Darn airport paparazzi, my wife Christina taking pictures of my geek out session before the flight to Oahu. Had to stay charged up for the flight!
Search Results for: "beach"
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Kids Playing At Oily Beach
What are we doing to our planet and what kind of parent would let kids play at this beach? You can use Goo Gone to get the oil off…”yeah I brough some with us”.
Pismo Beach
Lana, her mom and sister went to Pismo beach on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Below are some pictures from their trip.
Survivor Strategy in Business: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
🤖 This article was generated using OpenAI’s deep research.
How the strategic principles of a reality TV show mirror successful business practices
The reality TV show Survivor is often described as a social experiment in strategy and human behavior. Stranded contestants must “outwit, outplay, outlast” each other for 39 days to win – a process that mirrors challenges in the business world. In both arenas, individuals navigate limited resources, intense competition, and the need to adapt under pressure.
Many strategic principles that lead to success on Survivor – leadership, adaptability, alliances, risk management, and resilience – have clear analogues in company and professional cultures. Below, we analyze each of these parallels with examples from Survivor and real-world business case studies, supported by psychological insights and research.
Leadership: Balancing Task and Relationship
Survivor Lesson
On Survivor, those who jump into a leadership role without building relationships often become early targets. A classic pattern is that a self-appointed “project manager” works feverishly to build shelter or gather food while neglecting social bonds – and ironically gets voted off first.
In one analysis of the show, hard-working tribe members focusing only on tasks were eliminated before the “slackers” who spent time chatting and bonding. The reason is simple: the social leaders on the beach were actually forging trust and alliances, which protected them from being voted out.
This underscores that effective leadership requires more than directive authority; it demands emotional intelligence and team-building. Research in group dynamics supports this: great leaders achieve goals and maintain relationships – “tasks and relationships are both essential in leadership.”
Business Parallel
In business culture, the same lesson applies. A manager solely focused on metrics and deadlines, without fostering trust or empathy, can alienate their team. Companies with high-performing cultures emphasize both performance and people.
Case Study: Microsoft’s Cultural Transformation
Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella famously shifted the company from a combative, internal competition mindset to a collaborative “learn-it-all” culture, encouraging growth and empathy over ego. That cultural turnaround, driven by leadership style, has been credited with revitalizing Microsoft’s innovation and morale.
Just as on Survivor a tribe’s morale and unity can determine its success in challenges, in organizations a leader who builds a supportive, values-driven culture will see better engagement and loyalty.
The takeaway: whether guiding a tribe or a corporate team, leadership is an exercise in influence and inclusion – aligning people toward a goal while making each member feel safe and valued.
Adaptability: Navigating Change and Uncertainty
Survivor Lesson
Adaptability is perhaps the most celebrated trait on Survivor. The host Jeff Probst introduced the very first season by telling contestants they “must learn to adapt or they’ll be voted off.”
Indeed, every episode brings new twists – a sudden tribe swap, a hidden immunity idol in play, an unexpected rule change – and the players who thrive are those who can pivot their strategy on a dime. For instance, if a dominant alliance collapses or a trusted ally is blindsided, a savvy contestant will quickly recalibrate, form new partnerships, or shift game plans to stay alive.
Winners often highlight their flexibility; as one Survivor motto goes, “plan long-term, but be ready to change plans overnight.” The Survivor format forces a balance between having a strategy and staying agile in execution.
Business Parallel
The business world is no less unforgiving to those who fail to adapt. In an era of rapid market disruption, companies must continuously evolve or risk obsolescence.
Case Study: Netflix vs. Blockbuster
A prime example is Netflix’s transformation from a DVD-by-mail service to a streaming powerhouse. When technology and consumer preferences shifted, Netflix embraced the change – investing in streaming technology early, revamping its business model, and even later producing original content. This organizational agility allowed Netflix to dominate an industry that once toppled Blockbuster. As one case study notes, Netflix “continuously adapt[ed] to market changes,” setting a benchmark for digital transformation.
