The ‘Endurance Expedition’ – Story and Course by Harvard Business School

photo edited by Laura Lai

by Laura Lai/Review

The course Become a More Resilient Leader in Turbulent Times is a 35-minute online course that runs from January 15^th, 2021 to January 15^th, 2023. It is provided by Harvard Business School free of charge.

This course presents the story of the British explorer Ernest Shackleton and that of his 28-member crew during the Endurance expedition to the South Pole. The story is presented by Prof. Nancy Koehn – historian and James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School whose research focus is on exploring the skills of past leaders to better face the current and future turbulent times’ challenges.

The Endurance expedition started in August 1914 when on the continent WWI had just broken out. The stakes for such an expedition were high from a scientific point of view (discoveries and writing history), as well as on a personal basis (honors and recognition) and for the nation (pride and possible territorial claims).

            Despite warnings that icebergs were unusually far north for that time of the year, E. Shackleton decided to continue his expedition. The ship got stuck and in November 1915 it sank. But it is exactly these events that brought to light Shackleton’s leadership skills and his human qualities. For example, while stuck and working side by side with his crew to clean the ship, his mind was processing existential questions such as: ‘How will my men survive? How do I lead them to survival? How do I help them believe they can survive?’

            He succeeded by keeping his crew focused on the positive, by working together and by passing an enjoyable time together – on the ship or on the ice racing with their dogs – and by maintaining his crew’s belief in their mission. After the ship sank, some might have been scared and in order for them not to spread their panic among the entire crew, Shackleton applied an old wise saying: keep your friends close and your enemies even closer – he, actually, kept them in his tent. And he avoided disbelief spreading among the rest of the crew.

This captivating online course presents the expedition story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew in an interactive way – several interesting questions pop up challenging course participants’ leadership skills. The course ends with the beautiful words of Sir Raymond Priestley: ‘For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.

Enjoy the course!

Germany Criticizes the EU Commission – Vaccine’s Side-Effect?! (I)

by Laura Lai/Comment

 A few days ago, after the acquittal of the former US President, Donald Trump, by the Senate, I was trying to write something – I was thinking. While I was thinking, I almost got shocked by what my eyes were seeing and what my hears were hearing because some politicians from the German government have spoken – they criticized the European Commission, run by the German Ursula van der Leyen, on the European vaccination strategy and border closure to avoid the spread of the mutant virus. The European Union has vaccinated a bit more than three percent, while countries outside the European Union seem to champion the vaccination: Israel (over 60 percent), the United Arab Emirates (over 38 percent), the United Kingdom (over 16 percent), the United States (over 10) and Serbia (over 7 percent). [1]

            The European Commission considered a correct attitude ‘to act in solidarity (…) and help less wealthy or smaller European states to get the vaccine’ first [2] – Sometimes, I surprise myself that I humanly agree with the European Commission. J But how well did the smaller European states actually do? According to the source BBC used, Malta is at 7.2 percent, Denmark – 5.1 percent, Cyprus – 2.9 percent, Austria – 2.5 percent, Luxemburg 2.1 percent, Bulgaria – 0.8 percent. From this list of small countries the only one that is ‘less wealthy’ is Bulgaria. My surprise was short and my disappointment deep to see a ‘small and less wealthy’ country like Bulgaria at 0.8 percent. Even if the Commission would have only referred to Malta, my disappointment is still deep because 7.2 percent is very far from what Israel or the Arab United Emirates have achieved.

After an invitation to solidarity that the Commission understands better than I do, its President, Mrs. von der Leyen, is in the mood for more metaphors – I love metaphors! She said that “[a] country can be a speedboat, the EU is more like a tanker”. If I have to choose between the two metaphors, I think I prefer a speedboat with essence, rather than a stuck tanker without essence facing the COVID hurricane – Which one do you prefer?

            In this European tanker that masters so far the pandemic mainly through the lockdown, a mutant virus is spreading killing more and killing quickly – This situation is becoming a horror movie with a tanker.

            The Austrian region of Tyrol and the Czech Republic (both neighboring countries of Germany) have a high infection rate with the mutant virus. Therefore, Germany decided to close the borders only with these two countries starting on Sunday, February 14^th, just in order to stop or to slow down the spread of the mutant virus. But they did this without informing the European Commission – I hope it is not considered a tragedy by the Commission, especially since it was humanly intended to prevent tragic life loss. And even if it will be considered a tragedy by the European Commission, I hope Germany and the Germans will be forgiven – In the end, it is the Germans who, through their taxes, support the European Commission.

