... And who fought with Blas de Lezo ". This is the title of the novel written by Santiago Iglesias de Paul , a passion for the sea. This is his third book and its 182 pages tell us, with creative license, the adventures of our sailors in the first half of the eighteenth century, including Blas de Lezo.

"I mix toned guitars, loves with barrages and heavy seas with wines and the result seems to be liking it," says the author. Is your little homage to the Basque sailor and many others who lost their lives in Spain. Posted by JM Editions, is available on the website of the English Court only 15 euros. From here Goyix sends a greeting, congratulations James!.

Something that I have to add that had long been mulling over was the birthplace of Blas de Lezo. As we know Blas de Lezo born in Tickets (Guipúzcoa) on February 3, 1689. Thanks to my friend Peter could locate:

View House Blas de Lezo in a larger map

And here are the pictures of it:

If any want or need any photos feel free to contact me.

With this post I want to keep a list of works on Blas de Lezo. Whenever there is a new book on the subject be included in that list. My intention is to have a bibliography of reference they can see everyone. Today there are 11 publications devoted exclusively to marine Basque. By author, in alphabetical order:

• White Patino, F. (2010). Man without a king. Bohodón Editions.
• Churches of Paul, S. (2010). The sailor who was hunting lizards ... and fought alongside lezo Blas. JM Editions
• Mendizabal, CA (2008). Blas de Lezo, the malquerido. Dossoles.
• Croutons, V. (1898). "General wooden leg." The Latest Fashion: Glories of Spain (No. 14).
• Quintero Saravia, GM (2002). Don Blas de Lezo: defender of Cartagena de Indias. Colombian planet.
• Rivas Narvaez, R. (2009). The conspiracy of lies. Defeat of England in Cartagena de Indias. Akron.
• Rodriguez, JM (2008). Basque who saved the Spanish Empire. Admiral Blas de Lezo. Altered.
• Torres, AE (1955). Tribute to Don Blas de Lezo. The latest biographer of Admiral Edward Vernon. An English version of his assault on Cartagena de Indias. Casanalpe.
• Vazquez. A. (2010). Mediohombre. Unpublished Editors.
• Victoria, P. (2005). The day that Spain beat England. Altered.
• Vilaboa Unanue, G. (2010). Flights of sea. Bubok.

Thanks to the efforts of William Vilaboa Unanue can enjoy another novel about Blas de Lezo. This time it's a story about the young Basque sailor. With 238 pages "Sea Passages" is all exciting fights to the unequal encounter with the Stanhope. As its author points out "is based on the youth of deLezo Blas, marine San Pedro, Pasajes. It reflected the characters and historical events as accurately as possible. Biographical information known to that stage of his life appear in the story, along with others trying to be credible, but they are invented. I leave the judgment of the reader to distinguish fact from fiction. There are many literary tributes, music, film ... I hope you enjoy finding them, at least as much as I inserting ". Also new to the work is that you can download for free in digital format through Bubok , but paper can be ordered on the same site. Enjoy it because this new vision is very interesting.

Sometimes the great deeds of history provide us with inspiring examples and lessons that despite the passage of time, remain. Some of them have been forgotten for centuries, but once they return they stay forever.
I want to talk about one of these stories. In this case it features the Basque admiral Blas de Lezo (nicknamed "middle man") who starred which is possibly the greatest feat of our country that we will get points apply to any company or project to be carried out. In this case the realization of a SWOT analysis was vital to the quest to enter the story.
When I was studying my professed Marketing SWOT analyzes presented by the example of a war in which the contestants themselves must be studied, the opponent and the environment. I still find a very graphic and clear disclosure of this technique. Eventually I found the story I am about to relate and think together form a great example of the usefulness of this type of analysis.
The story takes us to March 1740 placing us in Cartagena de Indias. The Spanish Empire and the British were engaged in a bloody war called "The War of Jenkins's Ear."
The British fleet had deployed most of its history to make the area as was the entrance to the Spanish empire in the Americas and origin of the reserves of gold and other riches to the old continent. To give us the idea, take two centuries to repeat something similar (Normandy landings). To better understand the situation, some figures:

- English: 180 ships, 23,600 men and 3000 guns.
- Spanish: 6 boats, 2830 men and 990 artillery pieces.

How to achieve a win against a force so devastating? If we see through the lens business would not be unreasonable compared to a company that is facing destruction by an incredibly powerful competition.
Expectations were quite negative after the first defeat suffered by the Viceroy of Navarre Sebastian de Eslava but then the defense gave our hero today, a one-eyed man, maimed and lame (hence the nickname). That if we do not get carried away by this information he was a man feared by the English side for their great intelligence. We can say that there was a change in management approach and thus the "business" experienced a great turn.
The answer to victory could only be found in the cunning and the use of the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and the environment. Say you made your particular SWOT analysis of the situation and steeled undertook a series of measures that seek to equalize the match.
Where appropriate devised a projectile chaining two bombs that spun in the air increasing the destruction and the power of their weapons (a clear minority), channeled the harbor entrance with large chains to hinder the enemy ships, artillery adapted for ramps better regulate the extent of the fire, filling the walls strengthened weak or hollow areas with sandbags, dug trenches in a Z shape to shoot enemies from different angles and in front of the walls created large trenches to prevent the enemy stairs measures before, could overcome them. It is clearly visible how I try to leverage their strengths and weaknesses using all available resources and opportunities (few) present for the type of attack would receive.
Everything was planned to the millimeter. He even took into account the prevailing tropical climate in which he hoped that if he could hold long enough, the dead in the battlefield were a source of infection and disease among the enemy.
Deep SWOT study was essential to achieve a victory that was otherwise impossible. The enemies saw their attack lasted longer than expected. The dead were piled up and spread the plague and discouragement in the ranks so that British casualties in battle were terrible (more on weapons than the plague) and ended up fleeing.
Consider that the English were so convinced of their victory they had coined coins the phrase "Spanish pride, humbled by Vernon" (name of the English admiral) not expected to meet with a defense so well planned and such resistance. The big "companies" are more difficult to manage so its "operational flexibility" is lower. Given a compact and well structured little they could do.
We can learn many lessons: The smaller is not always the weakest, perseverance and cunning are our allies in difficult times, is never completely lost, we must strengthen our weaknesses, enhance our strengths, exploit the weaknesses of the opponent, use circumstances, we should not sell the bearskin before you kill and most importantly, that even a "middle man" can become a giant.
In certain markets, the SME can overcome the arrival of a great power. Let our SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities) because therein lies the beginning of our battle.

Source: SMEs and Self