Morris 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.... #1, #2, and #3.
"Open these if you run up against a
problem you don't think you can solve," the departing CEO said.
Well, things went along pretty smoothly,
but six months later, sales took a downturn and Morris was really catching a lot of heat.
About at his wit's end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out
the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor."
Morris, 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. Morris went to his office,
closed the door and opened the third envelope.
