The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, was obsessed with design. So much so, he went to Macy’s to find inspiration. He was fanatical about the look, feel and functionality of the computer and phone.
Herb Kelleher, famed founder of Southwest Airlines, was immersed in the culture of the company. He’d show up on Thanksgiving Day and help load bags in airplanes. On other days, he’d stand at the entrance to the plane and welcome each passenger and hand them a bottle of Smirnoff as they boarded the plane. (Times have changed, haven’t they?). Kelleher knew he needed fans of the airline, so he was fanatical about the organization.
Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank wanted to start a hardware store. Not just any hardware store, but one that would rival all others. It needed to be massive; carry almost everything you’d need for a home project and the people who worked needed to be knowledgeable in what they sold. To help you identify the people with the answers, they had them wear orange aprons. When Bernie and Arthur would open a Home Depot in a new town, they’d send a black wreath to the local hardware store just to let them know their time was limited. They were obsessed, fanatical, about the company and to this day, Home Depot remains the number one hardware store if ranked by revenue.
All of these founders knew a secret.
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