My wife has given me permission to think of new book titles, but
not to write any new books until my first book is actually published.
That said, I just thought of a title for a new book - The Seven Rabbits of Highly Effective Projects - and I can't help but think about how it might play out.
To start with, it's a short book about 7 rabbits and a project
manager - Rupert - whose projects never seem to work out. Some say
he's not a very good project manager, others just say he's unlucky.
One night, while Rupert's working very late on a
project he has just recently started, he notices a dark shadow pass
behind his desk. Startled because he thought he was alone, he spins
around in his chair to see who it is ... but there's no one there.
Confused, he gets up from his desk, walks over to the wall and
switches the main lights on. Even with the bright lights he still
can't see anyone. He shrugs, turns the lights off, goes back to his
desk. But just as his thoughts return to his spreadsheet he hears a
little tiny voice behind him say "Are you looking for me?".
He swivels again but still can't see anyone. The voice says, "Down
here". The project manager looks down and sees a little tiny rabbit
who looked quite normal for a rabbit - fluffy tail,suit, tie, etc -
apart from the fact that his right rear foot was huge. The manager
recognised the rabbit - he'd seen him around the office and he thought
he was one of the project's designers - but wasn't certain and he
certainly couldn't remember the rabbits name.
He says,"You're a designer right? What's your name again?"
The
rabbit says, "I'm not a designer; I'm your project's lucky rabbit. My
huge foot brings luck to what ever project I work on. My name is
Lucky." He hopped closer to Rupert and they shook hands.
The manager says, "Great! We could use some luck around here.
It's nice to see you working late too. Thanks for putting in the
extra effort! I wish more people worked long hours around here."
"Actually I was just tidying up some stuff before I left", says Lucky,
"'I'm out hare. I applied to HR for a transfer, they approved it today
and now I'm off to work on the XYZ project. It's been nice not knowing
you Rupert!"
"Whoa there. What's the rush, little fella? We really could use
some luck around here. Is there any chance you could stay on a little
longer?"
The rabbit says, "Stay? STAY? No way. I hate working here.'
'Okay. I understand that', said Rupert, not hiding his disappointed. 'But at least you could tell me why you're are leaving?'
Lucky
frowned, rubbed his chin, wiggled his whiskers, pooped on the floor,
then said, 'Okay. It's simple I'm leaving because I am lonely and when
I'm lonely I'm ineffective. I normally work as part of a team - a team
of 7 rabbits. But somehow, someone forgot to recruit the other 6
rabbits to your project.'
'Oh. No one told me about a team of 7 rabbits. I've not budgeted for 7 rabbits. Where am I going to get 7 rabbits from?'
'Well', said Lucky with a twinkle in his eye, 'If you got me just 1 lady rabbit and a month or so then ...'
Rupert frowned. He'd heard things said about rabbits and their ways
but he didn't like the direction Lucky was going. He said, 'I don't
think we have a timesheet code for that kind of behaviour.'
Lucky said, 'It was worth a go. My motto is that you don't just get lucky, you've got to make your own luck.'
He added, 'Besides, it doesn't work like that. You don't need any old 7 rabbits ... you need 7 specific rabbits.'
Rupert rubbed his chin, 'Oh really!'
Sensing that maybe he might be able He hopped up onto the chair beside
Rupert and said, 'I'm one of them - I'm your Lucky Rabbit. Let me tell
you about the other 6. First, their's my old friend funny bunny. He
brings humour to the project ...'
So tell me: what are the other 5 Rabbits and why?
