Thursday, March 19, 2009

Onions and Strokes

What happens when you shift focus in crisis

A man condemned to punishment was given a choice between eating a hundred onions or receiving a hundred strokes on his back. He settled for the onions, taking this to be the easier option. But when he could no longer stand the onions he shouted for the slippers. When he could stand the slippers no more, he once again wanted the onions. He ended by eating all the onions and receiving all the strokes.

Management lesson : Don't shift focus when in the middle of a crisis. You will end up making things worse.

In these times, being single mindedly focused is better than being scatter brained. Panic results in confusion, and finally one loses control of the desired outcome.

Elementry my dear Watson !

2 comments:

  1. Aaaa...but by that his body become resistant to onions and pain. So when he needs to receive either of those punishment again, he'll say "Bring in on."

    It's a little like facing death, don't you think? Have a brush with it a thousand times and by the 1001th time you just smile at it and say "WELCOME, I've been waiting for you all my life. Why did you take so long?"

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  2. Sounds like my Holly ! She welcomes everyone....

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