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5 life (and business) lessons we can learn from AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes
At age six, visionary and airline tycoon Tony Fernandes told his father he wanted to start an airline. His father, a physician, shrugged it off. But Tony pursued his dreams nevertheless.
Now the CEO of AirAsia Group, Fernandes fondly tells his employees at annual meetings about his humble beginnings, including how he was touched at the gesture of town folks who gave a festive send off when he left to study at the prestigious London School of Economics to take up Accounting and Finance.
In 2001, Fernandes bought two second hand aircraft, hired 200 people, and launched AirAsia, a low-cost airline primarily serving the ASEAN region. It flew to, from, and around Asean capitals competing with giants-Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.
From 220,000 passengers in its first year of operations, AirAsia has grown to servicing 350 million individuals every year. His employee count has also increased to 22,000 across Asean countries
“No dream is big enough,” said Fernandes saying AirAsia owes its success to Asean now celebrating its 50th year founding anniversary.
Fernandes recently launched his book “ Flying High” that teaches people the power of dreams.
Flying High recounts Fernandes’ journey from a young boy growing up in Malaysia to a homesick British boarding school student with a tuck box full of dreams. The book also tells about his short stint at Warner Music and finally as AirAsia chief - with plenty of stops along memory lane in between.
Here are five life lessons that Fernandes shares in his book “ Flying High."
Read more at : https://t.co/QBUBBbtj5M#FlyingHigh #TonyFernandes #AirAsia #Book pic.twitter.com/QThVjQyF21
— Bookurve (@Bookurve) October 30, 2017
1. Believe in the power of dreams. “When I first started AirAsia with Datuk Kamarudin, everyone thought we were crazy. They said we had no business running an airline and it wouldn’t work. If we had listened to them, we would have given up before we even started and this book wouldn’t exist. “This book is proof that dreams do come true, and I hope it will encourage others to pursue their true passion.
2. Write your own story of success. “Believe the unbelievable, dream the impossible and never take no for an answer. Even if you fail, it doesn’t matter because at least you’ve tried and you can do it again, so trust in your gut feeling, don’t listen to anyone else’s advice and go ahead - write your own incredible story.”
3. Happy workforce means satisfied customers. Asean has the best employees. The best asset of a company is always its employees. AirAsia’s humble beginning from 220 employees has grown to 22,000 across Asean countries. Having satisfied employees are important to giving full customer satisfaction. A happy workforce will surely take care of the needs of customers.The airline will launch the AirAsia Allstars Exchange Programme that gives employees the chance to experience working and living in other Asean countries.
4. Have a vision. Asean has the most promising E-Commerce market. Entrepreneurs should engage in E-Commerce as they have better chance to compete in the world having the most diverse platform of 650 million people
People should put down nationalism and vested interest and look at creating a strong market that is ready to compete globally. The promise of Asean lies in its unity, cooperation and tearing down barriers to integration. We still have some way to go but I’m confident we will get there.
5. Gratitude is key to success. "AirAsia’s owes its success to Asean. The future is one market and all of us working together. I’m an Aseanist," Fernandes said when he visited Manila earlier this month to launch AirAsia's "I love Asean" campaign, a celebration of ASEAN's 50th founding anniversary.
The aircraft will highlight ASEAN's best textiles, architecture, art and nature including designs like batik cetak from Malaysia, poom khao bin from Thailand, ulos Batak from Indonesia; tapis from the Philippines; trong dong from Vietnam; kbach pka Chan from Cambodia; Lao phouthai from Laos; chate from Myanmar; jongsarat Brunei from Brunei; and Vanda Miss Joaquim from Singapore. — LA, GMA News
