Nesmith's Notes

Entries for February, 2006

Security of ports, jobs or politics in port management issue?

Lawrence Kudlow calls the concerns over a United Arab Emirates company winning the bid to manage six America ports as nothing other than bigotry. His name for this, Islamaphobia, will not likely be added to our daily lexicon. The actions it describes are simply wrong headed.

Why is ice so slippery?

Does ice melt due to weight and/or friction of a boot, skate or tire creating a thin layer of water? Experiements are unable to prove this leading some to suggest special qualities of H2O in it’s “solid” form. You can find more in The New York Times article, Explaining Ice: The Answers Are Slippery. [...]

Public or Private Companies – Which do you want to lead???

Going private. Hotshot managers are fleeing public companies for the money, freedom, and glamour of private equity.
“It isn’t only CEOs who are making the move to private-equity firms. Fast-rising midcareer folks are lining up, too. ‘The interest has really gone through the roof,’ says Anthony Lando, partner and director of Benchmark Search Group, a [...]

Tactical is the new strategic

Chad Dickerson puts it simply and directly. Tactical execution is critical in today’s business environment.
I’m not saying that strategy isn’t important, just that strategy directly combined with tactical skill is the real killer combo. “Strategy” in the absense of tactical engagement is a loser’s game. If you’re a manager who gets down in [...]