So the first day on the job, the new CEO found three sealed envelopes in his desk drawer, each with a message from his predecessor, each with writing on the front. The first envelope read, "Open in an emergency." Sure enough, after a short time on the job, things began to sour, so the CEO opened the envelope and read the following advice: "Blame the previous administration."
And so he did. He never missed an opportunity to bad-mouth his predecessor, run people off, and remind everybody how bad things were before he arrived. Sure enough, things improved and the CEO bought additional time. For awhile...
Soon, however, things again began to deteriorate, so he pulled out the second envelope which read, "Open when things are REALLY going bad." So he opened the envelope and read the following advice: "Reorganize."
And so he did. He fired his top staff, created a new strategy and business plan and presto - things improved. For awhile...
Finally, the CEO became became engulfed in a dumpster fire of an organization. He pulled out the third envelope which read: "Open only as a last resort." So he opened the envelope and read the following advice: "Make out three envelopes."
And so he did. He never missed an opportunity to bad-mouth his predecessor, run people off, and remind everybody how bad things were before he arrived. Sure enough, things improved and the CEO bought additional time. For awhile...
Soon, however, things again began to deteriorate, so he pulled out the second envelope which read, "Open when things are REALLY going bad." So he opened the envelope and read the following advice: "Reorganize."
And so he did. He fired his top staff, created a new strategy and business plan and presto - things improved. For awhile...
Finally, the CEO became became engulfed in a dumpster fire of an organization. He pulled out the third envelope which read: "Open only as a last resort." So he opened the envelope and read the following advice: "Make out three envelopes."
