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Years ago we had a strategy meeting hosted by our VP Product and in his presentation he outlined the 5 "Priority 1" projects for my team for the next quarter (t

Years ago we had a strategy meeting hosted by our VP Product and in his presentation he outlined the 5 "Priority 1" projects for my team for the next quarter (the slide was literally titled "Q3 Priority 1 - <my team>"). As the VP talked, the CEO kept looking from the screen to me and back again. Finally the CEO couldn't take it anymore ... "Ensorceled, I was expecting your head to explode by now." and I replied "What? This is great, if you give me 5 priority 1 tasks it means I get to choose and my favourite is on the list!" In the ensuing "discussion", I brought up the Jobs quote about 5 times.

cainxinth 4y ago
VP: “I want you to prioritize everything!” OP: “That’s not how the word prioritize works.”
KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago
Sounds just like a slide mislabel, he really just means tier 1 priority.
- Ensorceled 4y ago
  Sure, I mean I was there, the CEO, CFO, CTO, other directors all interpreted it the same way I did and the Product guy defended it as if he meant they were are #1 priorities we need to be "focused" on, but I'm sure you're right. I'll have to revisit my memories of the incident.
  - KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago
    I didn't say you misinterpreted, he's just bad at communicating what he actually means. There can't be multiple #1s so he must mean they're tier 1s. There is no other option since having 5 #1s is literally impossible.
    - shuntress 4y ago
      That's the point. This misunderstanding was made by the presenter. And the "joke" is that once this misunderstanding has been made, the follow-on misunderstanding is that all "tier 1" priority tasks will be completed in the time it takes to complete one "tier 1" priority task. Regardless of what you call it, only one thing can truly be top priority at any given time. Without effective planning, it will morph into a priority singularity titled "Finish the Project".
      - KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago
        He presumably have priority 2 targets as well which means fixing the labeling would be priority tier 1, priority tier 2 etc.
    - Ensorceled 4y ago
      No, they were LITERALLY asking for the impossible. I'm finding it hilarious that you are defending this guy. I hope you never have to work for, or with, one of these people because it will probably drive you bonkers.
sogen 4y ago
been there Ensorceled!

cainxinth 4y ago

VP: “I want you to prioritize everything!” OP: “That’s not how the word prioritize works.”

KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago

Sounds just like a slide mislabel, he really just means tier 1 priority.

Ensorceled 4y ago
Sure, I mean I was there, the CEO, CFO, CTO, other directors all interpreted it the same way I did and the Product guy defended it as if he meant they were are #1 priorities we need to be "focused" on, but I'm sure you're right. I'll have to revisit my memories of the incident.
- KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago
  I didn't say you misinterpreted, he's just bad at communicating what he actually means. There can't be multiple #1s so he must mean they're tier 1s. There is no other option since having 5 #1s is literally impossible.
  - shuntress 4y ago
    That's the point. This misunderstanding was made by the presenter. And the "joke" is that once this misunderstanding has been made, the follow-on misunderstanding is that all "tier 1" priority tasks will be completed in the time it takes to complete one "tier 1" priority task. Regardless of what you call it, only one thing can truly be top priority at any given time. Without effective planning, it will morph into a priority singularity titled "Finish the Project".
    - KaoruAoiShiho 4y ago
      He presumably have priority 2 targets as well which means fixing the labeling would be priority tier 1, priority tier 2 etc.
  - Ensorceled 4y ago
    No, they were LITERALLY asking for the impossible. I'm finding it hilarious that you are defending this guy. I hope you never have to work for, or with, one of these people because it will probably drive you bonkers.

sogen 4y ago

been there Ensorceled!