Athena 07 - Reverse Engineering

Wednesday afternoon.

Just before she sits down with Mary.

They will talk about HOPE_A.

Mary will share her first experiences.

They will discuss

how they can use it
at the company as well.

Athena has just finished lunch
at her desk.

While reading scrolls from
The Freedom Warriors Way,

she gets up
and walks to the window.

She gazes out over the trees.

There is a freshness in the air
after this morning’s rain.

Athena smiles.

She realizes this is the spot
she always comes to

when she needs to reflect.

Looking outside,

her feelings
and her thoughts

become calmer.

Still, she feels worried
about this evening’s family dinner.

At the same time,

she is looking forward
to sitting down with Mary.

What she has just read
comes back to her.

“Life is a gift.”

Indeed…

a gift, she thinks.

She smiles.

Straightens her back.

And goes to the conference room.

…

Mary is already there.

She greets Athena warmly.

“Athena,” she says,

“this will be a special afternoon.”

“Why?” Athena asks,

with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Because there is a way.

A way we can use HOPE_A

here at the company too.”

…

Mary continues.

“How often do we wonder

why we work with objectives

agreed with our co-workers,

and then it looks as if

those objectives disappear

into a drawer?”

Athena listens.

Curious about where Mary is going.

She is enthusiastic.

Even though the issue
feels complex.

“You know, Athena,”

Mary continues,

“I thought about what Julia told you:

‘Mom, you don’t engage me.’

And I see now

we have a similar issue here.

We cannot engage our people.

But what we can do…

what we should do…

is create the conditions

so that everyone can engage themselves.”

…

Mary looks at Athena.

Athena seems far away.

And fully present
at the same time.

…

“Continue, Mary.

I think I know
where you are taking this.

But I want to hear more.

To understand better.”

…

Mary stands up and says:

“We turn the world upside down.

Instead of setting objectives

and hoping we reach them,

we declare the results.

And then work backwards

to make them happen.

It is called reverse engineering.

And HOPE_A guides you there,

step by step.”

…

“Look here, Athena.”

Mary points at the screen
she has projected.

“Where do we want to be
in 90 days?

And to get there,

where do we need to be
in 60 days?

In 30 days?

And what can we celebrate

on Fridays,

when we have delivered
what we set out to do?”

…

“Wow!” Athena almost shouts.

She jumps out of her chair.

“Mary… imagine this.

We implement this

together with the leaders.

The same approach applies
to the week.

We define together

what we will celebrate
on Friday.

And then…

we divide the week
into daily steps.”

…

Mary smiles,

seeing Athena’s enthusiasm.

Then she says:

“Athena, how about this Friday afternoon

we sit down with the leaders

and share what we discussed
here today?”

…

Athena does not react immediately.

She knows this would be
a huge step.

Different from her usual way
of running the business.

She will need to let go.

Deep within, she feels

this is what she needs.

What everyone needs.

…

“Okay, Mary.

Let’s do it.

Can you organize it?”

Athena looks warmly at Mary.

Then she says:

“Thank you.

Thank you.”

…

Athena goes back to her office.

And immediately returns

to her spot at the window.

She sees the swallows playing
in their flight.

She smiles.

Her eyes are shining.

She knows what the dinner
this evening will be about.

They will talk about

“Reverse Engineering.”

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