The Boat business and the consultant
What are you working for?
A high powered and successful business consultant went to the lake to relax for his annual holiday. On his first day he paid a skipper to take him out in a small boat to fish on the lake. He was so impressed with the experience that he felt he should give the skipper some advice.
‘I could help you to raise a loan so that you can increase your business’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘Then you could take far more people out on the lake in bigger boats and employ other skippers’
'Why would I do that?’
'Then you could become a major player in the tourist industry in this area’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘So that you could earn far more money’
‘Why would I do that?’
‘Then you could afford to take time out to go fishing like I do’
‘But I do that every day’
Ride Your Emotions Like a Horse
A metaphor for controlling our emotions from Chade Meng Tan's book 'Search Inside Yourself'
Once upon a time, a woman on a horse rode past a man standing on the road side.
'Where are you going' shouted the man standing
'I don't know' answered the woman on the horse, 'you'd better ask the horse'
We let our emotions take us where they want to go but we should learn to control our emotional horse.
Thanks to Chade Meng-Tan and Google for this story
'Where are you going' shouted the man standing
'I don't know' answered the woman on the horse, 'you'd better ask the horse'
We let our emotions take us where they want to go but we should learn to control our emotional horse.
Thanks to Chade Meng-Tan and Google for this story
Persistence
Never give up hope
Two frogs fell into a vat of milk one evening at the farm.
It was impossible to climb out up the sheer metal sides and the farmer forgot to collect the vat before he went to bed.
The frogs swam and swam, both getting tired.
'We’ll never get out of here alive' said one frog and gradually, by about midnight, he sank to the bottom.
Exhausted, the other frog would not give up.
At dawn next morning, the farmer remembered the vat of milk and went to the barn to collect it.
There he was astonished to find it had turned into butter and a frog was sleeping on top of it!
The Chicken and the Pig
Are you just involved or are you participating?
Farmer McDonald had been very kind to his many animals and it was his birthday.
All the animals gathered in the stable yard to discuss what they could give him to say a special thank you.
The bossy chicken stood on a barrel to take control of the meeting.
‘I think we should give him something that shows our appreciation and involvement' said the pig.
‘Hear, hear’…called all the animals.
‘Why don’t we give him bacon and eggs every day for the rest of his life'? suggested the chicken
Positive murmurs came from the animals.
‘Just a moment Chicken’ interrupted the pig
‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea, because whereas you, the chicken, will be involved, I, the pig, will be participating!
Thanks to John Garnett for this story many years ago.
All the animals gathered in the stable yard to discuss what they could give him to say a special thank you.
The bossy chicken stood on a barrel to take control of the meeting.
‘I think we should give him something that shows our appreciation and involvement' said the pig.
‘Hear, hear’…called all the animals.
‘Why don’t we give him bacon and eggs every day for the rest of his life'? suggested the chicken
Positive murmurs came from the animals.
‘Just a moment Chicken’ interrupted the pig
‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea, because whereas you, the chicken, will be involved, I, the pig, will be participating!
Thanks to John Garnett for this story many years ago.
Borrowing the Mower
A cautionary tale about over-thinking
Neil needed to mow his grass but his new lawnmower had not arrived.
He decided to go next door to borrow his neighbour George’s mower.
He felt awkward about asking and walking down his path to the gate he was thinking that maybe
George would not want to lend it to him.
As he opened the agte he thought 'maybe he wants to use it himself’ and ‘He’s never asked to borrow
anything of mine before’.
Walking along the pavement he also thought ‘what if he thinks I’m a bludger or that I can’t afford my own mower’?
then he opened George’s gate thinking ‘He might just be mean and not want to lend it to me’
Walking to George’s front door he thought ‘he will probably tell me to get lost’
He knocked on the front door.
George answered 'hello Neil'
Neil, walking away: 'I didn’t want to borrow your lawn mower anyway!'
He decided to go next door to borrow his neighbour George’s mower.
He felt awkward about asking and walking down his path to the gate he was thinking that maybe
George would not want to lend it to him.
As he opened the agte he thought 'maybe he wants to use it himself’ and ‘He’s never asked to borrow
anything of mine before’.