In contrast, companies that failed to adapt – like Kodak, which stuck with film in the face of digital photography – illustrate how inflexibility can be fatal.
Adaptability is also a key component of resilience research. Business scholars define resilience as an organization’s “timely adaptation to both immediate and gradual changes in the business environment.”
The strategic parallel is clear: adapt or perish is the rule in both Survivor and business.
Alliances and Team Dynamics: The Power of Trust
Survivor Lesson
In Survivor, no one wins alone. From the outset, contestants scramble to form alliances – small teams whose members agree to protect each other and vote together. A strong alliance provides safety in numbers: if you have the majority on your side, you control the vote and can eliminate outsiders.
Example: Boston Rob’s Alliance Management
In Survivor: Redemption Island, Boston Rob Mariano forged an alliance and famously forbade its members from even talking one-on-one with those outside the group – an extreme but effective way to build loyalty by treating everyone else as a common enemy. His tight-knit alliance, bound by trust and a clear vision, carried him to victory.
More generally, alliances in Survivor are maintained by constant communication and reassurance; players “check in” with allies to quell paranoia and keep everyone on the same page. When alliances break, it’s often due to a loss of trust or someone seizing an opportunity to get ahead (the well-timed betrayal).
Thus, Survivor illustrates both the value of collaboration and the fragility of partnerships in a competitive environment.
Business Parallel
Professional cultures likewise hinge on the power of alliances – both internal teams and external partnerships. Within organizations, high-performing teams resemble Survivor alliances in their trust and mutual commitment.
Colleagues who build genuine relationships and have each other’s backs create a supportive culture that can weather challenges. Leaders are advised to cultivate this trust by being transparent and “checking in” regularly with team members (much as Survivor allies do), which leads to better loyalty and performance.
Case Study: Uber and Spotify Alliance
Externally, companies form strategic alliances to undertake projects that each party couldn’t accomplish alone. A textbook example is the partnership between Uber and Spotify: Uber wanted to improve riders’ experience with music, and Spotify had the streaming technology. By teaming up, Uber provided the user base and Spotify the tech, creating a mutually beneficial service neither could have built alone.
In business, as in Survivor, the strongest alliances are those where both parties benefit and share common goals.
However, there’s also a parallel in knowing when to re-evaluate alliances. Just as a Survivor player might decide to “flip” on an alliance that no longer serves their path to the end, companies must periodically assess their partnerships and team dynamics.
The key is that whether you’re on a tropical island or in a boardroom, relationships built on trust, open communication, and aligned interests are a cornerstone of survival and success.
Risk Management: Balancing Bold Moves and Caution
Survivor Lesson
Every move in Survivor is a risk calculation. Should I vote off a strong ally before he turns on me? Should I play my hidden immunity idol now or save it? Bold, risky moves can yield big rewards (such as blindsiding a major threat), but they can also backfire spectacularly.
Conversely, playing too cautiously can be a slow death sentence – if you never take initiative, you may end up carried to the end with no resume, only to lose the final jury vote.
As one entrepreneur observed, “Survivor is all about taking risks — forming alliances, hunting for immunity idols, and deciding when to play them.” The winners tend to be those who take calculated risks at the right time.
For instance, a contestant might risk angering someone by flipping alliances in order to break up a rival power bloc, calculating that the long-term benefit outweighs the immediate fallout.
On the other hand, a notorious example of poor risk management on Survivor is overplaying: contestants who made one move too many (a premature blindside or a needless gamble) often found themselves voted out once they burned trust.
Thus, successful players treat risk like a resource to be managed – they neither shy away from it nor gamble aimlessly, but rather weigh the odds and potential payoff of each decision.
Business Parallel
Entrepreneurs and businesses face a similar tightrope. Pursuing innovation or growth invariably involves risk, but failing to take risks can mean stagnation. As Facebook’s founder learned early on, “in a world that’s changing so quickly, the biggest risk you can take is not taking any risk.”
