--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've always operated on the thesis that…" description: "\"We've always operated on the thesis that a company can have a personality, that people can be themselves, and be very successful in business at the sam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png" --- # We've always operated on the thesis that a company can… ![“We've always operated on the thesis that a company can have a personality, that people can be themselves, and be very successful in business at the same time.” quote by Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png) > “We've always operated on the thesis that a company can have a personality, that people can be themselves, and be very successful in business at the same time.” [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. A company can maintain a distinct personality while allowing employees to be authentic, leading to success. **In simple terms:** Companies can have personality and success. Key Takeaway Foster authentic corporate culture. Themes business culture authenticity success Mood optimistic strategic Type business leadership When to use this quote - team building - branding - customer service - HR policies Key Concepts leadership brand identity employee empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity drive performance? - What risks arise? A Different Perspective Balancing personality with professionalism can be tricky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Successful business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-business/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [People who have been successful in business have a huge amount to offer young people who are just starting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/people-who-have-been-successful-in-business-have-a-huge-amount-to/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [What I've realized is that all of these people are so successful because they love what they do and they work exceptionally hard. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/people-dont-look-at-your-personality-first-people-judge-you/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I have a big personality, and people feed off that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/i-have-a-big-personality-and-people-feed-off-that/) [Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/) > [Language is a personality as well. People are different when they speak different languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bezmozgis/language-is-a-personality-as-well-people-are-different-when-they/) [David Bezmozgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bezmozgis/) > [“Cooper had a theory about personality. Most people considered personality to be a singular identity. Malleable, sure, but essentially cohesive. But he tended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/cooper-had-a-theory-about-personality-most-people-considered-2/) [Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/) > [You can lose your weight, but you can't lose your personality. And people's personalities don't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-marcus/you-can-lose-your-weight-but-you-can-t-lose-your-personality-and/) [Ruth Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-marcus/) > [The first thing to look for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with your company culture. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-first-thing-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-great-employee-is/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [It's not that I lead this oblivious life where I think I've got such a great personality that people want to spend time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/it-s-not-that-i-lead-this-oblivious-life-where-i-think-i-ve-got-such/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I don't know whether I am different from other people. Perhaps I am. Perhaps no one has a personality, and people are inventing themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-know-whether-i-am-different-from-other-people-perhaps-i-am/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Cooper had a theory about personality. Most people considered personality to be a singular identity. Malleable, sure, but essentially cohesive. But he tended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/cooper-had-a-theory-about-personality-most-people-considered/) [Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/) > [“It's not where you are from (basically it's not based upon tradition) that determines who you are. But, it's really based upon your personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temitope-owosela/it-s-not-where-you-are-from-basically-it-s-not-based-upon-tradition/) [Temitope Owosela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temitope-owosela/) > [I think that NYC naturally brings out a bolder personality in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ej-johnson/i-think-that-nyc-naturally-brings-out-a-bolder-personality-in-people/) [EJ Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ej-johnson/) > [It's entirely to do with personality, I think. There are good directors who talk a lot, bad directors who talk a lot, and good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/it-s-entirely-to-do-with-personality-i-think-there-are-good-directors/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) ## More by Herb Kelleher > [If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [You have to treat your employees like your customers. When you treat them right they will treat your outside customers right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-have-to-treat-your-employees-like-your-customers-when-you-treat/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/power-should-be-reserved-for-weightlifting-and-boats-and-leadership/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [As far as value is concerned, the principal reason that I moved to Texas from New Jersey many, many years ago was because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/as-far-as-value-is-concerned-the-principal-reason-that-i-moved-to/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Sometimes you need a little courage too just to buck popular opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/sometimes-you-need-a-little-courage-too-just-to-buck-popular-opinion/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I want to see Texas remain an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-want-to-see-texas-remain-an-entrepreneurial-powerhouse-in-the/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [You can't have a mid-life crisis in the airline industry because every day is a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/you-can-t-have-a-mid-life-crisis-in-the-airline-industry-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Keep costs low and spirits high, and the people of Southwest Airlines will keep LUV in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/keep-costs-low-and-spirits-high-and-the-people-of-southwest-airlines/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-company-is-stronger-if-it-is-bound-by-love-rather-than-by-fear/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [The people of Southwest have always been my pride, my joy and my love. Their indomitable dedication and esprit de corps have taken Southwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/the-people-of-southwest-have-always-been-my-pride-my-joy-and-my-love/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy, so they keep coming back. It's not one of the enduring green mysteries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/a-motivated-employee-treats-the-customer-well-the-customer-is-happy/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Hire for attitude, train for skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/hire-for-attitude-train-for-skill/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [We have the best customer satisfaction record, based on Transportation Dept. statistics, of any airline in America, the fewest complaints filed per 100,000 passengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-have-the-best-customer-satisfaction-record-based-on-transportation/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [Think small and act small, and we'll get bigger. Think big and act big, and we'll get smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/think-small-and-act-small-and-we-ll-get-bigger-think-big-and-act-big/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [I've found that many of the greatest ideas surface in bars because that's where many people cultivate inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/i-ve-found-that-many-of-the-greatest-ideas-surface-in-bars-because/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) [Explore all 79 Herb Kelleher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. 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Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've always operated on the thesis that a company can have a personality, that people can be themselves, and be very successful in business at the same time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herb Kelleher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that-a-company-can-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that-a-company-can-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/herb-kelleher-8657_business_we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that_2971269.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We've always operated on the thesis that a company can have a personality, that people can be themselves…” — Herb Kelleher", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herb Kelleher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We've always operated on the thesis...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that-a-company-can-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/we-ve-always-operated-on-the-thesis-that-a-company-can-have-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```