In Simon Weisenthal's book, "Sails of Hope, " he argues that Columbus' voyage was motivated by a desire to find a safe haven for the Jews in light of their expulsion from Spain.

CNN: Was Columbus secretly a Jew?

Whether politically motivated or not, Abdullah may find his new tough-guy role a difficult one with which to win his audiences - both inside and outside UMNO.

CNN: No More Mr. Nice Guy

By and large, they find full transparency around financial performance and success or failure in meeting their goals creates a more engaged and motivated team.

FORBES: Openness and Transparency: Lessons from Startup CEOs