don's report archive

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Eight Freedoms For A Well Tampa
Tuesday November 5, 2002

In the past two years, airline industry revenues have fallen so much that all the major carriers are in danger of bankruptcy, despite billions of federal bailout funds from Congress (taxpayers) shortly after the disastrous events of 9/11. A doubling of fuel prices compared to 1998, huge wage concessions to unions, growing over-capacity in key markets and falling yields are partial causes. Last month, revenues for the major carriers were down 38 percent, while existing record low fares were cut even more, according to data released in the latest monthly Transportation Indicators report by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Yet, one carrier, Southwest Airlines, continues to make money. There are many factors that account for Southwest's success. One of them is surely high staff productivity. Credit some of this to Southwest's innovative culture, based on eight basic freedoms that guide and shape the way Southwest does business. These freedoms, described in a book by Kevin Freiberg, Jackie Freiberg, and Tom Peters entitled Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success, are as follows:

The freedom to pursue good health.
The freedom to create financial security.
The freedom to learn and grow.
The freedom to make a positive difference.
The freedom to travel.
The freedom to work and have fun.
The freedom to create and innovate.
The freedom to stay connected.

As a wellness promoter AND a candidate for mayor of Tampa, I think what works for Southwest could work for the citizens of a community, with some creative adaptations.

Just like the employees of Southwest, Tampa residents want what the Beatles called "a little help from my friends" (government and other policy makers) for healthier lifestyles such as a better balance in their lives. A recent international poll by Gemini Consulting and Yankelovich Partners of 10,339 workers found that people all over want basically the same things, the top five of which are all consistent with a well city that is fit, fun, free and functional (my campaign theme):

A fair chance to balance work and personal life.
Work that can be enjoyable.
Some security for the future.
Decent pay.
Co-workers whom they can enjoy.

Unfortunately, the pollsters found that in all societies they studied, a sizeable gap separates what workers want and what they experience, especially in the areas of pay, life balance and a feeling of security. More than half don't know their company's mission statement, 84% don't consider it fundamental to their work and 44% don't feel connected to their employers.

The Southwest culture promotes all of these values, and so can a mayor and a city government, IF such values are identified and promoted as part of community life and public policy. Decisions that affect land use, transportation, growth and development can be assessed in terms of quality-of-life-based environmental impact statements and reshaped accordingly. A city that is seen as doing everything possible to promote good health is a city that will encourage financial security, boost learning and development and make a positive difference. Citizens in such a community will surely be encouraged to travel freely in all parts of town, have fun, find good work and honor creativity, connectivity and innovation.

Maybe you ought to move to Tampa! Do so before March 2003 in order to get here in time to elect me mayor so I can promote all these Southwest Airlines values for the entire Tampa community. Be well -- look on the bright side of life.

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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