“It’s not an accident that the best places to work are also the places that make the most money.”
Gordon Bethune, former CEO of Continental Airlines, gave this iconic quote to The New York Times in 2001 after spearheading a company renaissance. Continental had just emerged from bankruptcy when he took the helm in 1994, and profit forecast was bleak, with another bankruptcy on the horizon. But rather than slashing costs or downsizing, Bethune doubled down on his people—investing in benefits, giveaways, celebrations, and profit-sharing.
