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

The news I almost got caught Climbing up a plane, so in this post I will expand a little more and give more details: Blas de Lezo will have an avenue in Madrid.

Jose L. Garrido, through a comment on a post gives me the scoop. He corroborated the Boam (Official Gazette of the Municipality of Madrid). On June 2, 2010 the City of Madrid published its newsletter through the "Settlements of the regular meeting of the Plenary Meeting held on April 28, 2010":

Item 29. Adopt an agreement worded as follows:

"Attributing the names listed below road paths that are described sequentially in the District of Vicálvaro: (...)

3. - Assign the name of Blas de Lezo Avenue, the newly created road got its start in the place described in paragraph one (Vicus Alvar) and ends on Highway M-45.

After investigating a bit, I could locate the exact location and extent of future Avenida Blas de Lezo:

View Avenue Blas de Lezo in a larger map

I want to clarify that I have at all times to Jose Carlos Gracia, the Group Pascual Vivas , shoulder to shoulder. It has been several years, thousands of firms, both paper and web, hundreds of users spreading the word and many others shaking the tree to fall the fruit. To all, thank you very much. We did it together.
Sometimes I have been treated as a madman or a geek. However, in my opinion was some justice and has personally been a very enriching experience.
What is the next step, we will insist with the park, because I think it does not hurt, would be compatible and would have space for a statue that also deserve it.
I want to ask one last favor. Please, spread the news. Some descendants of Basque sailor already know, but all those involved deserve to know that we have managed to Blas de Lezo has his street. Thank you.

I'm sorry for delayed response, but prudence and lack of time so advised. You see, the situation is as follows:

• Filed before the summer a proposal to the council.
• We await your answer.
• The old website to collect signatures online has disappeared without notice and have lost them all.

Anyway we have many signatures on paper. If anyone wants to work do not hesitate to contact me. And finally from here we will start collecting back online you can all sign.

UPDATE: Blas de Lezo HAVE AN AVENUE - Read more

For reasons that will be communicated in due course, urged to contact descendants of Blas de Lezo always able and willing. This will leave my phone, my email and a contact form, choose which you please:

The form in case you preferiis

Show yourselves descendants ...

506 pages! are those that have the new historical novel about Blas de Lezo written by Ramiro Ribas Narvaez for the publisher Akron . "The conspiracy of lies. Defeat of England in Cartagena de Indias "flatters the reader a generous number of pages focusing on the most epic of the Basque sailor, not being a biography of himself. The author, a descendant of Blas de Lezo, also delves into infamy he suffered after the battle and a life that literally gave himself body and soul in the service of Spain.