I tell my employees that we're in the service business, and it's incidental that we fly airplanes.” quote by Herb Kelleher
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“I tell my employees that we're in the service business, and it's incidental that we fly airplanes.”

Herb Kelleher

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He emphasizes that the core mission is serving customers, and the airline operation is just a means to that end.

In simple terms: Service is primary, flights are secondary.

Key Takeaway

Focus on serving customers.

Themes

service customer focus business philosophy

Mood

inspirational pragmatic

Type

leadership business

When to use this quote

  • customer service training
  • business strategy meetings
  • marketing messaging

Key Concepts

customer experience operational efficiency

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you prioritize service over product?
  • What does “incidental” mean for your core mission?
A Different Perspective

If the service focus is ignored, the business can lose purpose.

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