In corporate strategy, this translates to a need for bold vision. Companies that never venture beyond their comfort zone – sticking only to legacy products or markets – may survive in the short term but eventually lose out to more daring competitors.
Yet, uncalculated risk is just as dangerous in business as it is in Survivor. That’s why modern enterprises emphasize risk management: identifying potential threats and opportunities, analyzing them, and making informed decisions.
Case Study: Amazon’s AWS Gamble
When Amazon decided to launch Amazon Web Services (AWS), it was a significant risk – entering a new industry (cloud computing) far from its core online retail business. Many questioned the move, but it was a calculated risk based on the growing need for cloud infrastructure. That bold bet became one of Amazon’s biggest growth drivers.
In contrast, think of a company like Kodak, which famously avoided the risk of pivoting to digital photography (despite inventing one of the first digital cameras) for fear of cannibalizing its film business. That reluctance to take a necessary risk proved fatal when digital tech left Kodak behind.
The optimal approach in both contexts is strategic risk management – know when to stick with the safe choice and when to strike out boldly.
Resilience: Outlasting and Bouncing Back
Survivor Lesson
Survivor is as much a mental and physical endurance test as it is a strategy game. Contestants are subjected to hunger, fatigue, and the stress of social conflict. The ability to persevere through hardships – to stay focused and positive after nights of rain on a bamboo shelter or after being blindsided by allies – is often what separates the winner from those who quit or implode.
In psychological terms, Survivor demands resilience and grit. Research on high achievers has found that grit (passion and perseverance) and resilience (adaptability to change) are key predictors of success.
Example: Chris’s Comeback
A famous example is in Survivor: Edge of Extinction, where a contestant voted out on Day 8 (Chris) refused to give up, endured on a punitive exile island, earned his way back in on Day 35, and ultimately won the game. His journey epitomized resilience – the capacity to bounce back from failure and still triumph.
Even in regular seasons, many winners face moments of adversity (like losing allies or facing a minority position) but find ways to regroup and push forward. This quality of mental toughness and flexibility under pressure is highly prized; as the saying goes, Survivor isn’t just about outwitting and outplaying, but also outlasting.
Business Parallel
In the business world, resilience is equally vital. Companies encounter crises, disruptions, and failures regularly – from economic recessions to supply chain breakdowns to global pandemics.
Organizational resilience refers to a company’s ability to absorb the shock, recover, and even come out stronger. A useful definition is “the ability of an organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from adverse events… it’s about adaptability and the strength to bounce back.”
Case Study: Pandemic Adaptations
Companies that had prepared contingency plans and adaptive processes proved far more resilient during events like the COVID-19 pandemic than those that were caught off guard. For example, many restaurants and retailers that quickly pivoted to online ordering, curbside pickup, or other creative solutions in 2020 managed to survive or thrive, whereas others that couldn’t adapt had to shut doors.
Resilient organizations typically foster a culture of learning and flexibility – they treat setbacks as learning opportunities and encourage problem-solving at all levels. This parallels Survivor’s resilient players who treat getting blindsided not as game over but as a wake-up call to adjust their play.
In sum, resilience in business means creating a company that can outlast hardships, much as the Sole Survivor is the one who withstood everything thrown at them.
Conclusion: Outwitting, Outplaying, Outlasting in Business
Though Survivor is a televised game and business is real life, the strategic parallels are striking. Both domains involve people working together (and at times against each other) under pressure, requiring a mix of savvy strategy and social finesse.
Key Strategic Parallels:
- Leadership: Culture and relationships can trump raw efficiency – a lesson every manager should heed in building team cohesion.
- Adaptability: Markets and workplaces, like the game’s twists, change rapidly, favoring those who pivot rather than cling to old plans.
- Alliances: Trust and collaboration are powerful assets, whether you’re forging a voting bloc on an island or a cross-functional team in an office.
- Risk Management: Both contexts call for courage balanced by caution – the wisdom to take bold action when warranted, but always with a calculated understanding of consequences.
- Resilience: The endurance to withstand setbacks and come back stronger is essential in both arenas.
