$65 a Month
$65 a Month
“May your charity increase as much as your wealth”
-Proverbs
$65 a month. To many of us, $65 a month may not seem like much. Many of us have a decent amount of disposable income where we are not pinched for basic necessities or maybe some extra’s that make the difference to barely making it to enjoying life a little.
On a recent trip I read “From Worst to First” by Gordon Bethune. (Steve, I still have your book.) I’ll tell you right now, this is one that makes it to the list as one of the best and in my blog you’ll find a link. “From Worst to First” is about how Bethune transformed Continental Airlines in mid-1990’s from an airline on the brink of it’s third bankruptcy to a point just a couple of years later they were extremely profitable and their stock went from the mid $3 range into the $50.
A great story on managing, leading, motivating, communicating, sharing, recognizing, and winning. Very much worth a read.
So, where does the $65 a day play into this?
Early into his job as CEO, Bethune realized he needed to get the Continental Team (40,000 of them) focused on improving what was important to the “person in the 5th seat”; the passenger. They needed to get their customers back and grow their business. One of the strategies he employed was to tie in the On-Time Arrival and Departure measure reported by the Department of Transportation into a monthly incentive for his employees. So, he set out the goal if the Company measured in the top 5 of the major 10 airlines, the employees would be paid a $65 monthly bonus.
This helped Continental in a few ways. 1) With more on-time service, customers would be more apt to continue to use Continental, 2) Employee morale would improve if they saw their actions which helped drive improvement was rewarded, 3) Even though the bonuses when paid out would cost $2.5 million per month, by getting in the top 5 the company would save $5 million per month in bus tickets, hotel rooms, sending customers on other flights, etc. It was a win-win.
Well, once the Team hit their goal, the checks were sent out. And as you read some of the responses Bethune got back from his employees, it would bring tears to your eyes. People wrote and thanked him because the extra $65 they got that month they were able to use the money for things they couldn’t afford before. Things most of us would take for granted. Some basic stuff.
And as I read this, I thought how fortunate was I. $65 a Month. I began questioning myself, ‘What can I do to have that impact on someone’s life? And with the Holiday season approaching, how many people and families can I help?’
Little things mean a lot, and it’s not all about money. The extra clothes we have in our closets we haven’t worn in years. The books we have on the shelves which will never be opened again. Closets, garages, attics, cellars, full of stuff we will never use. (Last year I donated my King Cobra’s to the golf course and asked them to find a child whose parents couldn’t afford them. I received the warmest letter back from a young man thanking me. I need to do more of that.)
Let’s all make sure we think about those who need a hand up, who need a hug, a pleasant hello, a smile. Let’s extend ourselves beyond our family to those who may be away from theirs. Let’s encourage giving. Giving love, time, aid, and whatever someone else will value, and appreciate.
We can’t do too much. Time is short.
Remember, our death will be eulogized over what we gave and left behind, not what we consumed. Not many funerals do you hear people talk about how good someone was to themselves, but to others.
And when you see others doing for others, thank them today and encourage them for many of them fight the same battles themselves and need our compassion.
NOTE: If interested in a superb book, I recommend reading "From Worst to First". I provided a link on the right column to make your purchase easy. That book and "Nuts" are two of the better business books I've read.
“May your charity increase as much as your wealth”
-Proverbs
$65 a month. To many of us, $65 a month may not seem like much. Many of us have a decent amount of disposable income where we are not pinched for basic necessities or maybe some extra’s that make the difference to barely making it to enjoying life a little.
On a recent trip I read “From Worst to First” by Gordon Bethune. (Steve, I still have your book.) I’ll tell you right now, this is one that makes it to the list as one of the best and in my blog you’ll find a link. “From Worst to First” is about how Bethune transformed Continental Airlines in mid-1990’s from an airline on the brink of it’s third bankruptcy to a point just a couple of years later they were extremely profitable and their stock went from the mid $3 range into the $50.
A great story on managing, leading, motivating, communicating, sharing, recognizing, and winning. Very much worth a read.
So, where does the $65 a day play into this?
Early into his job as CEO, Bethune realized he needed to get the Continental Team (40,000 of them) focused on improving what was important to the “person in the 5th seat”; the passenger. They needed to get their customers back and grow their business. One of the strategies he employed was to tie in the On-Time Arrival and Departure measure reported by the Department of Transportation into a monthly incentive for his employees. So, he set out the goal if the Company measured in the top 5 of the major 10 airlines, the employees would be paid a $65 monthly bonus.
This helped Continental in a few ways. 1) With more on-time service, customers would be more apt to continue to use Continental, 2) Employee morale would improve if they saw their actions which helped drive improvement was rewarded, 3) Even though the bonuses when paid out would cost $2.5 million per month, by getting in the top 5 the company would save $5 million per month in bus tickets, hotel rooms, sending customers on other flights, etc. It was a win-win.
Well, once the Team hit their goal, the checks were sent out. And as you read some of the responses Bethune got back from his employees, it would bring tears to your eyes. People wrote and thanked him because the extra $65 they got that month they were able to use the money for things they couldn’t afford before. Things most of us would take for granted. Some basic stuff.
And as I read this, I thought how fortunate was I. $65 a Month. I began questioning myself, ‘What can I do to have that impact on someone’s life? And with the Holiday season approaching, how many people and families can I help?’
Little things mean a lot, and it’s not all about money. The extra clothes we have in our closets we haven’t worn in years. The books we have on the shelves which will never be opened again. Closets, garages, attics, cellars, full of stuff we will never use. (Last year I donated my King Cobra’s to the golf course and asked them to find a child whose parents couldn’t afford them. I received the warmest letter back from a young man thanking me. I need to do more of that.)
Let’s all make sure we think about those who need a hand up, who need a hug, a pleasant hello, a smile. Let’s extend ourselves beyond our family to those who may be away from theirs. Let’s encourage giving. Giving love, time, aid, and whatever someone else will value, and appreciate.
We can’t do too much. Time is short.
Remember, our death will be eulogized over what we gave and left behind, not what we consumed. Not many funerals do you hear people talk about how good someone was to themselves, but to others.
And when you see others doing for others, thank them today and encourage them for many of them fight the same battles themselves and need our compassion.
NOTE: If interested in a superb book, I recommend reading "From Worst to First". I provided a link on the right column to make your purchase easy. That book and "Nuts" are two of the better business books I've read.
posted by David Myslenski at 4:56 AM
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