"Woulda', coulda' and don't know"

Who comment on everything

Let’s summarize a few sources for lots of the local commentary. Then we won't have to repeat the descriptions in each post.

“Could have been successful” commenters in Costa Mesa remind us of U. S. Navy SEAL drop outs who criticize SEAL Team Six tactics. (They’d be SEALS themselves if something “that wasn't my fault” hadn't happened to them.)

(A lab partner was a medic for SEAL training – he told me that the candidates who finished “Hell Week” had far more injuries that hadn't stopped them – than those who had dropped the training in the first few weeks – “for medical reasons – like a toe injury.”)

Not making the grade themselves is no deterrent to these critics. We’ll refer to this gang by the acronym ICX – “I coulda’ except …”

Being informed is unnecessary 

Another group is happy to share their opinion on just about anything; however, few in the group even read about the issue’s background. That doesn't interfere with their: “the cause is the Mayor’s (fill in the blank)” and “the solution is to provide more money to (fill in the blank).” We’ll refer to commenters of this ilk as “I don’t know but I’ll expound” or “IDK-x.”

To save time and space, we'll stipulate now to all of the local “experts’” civic concern and timeliness at work, which are irrelevant to our discussion but cited for some reason as evidence of their credibility.

Quotes of note 

Before we get into the details of analyzing the experts’ and the Mayor and Pro Tem’s leadership, let’s review a few quotes about leadership, as a foretaste of where we’re going with this series. A remark from a local “expert” will help us visualize their philosophical approach. That picture will clarify during this series which will appear intermittently for about three months.

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” —Theodore Roosevelt

This seems to relate to Jim Collins’ advice*:

“In fact, leaders of companies that go from good to great start not with “where” but with “who.” They start by getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.”

And an IDK-x local’s remark:

“King Righmeier (sic) and Prince Mensinger are using tactics common of (sic) a Royal Family…Divide your subjects and conquer their territory . . .”

Finally:

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody.” —Herbert Swope

 

Next: Who is this Lombardi guy?

*Best Seller