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..."