            Mrs. van der Leyen got upset with this decision of Germany and the German Interior Minister, Honst Seehofer, got puzzled and declared:

 “We are fighting the mutated virus on the border with the Czech Republic and Austria. The EU Commission should support us and not put spokes in our wheels with cheap advice.” [3]

Seehofer criticized the Commission for its ‘enough mistakes when ordering vaccines in the last few months’ – an opinion shared also by the German Finance Minister and vice-chancellor, Olaf Scholz, [4] who considers the European vaccine strategy ‘a shit’ and a ‘disgrace’ – most probably in comparison to the efficiency he is used in Germany. [5] (to be continued)

Germany Criticizes the EU Commission – Vaccine’s Side-Effect?! (II)

 

by Laura Lai/ Comment

It seems that the speedboat made in Germany collided with the European tanker. The European Commission will send a letter ‘to advise them against closing borders to stem the spread of coronavirus’. [6]

            It makes sense for the Commission to send a letter – it is what it usually does, it is part of its attributions, and it justifies their income. But it does not make any sense under these circumstances when its vaccination strategy against the SARS-COV-2 virus is at 3-4 percent and the virus is mutating itself into something worse.

            Second, it would have made some sense if this letter would have been accompanied by suggestions for alternative procedures. But it seems that during pandemics, there are not many options besides lockdowns, mask-wearing, and vaccines.

            Third, during pandemic times, a letter from some bureaucrats on … borders is less relevant than the recommendations of a doctor, particularly an epidemiologist. The last thing in the world epidemiologists recommends (during pandemics when we do not yet master vaccination) is free circulation. But I can agree that people who live in one country and work across the border in a neighboring one should be allowed to go to work if they prove to be healthy and they cannot work from home – Indeed, I would surprise myself agreeing with the European Commission if the Commission mentioned this category of people in its letter. No, I have not read the letter because I am afraid that my disappointment about the Commission would get deeper.

            Fourth, speaking of being in ‘solidarity with the small and the less wealthy’ I think we must include the doctors, too – We are all ‘small’ in comparison to the ‘high officials’ in Brussels. And definitely less wealthy! The government of New Zealand had announced at the beginning of this pandemic crisis that it was in solidarity with the society with a concrete 20 percent pay cut for the following six months. [7] This kind of solidarity is easier to understand for me than the European plea for solidarity with the ‘small and less wealthy’ countries that needed to get the vaccine first and we discover Bulgaria on the list with 0.8 percent. I remember doctors were promised by the Commission some financial bonuses that will come from European public money, meaning all citizens’ contributions. And I hope it is not only the government of Germany that receives letters but also the doctors will receive a letter announcing to them that they can pick up the money they were promised, the money they worked for, the money that some of them did not live to get.

            Fifth, many countries closed borders with everybody, not only with a region of Austria and with the neighboring Czech Republic. Israel, for example, closed its borders and was vaccinating its population. New Zealand closed borders with everybody. The European Commission suggests circulating freely when vaccines are scarce?! The free circulation of people and goods is a fundamental principle of the European Union, but at this vaccination rate and with this European vaccination strategy that has had poor results so far, there will be few or no people and goods to circulate after the pandemic. Let us make a beloved imagination exercise for the Commission and imagine the United Kingdom member of the European Union with its rate of new daily cases and with its daily death toll, but with the European vaccination rhythm. What would have been left of the United Kingdom today? – Is the free circulation principle more fundamental than life itself? I do not think so! 

            Enough with constructively criticizing the European Commission! – It will never change. Let us have a quick look at this speedboat clash with the European tanker from the member states’ point of view. The European Commission is purchasing the vaccines for all member states – It is supposed so because it was so decided in 2020. But the states were also given the liberty to strike deals with those suppliers with whom the Commission is not negotiating. [8] And from 27 member states, it is only Hungary that thought to use this privilege?! It was expected given its past experience during the 2015 migration crisis and the European inefficiency. Hungary thought to contact the suppliers of the Russian vaccines, Sputnik V – scientifically proved to have over 90 percent efficiency. Why is it that all the other 26 countries are waiting for the European Commission to do this job? Because it is its assigned task and all citizens pay for it? – Oh, please! The wise men used to say that ‘if you want something done well, you have to do it yourself!’

