In the Washington Post article, "The art and science of flipping a fixer-upper" a good argument can be made for diving deep into the things that make flipping a success. The article focuses on a major tenet of flipping, starting with an underdog, and ending with a star. Doing what most people would find difficult, flippers will often take a house that seems to be the worst on the block, written off by most, and with some simple but needed upgrades, increase the value dramatically.
After reading about Globalization today, I couldn't help but think about how during World War II, Coca Cola obtained rationed sugar by selling bottles of Coke to the military. After shipping the bottles to Africa, Europe, and anywhere else GI's were posted, Coke basically positioned itself to become a global brand (intentially or not). The book For God, Country, and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It talks about Cokes role during World War II, and provides some interesting background on the company. Now you can have a coke and a smile nearly anywhere on the planet. Is this a positive or negative cultural change? When I was visiting some family abroad, I heard a lot of negative comments regarding Cokes activities in other countries, in the olympics, etc. However I still drink Coke (when I'm not drinking water or Mountain Dew!). I just don't see them as an evil empire, just a company with stock holders and a p...