Managerial Insight by Parable

Yesterday I gave another Toastmasters speech. For this one I was expected to use stories or fables to illustrate my point.

The "moral" of my speech essentially was: Politics in the office are inevitable and 90% of job satisfaction (or more) is based on whether we enjoy our work atmosphere. So, you have to laugh. Have To. When work gets absurd, you have to laugh it off -- because we all know there are days our worklife imitates the TV show: "The Office" or a Dilbert strip. And you have to laugh to keep from crying.

To illustrate my point I told these three parables (though I admit I cleaned them up for a G -rated delivery in the actual speech -- you'll figure out how if you read on). I think these must be internet humor .. a friend forwarded them to me in an email last year sometime and they tickled me so much I held onto them.

Parable One

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"

The eagle answered: "Sure, why not."
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested.

All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson : To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Parable Two

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."

"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer who shot him out of the tree.

Management Lesson - Bull shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Parable Three

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.

While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lesson #3 -
(1) Not everyone who craps on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut.