A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude
and spotted a man below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can
you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know
where I am."
The man below replied, "You're in a hot air balloon hovering
approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north
latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west
longitude."
"You must be in engineering," said the balloonist.
"I am," replied the man, "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is
technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information, and the
fact is I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything,
you've delayed my trip."
The man below responded, "You must be in Management."
"I am", replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you're
going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You
made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath
you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you
were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
