Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very best leaders in the world.

I break down the key learning so that by the end of the episode, you'll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader.

That's what this podcast is all about.

Today's guest is Frank Blake, the former chairman

and CEO of the Home Depot. It's funny, he calls himself the accidental CEO. And it was a bit of a

surprise when he was appointed back in 2007. I mean, come on. It's not every day that a former

lawyer for General Electric finds his way to the top role at a home improvement store.

But his success at the Home Depot has been anything but accidental.

He really turned the company around.

And one of his biggest strategic moves was to stop relying on opening new

stores for growth and instead focusing on generating more sales at existing stores. And guess what?

It worked. This shows us as leaders that sometimes growth for its own sake isn't the right

goal. Instead, we want to

strive for excellence, getting back to basics, being brilliant at what we do, knowing that growth

is going to come along with it. In Frank's words, it's a compelling, fascinating, never-ending

journey when we aim for excellence, not just growth. So here's my conversation with

my good friend and soon to be yours, Frank Blake. Well, Frank, it's so good to catch up with you.

You know, I remember how much Wendy and I enjoyed spending time with you and Liz when we attended CEO best practice meetings together. So I hope you're doing well.

I am, and this is a highlight.

We want to get to what you did at Home Depot in your career. But, you know, I also understand that you're currently the chairman of Delta

Airlines. And I just wanted to ask you a question, what's it been like in that industry in the

midst of this whole pandemic? So, David, you can imagine, or if you can imagine, in February,

...