Many people do not regularly check the Reasons Why You Do What You Do. Now, read this story.
An army barrack had 4 soldiers guarding a concrete slab in front of the barracks at all times. Different commanders came and went but the tradition remained; the soldiers changed shifts guarding the slab. After 80 years (yes, 80), a new commander was assigned to the barracks. One of the things he did was to ask WHY THINGS WERE DONE THE WAY THEY WERE.
Leaders and Managers, are you reading me and learning? Always begin with WHY, not What, not How.
Are you following? Let’s continue the story…
When he asked WHY soldiers were guarding the slab, he was told, “We’ve always done it this way. It’s our tradition. Our former commanders instructed us to do that”.
The commander was bent on finding out the WHY for this practice.
My key brother and a business mogul, Benjamin Amadi always ask people, “Why don’t you people always ask ‘why’?” The commander went to the archives to look for answers and came across a document that had an explanation. 
The document was very old. It had instructions written by one of the retired commanders who had even passed away (deaf, of course, 80 years past).
The new commander learned that over 80 years ago, the barracks wanted to build a platform where events could be performed. When the concrete slab was laid, wild animals walked over it at night before the slab could dry. The soldiers would fix it the next morning, but when evening came the same thing would happen. So, the commander ordered those four soldiers should guard the concrete slab for three weeks to allow it to dry.
The following week before the expiration of the 3 weeks, the commander was transferred to handle another assignment elsewhere, and another commander was brought in.
The incoming commander found the routine and continued to enforce it without asking any questions.
(The first generation of the error started here.) Always ask questions. Great leaders ask questions. In fact, “Leaders Ask Great Questions”, says John C Maxwell.
And since then, every other commander that came did the same.
Wow!
Thus, 80 years down the line; soldiers continued guarding the concrete slab. An assignment that was ordinarily designed to last just three weeks . . . 80 years of ignorance with hard labour have passed. (4 men wasted per day times 365 days times 80. What a waste! Hmmmm!)
Check your life! Are some of the things you’re doing in your life and career not occasioned by the challenge of the time when you started it? Now time has gone, you’re still doing it? Many don’t know that things in life, careers, and businesses do expire, hence they continue guarding an ancient slab of over 80 years.
Are you carrying on obsolete beliefs, attitudes, traditions, religious affiliations, or cultures that were relevant to certain people or at a certain time?
Reasons Why You Do What You Do is serious. What are your reasons? What is your opinion about yourself, people of different races, politics, and spirituals?
CONTACT Dr Mike Ihezuo for your speaking engagement.
