Quote :

"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.""

Well, he's clearly opened the first... How many do you think he's opened so far?

3/18/2009 11:30:10 AM

3/18/2009 11:34:48 AM

I think he can still get plenty of mileage out of the first envelope.

3/18/2009 11:58:48 AM

OLD JOKE IS OLD

3/18/2009 12:02:50 PM

never even thought of it as a joke, more as a cautionary parable

3/18/2009 12:33:03 PM

Every time I've heard it, there were only two envelopes, and the person who left them was Khrushchev (for the next head of the USSR).

3/18/2009 1:16:18 PM

A thread for this? Seriously?

3/18/2009 2:01:44 PM

I think the "joke" only works if the predecessor is not actually to blame, doesn't it? Which is not really the case here...

3/18/2009 4:37:45 PM

Quote :

"I think he can still get plenty of mileage out of the first envelope."

3/18/2009 4:41:29 PM