A new manager spends a week at his new office with the manager he is replacing.
On the last day the departing manager told him, “I have left three numbered envelopes in the desk drawer. Open an envelope if you encounter a crisis you can’t solve.”
Three months later there is a major drama, and everything goes wrong.
The manager feels very threatened by it all and then he remembered the parting words of his predecessor.
He opened the first envelope.
The message inside read, "Blame your predecessor!"
He does this and gets off the hook.
About half a year later, he encounters another crisis.
The manager quickly opens the second envelope.
The message read, "Reorganize!"
The manager reorganized his department and the crisis abated.
Three months later, another crisis occurred.
He then opened the third envelope.
The message inside read, "Prepare three envelopes".
Note: The above photo is of me when I was the administrative officer of a Defense Department command on the Quartermaster compound in South Philadelphia back in late 1990s.
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