Sublime

Like most of the other “robber barons” or “captains of industry,” and like most dynamic individuals of any generation, James Jerome Hill displayed what Allan Nevins once called “a sort of lunar dualism.” Beyond dispute, his positive traits were quite remarkable: a quick intelligence and power of analysis, an incredible power of will and personality

While Sir Richard Branson advised executives to focus on employees first, customers second, and investors third, Harrison reversed the priorities: investors came first. For him the game was capitalism, pure and simple. You either played it or you didn’t.

Lorenzo also borrowed from the underdog strategy that Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines had used against him, showing up at hearings and local community meetings with only one or two executives in tow, in contrast to the platoon that Pan Am always dispatched.