No matter how much the boss or the customers yelled or threatened, the locomotive pulling freight and passenger cars refused to move. They were dead in the water.
The day started out as planned, but then went from good to bad. The train lurched to a stop without warning. Upon investigation, the engine had somehow lost a required part — a single screw. A screw they did not have and one not stocked at the closest repair depot.
A locomotive that costs $6M was unusable for a 1 cent part.
Most think that career achievement comes from succeeding at high-profile tasks and responsibilities. I’ve seen promising careers get derailed by overlooking insignificant items that turned out to be critical — like the screw.
💡 What are you overlooking, because you think it is insignificant, that could cause major issues?
Effectiveness is the understanding of what it takes to achieve the mission.