To sum up, I was surprised by the recent collision between the speedboat made in Germany and the European tanker that is stuck with no essence – metaphorical meaning for ‘vaccine’. J For a second, I thought that it might be a vaccine side-effect, but it can't be with the low vaccination rate in the European Union. Whatever the European reasons to have vaccinated 3-4 percent of the population might be, Israel vaccinated over 60 percent of its population – Therefore, who does not have a Benjamin, to borrow one! J In this collision between the speedboat and the tanker, I was not disappointed by the arguments – they were metaphorical, on both sides. J

I do not believe that doctors all over the world continuously pretend for almost a year that they are busy with an invisible deadly virus spreading, mutating, and killing around and that they somehow enjoy staying in hospitals more than staying home with their families. Many terrible diseases have been eradicated with vaccines and I do not understand where the idea that Bill Gates uses these vaccines to introduce a microchip into our bodies. But if I am wrong, I hope Bill Gates will choose the magical ‘healthy and prosperity microchip' for each of us. J Stay well and stay safe! (the end)

Other sources:

 World Health Organization

Old Films’ Review: ‘The Kid’ (1921)

photo edited by Laura Lai 

by Laura Lai/ Review

Director & Producer – Charlie Chaplin

Main Actors – Edna Purviance (the mother), Jackie Coogan (the kid), Charlie Chaplin (the tramp)

Instead of continuing to review old movies from where I last stopped – meaning, the year 1934 – I preferred to pause and return to the silent movie, The Kid (1921). The reason I find it justified and joyful is the celebration of 100 years since Chaplin’s first directed and produced movie.

The Kid is a captivating comedy about the story of an orphan child, John (Jackie Coogan) abandoned by his helpless mother in a beautiful car in front of a beautiful house. The car got stolen by two villains, with the child inside. Then, the villains abandoned the child – that is the second time he’s abandoned the same day – in a poor neighborhood where he was found and raised by a tramp (Charlie Chaplin). In the meantime, his mother who discovered that the car was stolen never gave up looking for her child. Five years later, following an illness of the child and a doctor consultation, the whole truth about John is discovered.

The story unfolds with lots of funny and captivating scenes – it would be hard for me to choose a favorite one. However, an interesting detail that transcends all scenes of this silent movie is evident: a series of religious symbols.

When the child was abandoned, the movie showed Jesus carrying his cross; when the mother carried her child helplessly, the image of St. Mary with the child was suggested; in the same line of ideas, there was also a quote (‘If he smites you on one cheek, offer him the other one’); and I guess an even more subtle one is when the mother and the child accidentally met without knowing that they were mother and child. This scene is an allusion to the religious quote from John, 19:26 – ‘Woman, here is your son!’ Last, but not least, was the ‘dreamland’ scene. In this scene, the tramp was an angel and so was John. Here, there were love and understanding, and harmony with other neighbor angels until the devil got into his poor paradise and took the child away, and broke the wings of the tramp.

            This scene is visually very beautiful and symbolically very powerful – it concentrates the substance of the entire movie. Indeed, it is one of my favorites. I also loved the scenes in which the tramp appears with the kid because Chaplin’s smile is more generous than ever and his eyes and face are more shining than ever. He must have loved to have such a talented kid as a scene partner!

Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin are two actors with a long collaboration – the viewers are familiar with their acting talent. But the kid (Jackie Coogan) was a great surprise: his beauty transcends the simplicity of the black and white screen; his expressiveness in a silent movie is outstanding for a five-year-old child.

            If Charlie Chaplin would have included me in his ‘Dreamland’ scene, I would not be either an angel or a devil, but the president of the Oscar Awards – meaning God himself .J  And I would award this child the Oscar for the best actor. But the reality is no dreamland, I am neither God nor the president of any awards commission and I can award this beautiful and talented kid, the Oscar of my heart for the best actor.

For the story, plot, cast, and the way this movie was directed and produced by Charlie Chaplin, I rate the movie The Kid with 5/5 stars and I wish everybody to … ENJOY THE MOVIE!