Professional and company cultures can draw direct inspiration from Survivor. For instance, promoting open communication and trust in a company mirrors the ally-building on Survivor that keeps tribes strong. Encouraging a mindset that treats challenges as opportunities to innovate is akin to the Survivor mentality of adapting to any twist.
Even the endgame of Survivor – persuading a jury of peers to reward you – has a business parallel in maintaining one’s reputation and integrity; ultimately, success is decided by people’s trust and perception of you.
By examining Survivor through a strategic lens, we see a microcosm of competitive strategy and team psychology. It reinforces lessons backed by management science and psychology research, but in a visceral, entertaining way.
As one business writer noted, the skills and traits that win Survivor are “crucial in the business world” – a testament to how art can imitate life. In both Survivor and business, those who lead wisely, adapt quickly, cultivate allies, manage risk, and demonstrate resilience are the ones most likely to thrive.
Sources
Leadership Sources
- Jeff Probst’s introduction to Survivor (2000), as quoted in Psychology in Action (Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: The Psychology of Survivor).
- Malavenda, P. (2012). Survivor Leadership – The Leadership Primer, on balancing task-oriented and socio-emotional leadership (Survivor Leadership).
- Komives, S. (2007). Exploring Leadership – Definition of effective leadership (via Malavenda) (Exploring Leadership).
Adaptability Sources
- Oxford Executive (2024). Case Study: Netflix’s Transition to Streaming – on agility and continuous adaptation (Netflix’s Transition from DVD Rental to Streaming).
- optYOUmize Blog (2023). “How Survivor Mirrors Entrepreneurship” – parallels in risk-taking, adaptability, etc. (How The Reality TV Show “Survivor” Mirrors Entrepreneurship).
Alliances & Team Dynamics Sources
- Formstack Blog (2017). “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: Bringing ‘Survivor’ Tactics into the Workplace.” – on alliance building, trust, and team check-ins (Business Lessons Learned from ‘Survivor’).
- Investopedia (2023). Explanation and example of strategic alliances (Uber & Spotify) (Strategic Alliances: How They Work in Business).
Risk Management Sources
- Wharton Online (2021). “Is Risk-Taking Key to Entrepreneurial Spirit?” – on risk, “biggest risk is not taking any” (Is Risk-Taking Behavior Key to Entrepreneurial Spirit?).
- MIT Sloan (2022). “Risk Intelligence and the Resilient Company.” – on resilience as adaptation in real time (Risk Intelligence and the Resilient Company).
Resilience Sources
- Stanton, M. (2023). “Grit, Resilience, and Success.” – psychology of grit and resilience (Medium) (Grit, Resilience, and Success).
- CTRL-Disrupt (2023). “The Intersection of Resilience and Risk Management.” – defines organizational resilience and adaptive capacity (The Intersection of Resilience and Risk Management).
My Parents Trip to France
My parents just got back from France, and I’ve been keeping all my dad’s photos and commentary as they navigated the world. Check out their adventure below!
The adventure begins. We made it. We saw the Eiffel Tower as we were flying in. The airport is huge and modern and very clean. No problem finding our ground transportation. They were waiting for us at the airport. We came directly to the boat, had lunch, and checked into our room. We got about 1–2 hours of interrupted sleep last night, and we were dead tired (Bob and Cheryl too). We just took an hour nap, have safety orientation at 6 (remember the life vest drill) and dinner at 7, and it’s already 5:30 p.m. local time. I’m glad we are 9 hours ahead because we will both be ready for bed. The ship is beautiful, clean, and very modern. You can see the Eiffel Tower from the ship. We’ll be sending pictures but for now wanted you to know we are here even though we still haven’t totally absorbed that we are really here. It’s going to be a great experience.
