Pearl Harbor 30 Days Later

Pearl Harbor was bombed December 7th, 1941. The first days were filled with an onslaught of emotions: despair, frustration, exhausting salvage work, the unknown (it was assumed that Japanese were going to launch an invasion force), anger, patriotism and resolve. Four decades later and Pearl Harbor was literally in my backyard as my father was stationed in Hawaii. I would see ships arrive out the school windows. Or on the soccer field the sailors would line the deck of ominous black submarines as they slipped in. This Harbor and date has been more personal than most others for me and the response of our nation  fascinates me. While the attack is cemented in history the story really unfolds in the days and weeks afterwards as America took stock and mobilized. As we roll into 2018 I'm sharing reflections that seem especially timely for the unpredictable nature of business and life.

Pearl Harbor is a growing memory for many and too distant to understand for others. It seems unfair that these balmy islands were the scene of an attack - in 1941 Hawaii was an outpost and territory, not a State. Now familiar pacific islands and countries (Fiji, Samoa, Bora Bora, New Zealand) were unknown to most Americans as troops began their island-hopping campaign. As someone who has studied this unique milieu and have a connection with both the military and the Islands we can lean on a a few lessons  and apply their interconnected strengths.

RESOLUTE: The damage was done to our fleet by noon on Sunday. Anger was at its height as damage was assessed, Washington was informed and the U.S. traded thoughts of Church for revenge. Thirty days later as the calendar flipped over the Navy was already steaming across the Pacific with carriers, battleships and a desire to win. Resolute means a firmness of direction and attitude. Resolute doesn’t mean inflexible, it’s a pervasive sense of ‘We’re going in this direction’, or ‘We’re getting this done by God.’ It takes the best of people, planning, drive and life events – all of that – and permeates them with an overarching attitude of winning. Confidence and Resolve are cousins, but Resolve will win when confidence ebbs. Resolve allowed us to rebuild docks, salvage ships and field troops on distant islands – while a half world away the war with Germany raged as well. Business takes resolve to win. It recognizes that time, persistence and life are both in flux and in concert. As you go move into 2018 ensure that your RESOLVE is infectious for your team.

CREATIVITY: We were caught unawares in 1941 and had too many eggs in one harbor without a strong plan to protect our outpost. The military is an interesting mix. It must plan (in advance) for contingencies, be flexible, be sufficiently aggressive and shift daily. Not easy if you think about it. The United States was understood at the time to be ‘yellow’ and would collapse after Japan’s initial punch. The Navy was in the throes of a shift in strategy relying on aircraft carriers rather than battleships (the sure doctrine for decades). Our airplanes were insufficient on both performance and number against marvels like the Zero that had increased turn, range, diving and firepower.  Japan already held significant territory over miles of ocean meaning that the theatre of war was unlike the land battles in Europe. Few realize that the United States was not a Super Power until after the war, our relative immaturity however led to a hotbed of creativity. Technological advances such as folding airplane wings for carriers and advanced targeting hardware were only the face of our creativity. Edward Demming for example drove a logistical science that allowed us win the materiel war well in advance. He later influenced the Quality Movement as Japan was rebuilt and his work still serves as a backbone for US Industrial Strength. The Japanese has not sufficiently accounted for our Creativity and by most accounts their inflexible attitude formed pockets of vulnerability that we capitalized on. Your team is full of contrarians; allow a culture of Creativity to infiltrate and your arsenal will be infused with new ways to win.

FLEXIBLE PARTNERSHIPS: Admiral Chester Nimitz (who replaced Kimmel after Pearl) had two great admirals to go to sea with, unfortunately the same personalities that make for great warriors make them clash internally as well. Bull Hulsey and Ray Spruance may have fought like teenage brothers but Nimitz (being resolute and creative) took an approach that makes history smile. By rotating command every six month, but keeping the structures in place, Nimitz created a highly effective ruse for the Japanese while solving personality challenges. When Hulsey was in command he had the ‘Fifth Fleet’, when Spruance took over it was the ‘Third.’ The Japanese saw two entire commands and were thus confused and imbalanced. The admirals worked within their own boundaries in a flexible partnership. Nimitz didn’t just shuffle nameplates, he saw that strengths could be leveraged in a creative way that still advanced the war and temporary re-arrangements were highly effective.

The first article written about Pearl Harbor was full of personal ties to the Islands as well as my grandfather and the military. Perhaps it’s the time of year coinciding with a 2018 or perhaps it’s the career he had or maybe just that he always seemed mysterious and easy going. I’m not sure. These reflections on Resolve, Creativity and Partnerships result from a variety of viewpoints and history both personal and broad. America is a melting pot of entrepreneurs that constantly shift the theatre of commerce, I hope that as you engage your own ventures they will shape yours. May your wins in 2018 strengthen you and yours.