Having worked in IT for decades this is absolutely spot on:
A man in a hot air balloon, realizing he is lost, reduces altitude and spots a hiker below. He descends further and shouts to the man on the ground “Ahoy there, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am“
The chap below looks up, grins and says “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.“
“Wow! You must be in IT,” says the balloonist.
“Actually I am” replied the hiker “How did you guess that?“
“It’s quite obvious really” answers the balloonist “everything you have 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 been no help. If anything, you’ve delayed my trip!“
The chap below laughs and says “Ahh yes, you must be in Management.“
“I am” replies the balloonist, “but how did you know?“
“Well” says the hiker, “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 all my fault…“
😉
