They are everywhere. So many of them, they can’t be counted.  

A bit bummed.  Or maybe more than a bit.  Down on themselves for not being more productive.

Back in January, they said they would do it.  

In a blink-instant, it was February. Nothing had been started and many were ready to hide out with the hog.

That blur called March came and went, leaving them feeling like fools because they believed what they said in January, but now are saying to themselves, “How did I fall for it again?” Others try to gloss over their lack of action by saying, “Oh – I didn’t really want that. I was just foolin’.”  

If you are feeling any of this about any of what you said you would start, stop or do better – whether you said it on on New Years Day or any other day – read on.

Mark Feldman & Michael Spratt posed this question at the opening of their book Five Frogs on a Log: Five frogs are on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left?

Your answer?

At a gathering of twenty-five adults and one child – I posed the frog question.  

 

Five frogs are on a log.

 

 

 

Four decide to jump off.

How many are left?

 

The answer came quickly from all of the adults.

 

 

 

 

  

  

“One,” they said.

The child, a five year old, sitting cross legged on the floor, quietly raised her hand.

“Yes, do you have a different answer?” I asked.

She shyly said, “I think the answer is five. You said they decided to jump. But you didn’t say they jumped.”

Some of us are just like those four frogs.

We’ve decided but just haven’t jumped yet.

No need to feel foolish or hide with the hog.

There must be good reasons for being stuck.

When clients ask me to help them get unstuck, it seems the best way to help is to think like the five year old on the floor who had an open mind, full of questions that could lead to more than one right answer.

Questions like:

1. Why did you decide to sit on this particular log – ready to jump?
2. And why was that?
3. And why was that?
4. And why was that?
5. And why was that?  Yes that’s what we call “Why 5”.

6. What would jumping do to improve your productivity, morale, health and happiness?

7. What about for those around you?

If the answers to the above questions don’t give you strong enough reasons to jump –

why not abandon the log?

Dump the idea.

Forget the guilt.

You simply changed your plan.

Or you were just foolin’ when you said it.

 

If the reasons ARE still good but other things are more important right now –

what if you simply delay?

Or – ask someone else to help you?

If your answer is “I don’t have anyone who can help me”, don’t be foolish.  Think again.

If the reasons for jumping off the log are still real good – the reward big –

then it’s time to stop foolin’ around.

All we need to know now is –

What is holding you back?

That was not a period.  It was a question mark.

It’s a question that all coaches ask – in sports, in business – what is holding you back?

Now – what can be done about that?

If your answer is “nothing”…go ask a five year old or a coach who can think like a five year old to help you turn the periods into question marks.

The answer to that is likely to loosen your grip on that log.

One way or another…wouldn’t it be nice to get off that log?  

Post our Quote of the Week in several prominent places and then…

 

1 – 2 – 3

JUMP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Copyright –  Business Class Inc

Other Resources to Help You and Your Team GET OFF THE LOG:

• Quote of the Week: Get Off the Log
• Quick List: 10 Questions to Get You Off the Log
• Brainteaser of the Week #24
• Little Hops to the Rescue
• Hoping or Hopping
• Movie of the Week – Good Will Hunting

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