Many people here in Great Britain seem to harbor resentment towards business success. A prime example is Tesco, the grocery giant that has become the latest target of the disgruntled leftist group populating these shores. Perhaps it’s the case that now and then they need new scapegoats; after taking aim at BP, Shell, and pharmaceutical companies that ‘endanger animal welfare’, this band of resentful individuals has set their sights on Tesco. Some might argue that there’s nothing wrong with this—the politics of collectively biting the hand that feeds you, as a way of escaping personal failure, has characterized the left. In fact, that’s one of the few things that has proven semi-effective. So, Tesco finds itself at the center of this new attack from the forces of ‘progress,’ and it made me wonder, how has Tesco achieved such remarkable success in a country where competition is so fierce in almost every sector? Moreover, how can we compare Tesco’s stellar performance with the equally impressive record of Hugo Chávez? The answer lies in a set of conditions without which neither could have accomplished anything.
Years ago, I noticed a small sign in an office in Caracas mocking what the perfect European is supposed to be. In fact, the British know very little about good cuisine, which also explains the celebrity status granted to chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver; because it’s not hard to gain recognition in the land of fish and chips than in France, Italy, or Spain. Plus, this is a country where eating is merely a process that serves to rid the body of that annoying sensation called hunger. Hence, we have Pret-a-Mangers—with their rather unappetizing snacks—and the powers of American haute cuisine—Starbucks, McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and others laughing all the way to the bank. Thus, a few smart individuals, those who grew up eating proper food, realized that the conditions were ripe. They must have thought, “What better way to combine the pretty limited variety of junk under one roof and have the mass of sandwich eaters storm the doors?” Keep in mind that Tesco would have found it extraordinarily difficult to capture new business in the Basque Country, Tuscany, or Bordeaux; however, in Great Britain, it was just a stroll in the park.
So, how does Tesco’s success measure up to that of Hugo Chávez? Although in completely different scenarios, the Venezuelan dictator also found a niche—a country providing excellent conditions for someone brave enough to execute a complete takeover. Chávez, like the few men who noticed that proper nutrition isn’t a priority for most Britons, launched his political assault and found very little resistance. In the days when the opposition—which hardly deserves to be called that—governed Venezuela, they attempted a coup, only to have Chávez instantly turned into an icon by the very administration he was trying to overthrow. In fact, had those responsible not been so incredibly incompetent, Chávez would probably be serving time for his crimes today. Instead, he rules Venezuela like no one else has since the early 20th century.
His enemies are so utterly inept that the man will govern quite effectively until he chooses otherwise. In Great Britain, some people have asserted that in the not-so-distant future, we will all have to eat whatever food Tesco decides to stock their shelves with. Of course, these wolf-crying accusations will never come true as long as there is a market for things outside of Tesco; just ask those who enjoy eating and take the process of feeding themselves seriously. The store will only be able to expand into sandwich-eating territory. Chávez, on the other hand, will continue to gain ground because in Venezuela, there’s no market for an opposition that works Monday to Thursday from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM and repeatedly fails to address the issues that have made Chávez such a formidable institution. One of my associates made it crystal clear the other day: opposition figures in Venezuela, whether in politics, media, industry, etc., are like tigers in a zoo; if some careless visitor falls into their cage, they’ll likely be attacked and devoured. However, if that same tiger is released into the jungle, they will probably die due to their inability to navigate a survival-of-the-fittest environment.
Ultimately, success depends as much on the vision, courage, and actions of certain individuals as on a range of factors beyond conscious control.