Influence

Elliot management's new target is Pepsi.  I wonder what demands will be made of Pepsi to extract maximum value from the company as it competes against Coca Cola.  Elliot management has been involved with southwest airlines for what feels like 5 years but is probably 1 year.  In that time that have forced the board to make changes in policies such as seat assignments, persons of size travel, checked baggage fees and 'premium' offerings such as extended leg room, window seats, blahblahblah. Becoming an international carrier, code share agreements, etc...  Extracting every bit of profit possible.  There is a vocal subsection of southwest customers that complain about everything.  If you ask me, the subset of customers don't bring any real revenue to the company.  If they did, Elliot management would take their complaints into consideration.

I wonder how they will change Pepsi.  Maybe a new logo?  Price?  Flavors?  Whatever.  Who cares.

Elliott gains influence because they have deep pockets.  They don't earn their influence.  They buy their influence.  

Reminds me of the days when I had influence in the company as a front line supervisor.  I was the only sup capable of motivating meetings between departments to make things better.  I loved being a front line leader in the trenches with my team. You'd think that level of influence would continue in the GM role.  It didn't.  It was shut up, stay off the radar and don't make waves.  I had more influence as a supervisor than i did as a GM.  Was that a me problem or a company problem?   

 I don't think I accomplished anything as a GM.  Well, I kept people employed and demonstrated to the company that it could be cost neutral to keep our own employees compared to outsourcing jobs to a business partner.  I kept the lights on and hopefully the station turned a corner to a brighter future than the last 5 years. 

I realized it was time to leave when I would be on calls with my peers or other departments.  I disliked every single person that presented on the call.  New policies, new procedures, changes, etc.  Nothing felt genuine or sincere.  It was all an exercise in corporate manipulation.  Either you're on board or you're not.  I got off the bus at the first stop.