A quick picture of our ship in Vernon (not pronounced like it sounds), France. A 3-day battle was fought here during WWII. The original bridge was bombed, and the town was liberated when 3 amphibious bridges were constructed here to allow the Allied forces to advance. The bombed out bridge is still visible. In town, there are bullet holes everywhere, including the sides of a beautiful cathedral. Today we dock in Hon Fleur, another historic village. As I write we are passing Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. We stop here on our way back. Tomorrow we visit the Normandy beaches and the American cemetery, which I expect to be very emotional (Mona’s Dad was in the D-Day invasion force on Omaha beach). This has been the experience of a lifetime with lots of history, beautiful country, and amazing food. We are trying to soak it all in, knowing the time is flying by. Remember the ‘go go’ years. I’m very glad I listened and took heed about traveling while I am still able.
Omaha beach – This was very touching. Mona had red eyes most of the time we were here, with many memories of her dad coming back and hearing story after story of the Hell our troops endured. We collected a stone from the beach for her mother and brother. This is a view from the beach just below the cemetery.
Today’s sculpture
Appetizer – Pot au fau (chicken in puff pastry)
Crypt of Richard the Lion Heart. He is not entombed here, only his heart.
Clock tower in Rouen, France — Clock dates to 1400 and only has an hour hand. Clock technology for a minute hand had not yet been invented.
Hotel built in 1345 in Rouen
Location where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. When I studied history, I never dreamed I would visit a site like this or to be standing on the beaches of the Normandy invasion. Tomorrow we will be touring Napoleon Bonaparte’s château.
Bunker for 16″ gun
Omaha beach memorial placed by the USA on 60th anniversary of invasion of Europe by Allies.
The message speaks for itself
Inside the cemetery
Another view of one of the 10 sections of the cemetery. Other than hearing a baby cry, you could almost cut the quietness/reverence with a knife.
Cheryl and Mona inside one of the artillery gun bunkers. Notice how narrow the openings are to help keep hand grenades from being thrown inside. The openings were 180 degrees and had 6 artillery pieces inside to cover all angles of the beach.
I’ll stop sending pics for today…. Maybe. Downtown Rouen, France.
Artisans – This afternoon we bought a hand painted porcelain tea pot at this shop. You can’t see from this picture, but this shop dates to the 1500s with the artisan sitting in the front window hand painting every piece… What an experience.
Looking down from the fortress overlooking Les Andelys. Our ship is in the background with the blue sun deck. Note the tree border around the fields. A close up shows they are rocks collected from the fields over the centuries and are now elevated making a natural fence and are called hedge rows. During WWII as the Germans retreated, they defended their retreat behind these natural barriers, causing heavy Allied casualties. They are very prevalent near the coast. This was referred to as the battles for the hedge rows.
“Downtown” Les Andelys, France, with the ruins of the fortress of Richard the Lion Heart above town.
Sitting on the deck after lunch. Here is a potion of the fortress of Conflan that you can see from the ship. If you look carefully behind the houses, you can see part of the wall.
It’s like going back in time — Sitting here having a cup of coffee and watching the landscape. You feel like you are in medieval times. It isn’t just one or two homes or churches. These views are prolific. It’s like nothing we’ve ever experienced. Heading for Les Andelys to tour the castle of Richard the Lion Heart, also known as Château Gaillard, after lunch.
Tomorrow we leave the boat and will spend the next 5 days in Paris. The boat cruise will leave us with countless great memories. This morning we visited Château Le Malmaison outside of Conflan. This was the home of Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte. It is also our last tour as part of the cruise. Tomorrow, we leave the ship for a full day guided tour of Paris that was included with our cruise. A point of trivia- translated in English, Napoleon’s home is translated ‘bad house’. It was a fine looking home to me!!
We docked next door to the National Atmospheric Observatory, and they have a balloon in the air above us with a huge basket. I count over 30 people in the basket to give you an indication of its size.
This one is just for you, Jeremy, Microsoft France.
The Statue of Liberty….in France
Life is very good!
Loose interpretation- check out this cool menu. What sounds good for lunch?
Literal interpretation- Can anyone read French menus?
We are now in the real France, but having a lot of fun understanding (or trying to understand) a totally new culture.
