I was in the Tampa airport yesterday headed home. As I was looking around for the “no bags to check” kiosks in the terminal I was distracted by people carrying big batches of red balloons saying “I love you”, “Be mine” and other assorted sweet sentiments.
I found a bunch of stationary balloons and a friendly (and smiling) Southwest employee named Tricia.
“What’s with the balloons?” I asked.
“Valentine’s Day, of course.”
“I know that,” I said, but that’s a whole week away,” I said sneaking a look around at all the other (un-festooned) airline counters. You’re early.
Tricia’s smiled widened as she gave me a knowing look and said, “Well, we ARE the love airline…”
I snapped a quick photo and went on to catch my plane back to Ft. Lauderdale. I was just returning from doing a CEO meeting in Lakeland and the topic of my 3 hour talk was “Creating Happiness.”
Happy to be heading home I got on the plane and settled into my seat for a short and uneventful flight. When we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, the last thing I heard from the flight attendant doing the landing announcement (after the “drive safely” part) was “And make the first priority in life to always be happy.”
Thanks Southwest for making yesterday’s trip memorable.
Are you creating memorable, happy moments?
JoAnna Brandi blogs... 
Great post here. If you think about business as creating happiness, you realize how much of a difference you make and how important your role is. Thanks for the post.
By: Skyline NJ on February 21, 2014
at 10:53 pm