A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high
tech
corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him
privately
and presented him with three numbered envelopes. "Open these if
you
run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he
said.
Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later,
sales took
a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his
wits's
end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took
out
the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor."
The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the
blame at
the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the
press --
and Wall Street -- responded positively, sales began to pick up and
the
problem was soon behind him.
About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight
dip in
sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from
his
previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope.
The
message read, "Reorganize." This he did, and the company
quickly
rebounded.
After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once
again
fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the
door and
opened the third envelope.
The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."
