This story was told to me in the 80s, and it is one that had some merit, that I haven’t forgotten it, and likely told it a few hundred times to my guys. As such it is not my own. I am likely re-telling it, to many of those soldiers that are my generation, or before my own.
The Old General was retiring. Leaving behind his toughest assignment and one which he felt that he’d had for too long. He was tired and looked forward to the change of command. When his replacement arrived, the Old General explained to the new Commander how trying the assignment was, how difficult of a time that he experienced, and how he had only narrowly escaped relief and extreme embarrassment.
The Old General handed the new Commander three envelopes marked 1,2,and 3. “Keep these in your desk, and when you get to that point, when things are really awful, where the scandals are piling up, when it looks like you’re going to be fired, when you just need some time and space to figure something out, when you have no idea what to do; go to your desk, open these envelopes in sequence and one at a time. They will deliver you.”
Six months into his tour, the command suffered a scandal. The Commander’s photo was displayed on the news, and all his staff around him claimed all was lost, the people demanded answers. After fighting it off as long as he could, and not making any progress- the Commander went to his desk, pulled out envelope number 1, opened it, and read in the Old General’s handwriting:
“Blame your predecessor.”
The Commander did exactly that. Placed the blame on the Old General, the very man that advised him to do so. The press was satisfied, the staff regained hope, the people were relieved.
Six months later, another scandal, worst than the first. A less kind photo of the Commander was displayed on the news, some of the staff asked to be reassigned, the people demanded immediate answers. The Commander did not even try to fight it off, instead he raced to his desk, open and read envelope number 2.
“Reorganize and Re-train.”
The Commander did exactly that. Made a statement to that effect, proudly displayed the new program, and was eloquent on the positive effect it would have in his force. The press was satisfied, the staff regained hope, the people were relieved.
Six months later, another scandal, so much worse than the other 2, that the Commander knew that he was in real trouble. The Press called for his removal, members of staff began to resign, the people demanded his head on a plate.
The Commander raced to his desk, knowing that he had the golden ticket of envelope number 3 waiting there to save him as the others had. He was so happy to have it in his hand, as he knew salvation was at hand. He opened and read envelope number 3.
“Prepare three envelopes.”