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The yacht race is a great business metaphor

There are a few points of note to me in this saga:
  1. When Larry Ellison sacked Kosteki and replaced him with Ainsley there were a few raised eyebrows.  Kosteki is a recognised expert on the place where they are racing these amazing boats.  He is a very experienced and proven tactician who has been working with the boat and team for a long time.  Ben Ainsley is a great sailor (based on his medal haul) but what a call.  And when Oracle were thrashed in the next race it seemed a dumb decision.   The result since then is amazing.  What's the lesson:
    1. Sometimes a bold change is needed if you want to get a new result;
    2. Invest in the best and demand the best from them;
    3. Never ever give up;
  2. When Grant Dalton and Dean Barker were saying we are not willing to talk about winning yet the media hounded harangued and harassed them until they blinked.  What's the lesson:
    1. The media are bullies;
    2. The public (you and me) lets them get away with it and in fact encourages it;
    3. Great competitors never count their chickens until they have hatched - business owners know to be equally cautious; 
  3. Jimmy Spital was very clear that he still expected to win even when the odds were not vaguely favourable.  And most NZers responded with Yeah Right.  What's the lesson:
    1. Competition is brutal and when you are competing against the best in the world they will never stop doing everything they can to win.  So if you want to retain your lead you have to keep learning, improving and competing.
    2. Sometimes the will to win and the will to change make for amazing outcomes;
  1. Apparently Oracles mast is not ideal for the actual style of sailing.  The commentators say it takes 12 months to build a new one.  But inspite of that handicap the boat is really performing well.  What's the lesson:
    1. Accept what you  can't change but do not allow it to prevent you getting the outcome you want.

That's enough, but there really are a huge number of other things that could be brought out of this event.   Like this article in NBR No wonder so many of us are very engaged in the event.


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