3 ms·
http://taffywilliams.blogspot.com/2011/07/write-3-letters-you-are-not-that-good.html http://taffywilliams.blogspot.com/2011/07/write-3-letters-yo... A new CEO
by YuriNiyazov 13y ago
http://taffywilliams.blogspot.com/2011/07/write-3-letters-you-are-not-that-good.html http://taffywilliams.blogspot.com/2011/07/write-3-letters-yo...
A new CEO was hired to replace an outgoing CEO. The outgoing CEO met with the incoming CEO for an exit interview. During the discussion, the departing CEO stated he had placed 3 very important letters in his drawer just as his predecessor had done for him. He explained that the new CEO 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 CEO now remembered the letters and noticed they were numbered 1, 2, and 3. The former CEO had instructed they be opened in order for maximal benefit. The new CEO opened letter #1 and the paper inside had the words “blame it on your predecessor.” The new CEO 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 CEO to step down. In desperation, the CEO 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 CEO 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.”
- jaredmcateer 13y agoI actually did this when I was leaving as the only division systems admin, half-jokingly since my replacement was a friend. Except in the case where I read it was "Blame your predecessor", "Blame the old technology", "Write 3 Letters."
- snowwrestler 13y agoHow many second letters does Ballmer have? http://www.mondaynote.com/2010/05/30/ballmer-just-opened-the-second-envelope/ http://www.mondaynote.com/2010/05/30/ballmer-just-opened-the...
- snowfox 13y agoIt is a technology company. There is 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 ...
- georgemcbay 13y agoIt is Microsoft, so the letters are Letter 1.0, Letter 2013 and LetterX 3.0 Ultimate Edition.
- mcdougle 13y agoReminds me of this: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-10-30/ http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-10-30/
- loganfrederick 13y agoJust a few comics later, he has this gem about "dotted-line" management. Frightening how relevant Dilbert is to this memo. http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-11-01/ http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-11-01/
- drharris 13y agoThis was the first thing I thought of when I saw the "Dotted Line" bit. Sad that this thing was already parodied almost two decades ago!
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- Kurtz79 13y agoI have heard this several times. What is the original source ?
- olauzon 13y agoKhrushchev is rumored to have left Brezhnev these 2 letters. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/05/25/735217/-Khrushchev-and-Brezhnev-A-story-from-the-USSR http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/05/25/735217/-Khrushchev-... The anecdote was cited in the 2000 film Traffic.