Business advice from Marvin Bower, McKinsey’s chief architect.

1. Put the client’s interests first and separate yourself from the job.
2. Be consistent yet open-minded.
3. Center problem solving on the facts and on the front line.
4. View problems and decisions in the context of the whole and in terms of the immediate actions to be taken.
5. Inspire and require people to be their best.
6. Communicate the values of the company over and over again to ensure that people in the firm will understand them, embrace them, and translate them into action.

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Moral of the story: Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy, not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend, and when you’re in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!