That they failed to do so and apply the quick fix with a coaching change was nearsighted and ultimately ill-fated based upon the fruits of the Valentine era which produced the Red Sox worst record in nearly 50 years.

FORBES: Bobby Valentine's Firing in Boston: A Lesson in Failed Organizational Leadership at Fenway

And Obama was quick to note that those problems apply to voters of all parties.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Officials were quick to caution people not to apply the measurements taken near the trade center wreckage to other areas of the city.

CNN: Recovery: Remembrance at Ground Zero

Companies, meanwhile, liked programs that delivered a quick return on investment -- employees who were able to apply what they had learned immediately.

WSJ: And the Best Executive M.B.A. Programs In 2008 Are...