Jamie and I hung out with friends at their family ranch in Victor, MT.  It is about 30 minutes south of Missoula and the views were so cool I thought I’d share.

Jamie and I in Victor Montana at friend’s ranch.

Today I read Machiavelli’s “The Prince” which was recommended reading for my friend’s MBA education and it really got me thinking.  About 2/3 through the book, Machiavelli speaks of hiring mercenaries and how they ultimately weaken the State.  If the mercenaries are successful in their job, then the State becomes indebted to them given the mercenary could align with an adversary and destroy the State.  This invoked thought about the globalization taking place and outsourcing.  I’m curious whether the outsourcing of a company’s key functions ultimately weaken it, despite the assumed efficiency it gains, and whether there any analogs between lessons learned in “The Prince” and what we see happening today.  What should and should not be contracted?