--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our employees and competitors thought we…" description: "\"Our employees and competitors thought we were docile. We want to be defiantly disruptive. I don't mean necessarily by launching price wars but by being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/oscar-munoz-9868_being-the-best_our-employees-and-competitors-thought-we_2010104.jpg" --- # Our employees and competitors thought we were docile. We… ![“Our employees and competitors thought we were docile. We want to be defiantly disruptive. I don't mean necessarily by launching price wars but by being the best at the basics - having the best customer service, the best on-time performance, the best coffee - in a thoughtful, not a…” quote by Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/oscar-munoz-9868_being-the-best_our-employees-and-competitors-thought-we_2010104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/oscar-munoz-9868_being-the-best_our-employees-and-competitors-thought-we_2010104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/oscar-munoz-9868_being-the-best_our-employees-and-competitors-thought-we_2010104.jpg) > “Our employees and competitors thought we were docile. We want to be defiantly disruptive. I don't mean necessarily by launching price wars but by being the best at the basics - having the best customer service, the best on-time performance, the best coffee - in a thoughtful, not a testosterone-laced, way.” [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being quietly excellent in fundamentals can be a powerful, non‑aggressive way to outshine competitors. **In simple terms:** Focus on core excellence rather than aggression. Key Takeaway Master basics to disrupt without conflict. Themes leadership competition customer service Mood inspirational strategic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - service improvement - performance metrics - employee training - brand differentiation Key Concepts operational excellence strategic positioning Questions to Reflect On - What basic service can you improve today? - How can excellence be communicated without aggression? A Different Perspective Relying solely on basics may miss innovation opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Customer service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer-service/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I looked at my competitors and I thought that, If they could do it, I could do it. And if, they are popular and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-looked-at-my-competitors-and-i-thought-that-if-they-could-do-it-i/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I think one of the things that, at least, I found out over - and many have in the industry - is that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-think-one-of-the-things-that-at-least-i-found-out-over-and-many/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [We are dedicated to setting the standard for customer service among U.S. airlines, as we elevate the experience our customers have with us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/we-are-dedicated-to-setting-the-standard-for-customer-service-among-u/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [It's so important that we tell customers what's going on as best as we can. And we're trying to do that. We don't often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/it-s-so-important-that-we-tell-customers-what-s-going-on-as-best-as/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Even if I'm not having the best time in a social situation, I'll force a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mccary/even-if-i-m-not-having-the-best-time-in-a-social-situation-i-ll-force/) [Dave McCary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mccary/) > [Falling in love with your best friend is having the best of both world..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/falling-in-love-with-your-best-friend-is-having-the-best-of-both-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is worth while to take the pains to find out the best way of doing a given task,…'to scorn delight and live laborious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morley/it-is-worth-while-to-take-the-pains-to-find-out-the-best-way-of-doing/) [John Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morley/) > [You're letting go of having the best possible experience you can have regardless of who you are and where you are. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/you-re-letting-go-of-having-the-best-possible-experience-you-can-have/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“In the 1950s the pioneering scholar Herbert Simon paved the way for people like Schwartz by showing that most of the time people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/in-the-1950s-the-pioneering-scholar-herbert-simon-paved-the-way-for/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [“Having the best doesn't make you the best but producing the best makes you the best”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ejembi-louis/having-the-best-doesn-t-make-you-the-best-but-producing-the-best/) Ejembi Louis > [The sense of having to be the best at everything gets in the way of anybody doing anything. I put all that aside; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-iyer/the-sense-of-having-to-be-the-best-at-everything-gets-in-the-way-of/) [Vijay Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-iyer/) > [What I know for sure: Having the best things is no substitute for having the best life. When you can let go of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-know-for-sure-having-the-best-things-is-no-substitute-for/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It's a constant struggle having the best of both worlds when everyone around you has the worst of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-constant-struggle-having-the-best-of-both-worlds-when-everyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Go for your true happiness not for what is best, because having the best without any happiness is almost always considered as WORTHLESS..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-for-your-true-happiness-not-for-what-is-best-because-having-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's better than having one of the best in the world to train you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecia-torres/what-s-better-than-having-one-of-the-best-in-the-world-to-train-you/) [Tecia Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecia-torres/) ## More by Oscar Munoz > [I represent the interests of almost 90,000 human beings in our system. That's by far my first and foremost commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-represent-the-interests-of-almost-90-000-human-beings-in-our-system/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/treating-our-customers-and-each-other-with-respect-and-dignity-is-at/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [For me, it's common sense to treat other people like you would like to be treated. Empathy is a broad concept, but how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/for-me-it-s-common-sense-to-treat-other-people-like-you-would-like-to/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Getting people where they want to go, reliably and happily, can make or break their ability to succeed in a work endeavor or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/getting-people-where-they-want-to-go-reliably-and-happily-can-make-or/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [If you feel anything weird, immediately call 911 and give them your address because you may not make it past the phone call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/if-you-feel-anything-weird-immediately-call-911-and-give-them-your/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Everyone eventually matches or leapfrogs everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/everyone-eventually-matches-or-leapfrogs-everyone-else/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [If I have any strength that would be considered above average, it is that I can read people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/if-i-have-any-strength-that-would-be-considered-above-average-it-is/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [This is a pattern-bargaining industry, like railroads. You need to pay market to get a contract at all, and without contracts, you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/this-is-a-pattern-bargaining-industry-like-railroads-you-need-to-pay/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Communication and communication strategy is not just part of the game - it is the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/communication-and-communication-strategy-is-not-just-part-of-the-game/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [I think the hardest thing that, historically, the industry may have relied upon is that we can't control weather, we can't control air traffic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-think-the-hardest-thing-that-historically-the-industry-may-have/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [United's 2015 earnings were one of the best in the company's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/united-s-2015-earnings-were-one-of-the-best-in-the-company-s-history/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [I think my reaction to most issues is to get the facts and circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-think-my-reaction-to-most-issues-is-to-get-the-facts-and/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [We have not provided our frontline supervisors and managers and individuals with the proper procedures that would allow them to use their common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/we-have-not-provided-our-frontline-supervisors-and-managers-and/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [At United, I will dedicate myself to making our airline flyer-friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/at-united-i-will-dedicate-myself-to-making-our-airline-flyer-friendly/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [Clearly, on a visceral human front, I oppose any wall, anywhere, between any people - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/clearly-on-a-visceral-human-front-i-oppose-any-wall-anywhere-between/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) [Explore all 69 Oscar Munoz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I am not impressed with what people own. But I’m impressed with what they achieve. I’m proud to be a physician. Always strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/i-am-not-impressed-with-what-people-own-but-i-m-impressed-with-what/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My role is to think about tennis and to help Serena Williams be the best she can be and do what she wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/my-role-is-to-think-about-tennis-and-to-help-serena-williams-be-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [One of my mom's best lines is... You're not training to be the best in the world, you're training to be the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/one-of-my-mom-s-best-lines-is-you-re-not-training-to-be-the-best-in/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Every day the sun rises is a new day to be your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-vargas/every-day-the-sun-rises-is-a-new-day-to-be-your-best/) [Anthony Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-vargas/) [Browse all 1,358 Being the best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our employees and competitors thought we were docile. We want to be defiantly disruptive. 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