Who Ate my Porridge? The Key to the Golden Locks of Work and Life

Once upon a time there were three bears—a black one, a brown one, and a polar bear. They all lived together in a cottage in the woods and they had a little business partnership. Their little community was a very happy and successful one, and each had fulfilled their aspirations in different, but equally valid, ways.

For instance, the black bear was very good at making things and loved doing simple manual labour, getting dirty and sweaty and exercising his muscles. He was very strong and would proudly show off his work to his two friends, feeling slightly superior as he knew they couldn’t possibly have achieved what he had. In truth, of course, though they were very impressed with the black bear’s work and respected him for it, they were neither very strong themselves, nor did they like getting sweaty and dirty like he did. They had different goals.

The brown bear was very good at buying and selling. He loved going to the market-place twice a week, with the fruits of the black bear’s labour in a little wheelbarrow (that the black bear himself had made). There, he would proudly display the goods they had produced together, talking eloquently and persuasively until a successful deal had been made. Eventually, everything would be sold and the brown bear would bring back a sack full of gold coins in the wheelbarrow.

The polar bear in turn was very good at organizing things. She loved thinking things through in advance, making plans, deciding what they needed to make and when, and who would buy their produce. She had huge note books and would fill them with big ideas that the other two didn’t really understand, but she’d draw pictures on big wall charts and talk to them until her ideas became reality. Sometimes she’d get a bit impatient with them and even a bit bossy, but they just would nod their heads and then laugh affectionately behind her back.

So they each had their separate roles and each was very successful at what they did and they were all very contented. Their little business prospered in harmony. This little enterprise was like a family and had been blossoming for a number of years. But they weren’t prepared for the advent of Change. Change in the shape of a hungry little girl with Golden Hair.

Now, I know by now this story is beginning to sound familiar to you. Well, be prepared for surprises—always a good motto for life and business, incidentally. This story is like the one you’re used to, but it has a different ending.