Gary retired? I haven't noticed any drop in his performance.
A new threadstarter was hired to replace an outgoing threadstarter. The outgoing threadstarter met with the incoming threadstarter for an exit interview. During the discussion, the departing threadstarter stated he had placed 3 very important letters in his drawer just as his predecessor had done for him. He explained that the new threadstarter would find opening the letters in order most useful when a serious event took place. He also stated the letters left for him had really helped him over his tenure.
Several months passed before a major event came up. The new threadstarter now remembered the letters and noticed they were numbered 1, 2, and 3. The former threadstarter had instructed they be opened in order for maximal benefit. The new threadstarter opened letter #1 and the paper inside had the words “
blame it on your predecessor.” The new threadstarter did as the letter stated and amazingly he was able to avert serious problems and keep his job.
Several months passed before the next serious event took place. This one was growing in magnitude and things were starting to get ugly at the company. There were even calls for the threadstarter to step down. In desperation, the threadstarter opened the drawer and pulled out letter #2. With great fear he, opened it carefully to read the word “
reorganize.” He followed the instructions and just as before he was saved. The whole company quieted down and went back to business as usual.
After about a year, a third serious event took place and it was much worse than the rest. The threadstarter knew how to get out of the mess because he had a third letter left to open. With a smile he reached for the letter #3 and opened it to read “
write 3 letters.”