Harold owned a pet frog affectionately named, Felix. Harold had dreams of rising to be successful and wealthy. "Felix, we are going to be rich! I'm going to teach you how to fly!"
A terrified Felix responded, "I can't fly you idiot ... I'm a frog not a canary."
"That negative attitude might be a problem, so I will send you on a motivational training program."
Felix attended the training program and learned skills in problem solving, time management, teamwork and communication ... but nothing about flying. First day back, Harold was excited about teaching Felix to fly. Harold explaining that their building had seven stories and each day Felix would jump out of a window starting with the first floor eventually making it to the top. After each jump, Felix should analyze the flight, identify effective flying techniques and implement improved processes for the next day's flight. By the time they reached the top floor, Felix would surely be able to fly.
Felix pleaded for his life. But Harold would not be persuaded by negative thinking. Harold opened the window and threw Felix out, landing with a thud! Next day, Felix begged not to be thrown out the window. Harold opened his copy of "Awaken the Flyer Within" and showed Felix the chapter of how one must always expect resistance when implementing new programs. And with that, he threw Felix out the window. THUD.
On the third day (at the third floor) Felix attempted to stall by asking for a delay in flying lessons until better weather would make flying conditions more favorable. But Harold showed the business plan with project management milestones clearly set. "You don't want to fall behind schedule?"
From his training, Felix knew that not jumping today would mean he would have to jump twice tomorrow. Felix was giving it his best. On the fifth day he flapped his webbed feet madly in a vain attempt to fly. On the sixth day he donned a small red cape and thought "Superman" thoughts. But try as he might, he couldn't fly.
By the seventh day, Felix accepting his fate, no longer begged for mercy. He simply looked at Harold and said: "You know you're killing me?"
Harold explained that Felix's performance had been so far, less than exemplary, failing to meet any of the milestone goals he had set for him.
"Shut up and open the window," and he leaped out, taking careful aim at the sharp corner of the industrial rubbish bin below. And Felix went to that lily pad in the sky.
Harold was distraught, as his project failed to meet a single goal. Felix had not only failed to fly, he did not navigate in flight but rather fell like a block of cheese ... nor did he improve productivity when Harold told him to "Fall smarter not harder." Harold analyzed the process to determine the problems.
After great thought, Harold smiled. "Next time I'm getting a smarter frog!"
PS. This is not my story; but I learned it verbatim so long ago, I fail to remember who to give attribution to.
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