3. Start on time.

Never allow a meeting to start late. Make it clear that you expect punctuality. Once you do this two or three times people will get message.

4. Prepare.

Arrive well prepared with facts at your fingertips. That way you can put your case briefly but clearly. If others are less well pepared your views will carry twice as much weight as theirs. Push home your advantage by insisting that decisions are taken based on views expressed. Call for a vote. You are likely to carry day.

5. Force hand of timewasters.

If someone is persistently interrupting or systematically disagreeing with everything that is said, they may just be trying to put off a decision. If they are not contributing anything constructive, force their hand. Insist on your schedule. Tell them they can have five or ten minutes to state their case after which you will call for a vote. Call their bluff in fact.

These are just some of ways that you can speed up and liven up those time consuming and inconclusive meetings. Put these suggestions into practice and see how you get more positive decisions in a fraction of time!

I was in a window seat so didn't get to interact with him, and I felt left out. He's contagious. Anyone who's having fun like that, I want to be around! Talk about approachable.

He built such an image of himself AS Southwest Airlines, I felt like I wanted to thank him personally for all that SW made possible for me. Both my sons and my family live in towns served by SW and it made frequent visits possible, as well as many vacations. Peanuts are fine with me!

So when we got off in Dallas, he was walking right behind me, and I turned and held out my hand and said, "Herb, great ride, how do you do it?" and we took it from there.

Herb loves what he's doing.

It shows, doesn't it?

Do you?

If you haven't "found your passion" yet, or fully developed your Emotional Intelligence skills, I recommend coaching.