A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes that he is lost. He
reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and
shouts, “Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him
half an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”
The man below says, “Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering
approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees
north latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees west longitude.”
“You must be an engineer”, says the balloonist.
“I am”, replies the man. “How did you know?”
“Well...” says the balloonist. “Everything you told me was technically
correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information and the fact is I am still lost.”
The man below says, “You must be a Manager.”
“I am”, replies the balloonist. “How did you know?”
“Well...” says the man. “You don’t know where you are, or where you are
going. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect
me to solve your problem. The fact is, you are in the exact same position you
were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault.”
