Learning From Lance: Friedman at his Best

Thomas Friedman and I generally don't get along. I loved The Lexus and the Olive Tree, but most of his columns smack of a sort of smug conservative arrogance. This column, however, I absolutely adore.... and not just because of the tribute to cycling dedication and determination. Friedman is correct: ambition, drive, and dedication are the keys to remaining on top, whether you're talking individuals or countries, in the workforce, sport, or geopolitics... being soft, smug, content, lazy, and inefficient is NOT going to cut it. Global capitalism is always driving to cut costs and boost productivity. We have to deliver value--to ourselves, to our companies/organizations, and to our country--if we want to continue to enjoy the luxuries of being "on top."

The one caveat of course is that the examples that Friedman states are largely mixed capitalism environments: the Irelands, Singapores, and China's of the world have all had heavy handed government involvement, often in the form of a development agency that shamelessly promotes the national business machine. Perhaps the US should learn a lesson from this.... but we must be cautious, because when this model plays out poorly, it means that businesses will continue to flow to the cheapest location. A shop that had been set up in Prague might leapfrog on to Budapest or Riga as those markets open up and present better prices.... it's a difficult game, this international competitiveness thing.

Great breakout quote:

Learning From Lance - New York Times: "We are now playing defense. A top C.E.O. wants to be paid not based on his performance, but based on the average of his four main rivals! That is like Lance Armstrong's saying he will race only if he is guaranteed to come in first or second, no matter what his cycling times are on each leg."