December 7, 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) My degree from the Naval Academy is in aerospace engineering. It is fascinating to look back at the amazing advances in aerospace and how quickly they came. Think about it – December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight took place in Kitty Hawk, North … Read more

November 26. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) In a previous newsletter and in my book Learn How to Lead to Win, I share the story of the USS Nimitz being against the pier in the spring of 2008 for maintenance. The scope of our task was enormous. We had 10,000 maintenance items. We … Read more

November 21. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Cross-functional expertise refers to the ability of individuals or teams to possess knowledge, skills, and understanding across different functional areas or departments within the organization. A notable example of a business that struggled due to a lack of cross-functional expertise is Nokia, once a global leader … Read more

November 14. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Maintenance never ends on a big ship. This is especially true for a nuclear powered ship. We would put the ship against the pier for extended maintenance periods in addition to the small maintenance that was done in between at-sea periods. In 2008 we had completed … Read more

November 9. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) I mentioned in a previous newsletter that I received orders from Admiral Bob Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command in June 2007 to make a port visit to Chennai, India, that was important to the President of the United States. A few days later, we … Read more

November 7. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Late June 2007, I received orders from Admiral Bob Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, to make a port visit to Chennai, India that was important to the President of the United States. I replied, “Sir, there’s a storm coming. How important is this visit … Read more

October 26th. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) In the heart of Detroit, a city known for its economic struggles and abandoned neighborhoods, a group of determined residents decided to transform their community through urban gardening. They called themselves the Detroit Dirt team, and their story is a true inspiration for urban gardening enthusiasts. … Read more

October 12th. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Strike 1: As I shut down my aircraft and climbed down the ladder, the flight instructor approached the airplane. He said, “Hey, Manazir, the LSOs [Landing Signal Officers] called from the ship and said you were a disqual.” I thought he was joking of course. I … Read more

October 8th. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) In the early autumn of 1982, the streets of Chicago were bathed in crisp, golden sunlight. The air was thick with the promise of a new day, a fresh start. But for seven unsuspecting souls, that day would mark the beginning of a nightmare, one that … Read more

September 26. 2023 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) When asked who the stakeholders are for most businesses, the answer most often comes back that it’s the customers, employees and stockholders. Upon closer examination, the list of stakeholders is much longer when you consider your suppliers, government and regulatory bodies, financial institutions,competitors, industry associations, local … Read more