Walking along the pavement he also thought ‘what if he thinks I’m a bludger or that I can’t afford my own mower’?
then he opened George’s gate thinking ‘He might just be mean and not want to lend it to me’
Walking to George’s front door he thought ‘he will probably tell me to get lost’
He knocked on the front door.
George answered 'hello Neil'
Neil, walking away: 'I didn’t want to borrow your lawn mower anyway!'
The Leadership of Wolves
Sometimes the best leadership is from behind
A group of wolves: The three in front are old & sick, they walk in front to set the pace of the running group lest they get left behind.
The next five are the strongest & best, they are tasked to protect the front side if there is an attack.
The pack in the middle are always protected from any attack.
The five behind them are also among the strongest; they protect the back side if there is an attack.
The last one is the LEADER. He ensures that no one is left behind. He keeps the pack unified and on the same path. He is always ready to run in any direction to protect & serves as the 'bodyguard' to the entire group.
This is what it really means to be a leader on a day to day basis. It's not about being out front. It is about taking care of the team.
The next five are the strongest & best, they are tasked to protect the front side if there is an attack.
The pack in the middle are always protected from any attack.
The five behind them are also among the strongest; they protect the back side if there is an attack.
The last one is the LEADER. He ensures that no one is left behind. He keeps the pack unified and on the same path. He is always ready to run in any direction to protect & serves as the 'bodyguard' to the entire group.
This is what it really means to be a leader on a day to day basis. It's not about being out front. It is about taking care of the team.
This too shall pass
A Cautionary Tale for Emotional Leaders
George was a leader who often struggled with emotional highs and lows. Freddie was prone to periods of great elation where he would make very poor decisions, and periods of great despair where he would get extremely upset. One of his colleagues, Mary, designed and forged a simple ring for Freddie to wear at all times. In her mind this was an ingenious device that would help stop him from getting lost in his high and low moments.
George asked, “How does it work?”
“Wear the ring with you always. In times when you need it most, it will show you the answer and you will know what to do,” replied Mary.
Almost immediately, the company they both worked for lost a lot of money and the share price plummeted. Everything seemed dark and hopeless, but at the end of the day, after many phone calls, the tired George looked at his new ring. Engraved on the ring was a message – four simple words which he had not seen before: “This too shall pass.” All of the sudden, Freddie found new hope, courage and a burst of renewed energy. He went home and had a good night sleep.
The day after, an unexpected phone call led to a couple of meetings and the eventual signing of a new contract that not only brought back the money lost but much more. Elated, George called all his partners and associates, employees and clients and threw a massive celebration for many days. Just when he was losing himself in the midst of the great celebration, George touched the ring and felt the engraving – the four simple words which he had noticed just a few days earlier: “This too shall pass.” He got back to work.
He decided from then on to engage in a daily ritual of intentionally touching the ring, feeling the inscription, early in the morning, upon awakening, and at the end of each just before going to sleep. He carried the four words “this too shall pass” like a mantra, repeating them under his breath, in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, in winning and in losing, in light and in darkness: “this too shall pass.”
George asked, “How does it work?”
“Wear the ring with you always. In times when you need it most, it will show you the answer and you will know what to do,” replied Mary.
Almost immediately, the company they both worked for lost a lot of money and the share price plummeted. Everything seemed dark and hopeless, but at the end of the day, after many phone calls, the tired George looked at his new ring. Engraved on the ring was a message – four simple words which he had not seen before: “This too shall pass.” All of the sudden, Freddie found new hope, courage and a burst of renewed energy. He went home and had a good night sleep.
The day after, an unexpected phone call led to a couple of meetings and the eventual signing of a new contract that not only brought back the money lost but much more. Elated, George called all his partners and associates, employees and clients and threw a massive celebration for many days. Just when he was losing himself in the midst of the great celebration, George touched the ring and felt the engraving – the four simple words which he had noticed just a few days earlier: “This too shall pass.” He got back to work.
He decided from then on to engage in a daily ritual of intentionally touching the ring, feeling the inscription, early in the morning, upon awakening, and at the end of each just before going to sleep. He carried the four words “this too shall pass” like a mantra, repeating them under his breath, in good times and in bad times, in sickness and in health, in winning and in losing, in light and in darkness: “this too shall pass.”