I wasn’t kidding when I said the entire City of Paris was there. We were standing in line this am, and we’re told 3 hours to get to the entrance. Someone said to view the back gardens and the lines were usually shorter after lunch. We spent about 3 hours walking just a portion of the gardens and came back and were told 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Guess what? We could die in the sun or leave. We will probably regret it, but we left with lots of pics of the outside.
Try to guess what everyone is trying to get a picture of. Answer is on next email.
Everyone was trying to get a picture with the famous Ron and Mona Person.
The picture in the background of Mona Lisa might have been a bit of a distraction!! Unbelievable crowd!
Up as close as security would allow
The Louvre
Arch D’ Triomphe
Disneyland! We had fun just because we are all Disney fans. It’s smaller and attractions were sometimes a bit different. For example, the Temple of Doom (Temple Du Peril) was a roller coaster with part of the ride coming outside the bldg. Also, the Disney studio was totally different than the California park in the USA, with different presentations and rides. It also wasn’t as clean. We still had fun but agreed it wasn’t the same high quality experience we are accustomed to seeing.
Look who’s still going strong? Tomorrow is our last day before flying home Wednesday. We have mixed emotions about leaving, but know we eventually have a life to get back to in Oregon, but we’ve had an awesome time in France. I have over 1,300 pictures to put you to sleep with!!
Looking straight up at the Eiffel Tower
Today’s transportation — Over 50 stops available to get on and off. A great way to see Paris. Tomorrow we are going to the Palace of Versailles. We’ve had several showers but all at night. It rained hard this am, but the sun was out by 8 am. The problem was it was 100 degrees with humidity nearly as high. Oh, well. Beats trying to see Paris in the rain.
How hot was it? This poor dog was standing on this air vent in the sidewalk trying to cool off. His ears were flying in the breeze.
We went to the Palace of Versailles along with the entire City of Gay Paris. It was packed, as you will soon see. This is overlooking a tiny portion of Louis XIV’s gardens. We estimated we were looking out 3 miles (ca. 5 km) and weren’t at the end of the estate.
I ordered café gourmand. It was tiramisu, strawberry mousse, a brownie, and a shot of espresso. Life is very good.
No commentary needed
First stop today was the Moulin Rouge caberet. We didn’t see a performance. Just wanted to see the historic venue.
Lunch at Hard Rock Café…… And a couple t-shirts.
We put our padlock on the padlock bridge (tell you the story at home) and threw away the key into the Seine.
Memorial to Princess Diana. This is the tunnel where her car crashed. The flame is from the original Statue of Liberty in France.
This will most likely be the last picture from France. Tomorrow night (Wednesday) we should be back home in Portland. We affectionately called our vacation by three names- our Tour de France, Ground Hog Day, and the Never Ending vacation. Well, it’s about to end. It’s been nothing short of amazing. As we left Disney Studios Monday, this was the sign over the exit, and it pretty well sums up two amazing weeks- “That’s a wrap.”
Maui For The Day
We landed on Maui around 9am and I got talked into getting a Jeep by the car rental agent. Normally you can’t talk me into anything that isn’t already in my mind too easily so I was either really wanting the Jeep anyway, the agent was good, or all of the above. Truth be told I think it was that it was only $10 more for the day. It was one of the best things I’ve done in some time, it was really fun to drive and I really enjoyed it. It was fun to know wherever we were I could get out of a sticky…or sandy situation. We put the Jeep to quick work by going up the north end of the island on a very windy and remote road which was really fun to drive. We took part of the top off so we could enjoy the weather and every few minutes I stopped to take some pictures.
We stopped at the very north end and took some pictures and then got some lunch and went swimming for a while. We stayed at a nice (but affordable) place and the concierge helped get us a champagne catamaran cruise that evening. Once we got off the ship we took a quick walk on the beach. The whole day was amazing, one of my favorites. I think at one point on the cruise as the sun was starting to set I said it was one of my top 10 favorite days which is really saying something. We’ll definitely be back to Maui again some day.