It's so hard to feel Humble
How to find real humility
A young officer in the army was training to take parade. He walked along the rows of foot soldiers standing straight and still, all staring ahead as if in a trance. They were battle worn, they had been fighting and were just back at camp to parade for the young officer before retiring.
The young officer was accompanied by an old, seasoned general who was training him to be a leader. As they walked along the rows, the officer remembered an important leadership principle and quizzed the general. 'Sir' he stammered still looking at the men in their emotionless eyes 'how does one learn to become humble while inspecting these men'. 'The truth is, I feel superior to every one' he admitted.
The general smiled to himself. 'That's easy' he said softly. ' Simply look down at their boots. The young officer looked down and saw the rough and ravaged boots of the men. Many were barely holding together and some had blood showing through the toes of men who had driven themselves to the limit. He felt a strong and sudden upsurge of emotion and unexpectedly felt compassion and humility. 'Thank you' he said.
The Three Envelopes
There are no easy solutions!
Roger was the new CEO of the ABC company. He delivered a speech of thanks to the outgoing CEO, Wayne after which the two men shook hands.
"If you like," said Wayne to Roger "I have some fool proof tips for any CEO taking over a new company".
Thank you, I'd appreciate that Wayne".
Wayne handed over three envelopes. The first had 'open when you have your first problem' written on it. The second ' Open if things get worse. The third said 'open when all else has failed'. Roger smiled thinking 'I won't need any of these'.
A month later, things were not going too well and he was asked for an explanation by the board. He decided to open the first envelope which said 'Blame your predecessor'. Good idea! Roger wrote his monthly report blaming Wayne for the problems that he had inherited. The board accepted his explanation and gave him more time.
Two months later and things had not picked up - in fact the financials were worse. Roger decided to open the second envelope. It said, 'reorganise the company and make a few people redundant'. Good idea again he thought and set about reorganising for success with his head of People, Jenni who employed a top rate consultant to assist them. The board liked his future plan to stimulate change and development through reorganisation, especially as it was being managed by a highly respected and qualified external consultant.
After six months, not only were things even worse but the entire company were stressed about their jobs and sick leave was at an all time high. Unwillingly, Roger admitted that he needed to open the third envelope as he had run out of ideas. He idly wondered why there were only three, then slumped in his chair when he read the contents which said 'Write out three envelopes'.
"If you like," said Wayne to Roger "I have some fool proof tips for any CEO taking over a new company".
Thank you, I'd appreciate that Wayne".
Wayne handed over three envelopes. The first had 'open when you have your first problem' written on it. The second ' Open if things get worse. The third said 'open when all else has failed'. Roger smiled thinking 'I won't need any of these'.
A month later, things were not going too well and he was asked for an explanation by the board. He decided to open the first envelope which said 'Blame your predecessor'. Good idea! Roger wrote his monthly report blaming Wayne for the problems that he had inherited. The board accepted his explanation and gave him more time.
Two months later and things had not picked up - in fact the financials were worse. Roger decided to open the second envelope. It said, 'reorganise the company and make a few people redundant'. Good idea again he thought and set about reorganising for success with his head of People, Jenni who employed a top rate consultant to assist them. The board liked his future plan to stimulate change and development through reorganisation, especially as it was being managed by a highly respected and qualified external consultant.
After six months, not only were things even worse but the entire company were stressed about their jobs and sick leave was at an all time high. Unwillingly, Roger admitted that he needed to open the third envelope as he had run out of ideas. He idly wondered why there were only three, then slumped in his chair when he read the contents which said 'Write out three envelopes'.
Freedom and Thistles
a story told to us by my old and wise mother- in-law
'There were two donkeys in a field of rough grass and thistles. The two friends spent their day searching for good grass together. One day, a farmer came and offered the donkeys the chance to move to his field next door, which had lush pasture rather than the grass and thistles in theirs.
One of the donkeys couldn't resist and accepted. Once there he realised that the farmer expected him to work for his grass and from dawn until dusk, he pulled carts and was beaten if he slowed down. Just before dark, he returned to the field and ate as much good grass as he could.
After a few months of this, he was tired and looked over at his old friend who was still in the field of thistles. His friend was free and although the field had little good grass, he had all day to find it and could choose how to eat it. Ah, he thought, how I wish that I still had freedom and thistles'.
Photo used under Creative Commons from GSofV
