The Story Behind The Story...

The short version...

Like everyone else, we felt overwhelmed with too many priorities, too much stress, and too little time. When we focused on our work, we felt like we were neglecting our families. If we stretched to cover both work and family commitments, that left no time for exercise, hobbies, or even a good night's sleep.

One day we were discussing our mutual problem. We had pretty much given up on solutions when one of us said, "Are we just supposed to be running around trying to get it all done and not doing a good job at any one thing? Sometimes my life feels as crazy as a three ring circus."

That old saying stopped us in our tracks. We debated how a circus is able to juggle so many complicated acts without chaos. And we wondered if the circus could give us a model for managing our own priorities.

For research, we read several books by former ringmasters and watched circus performances with close attention. We also interviewed someone who had worked in operations for a circus.

For the next few months, we developed guidelines based on the circus metaphor, which helped us stay focused and energized. The ideas also helped other people who tried them.

We decided to write a business parable about an overwhelmed man who learns from a wise ringmaster. We hoped that the story format would be of benefit to individuals and organizations who struggled with getting it all done.

About The Authors...

Jones Loflin is an internationally recognized speaker and corporate trainer. He has also helped many companies more effectively deal with change as a speaker for the bestselling book Who Moved My Cheese? He lives with his family in North Carolina. For more information about Jones, click here.

Todd Musig has more than twenty years of experience in training, marketing, and consulting at organizations such as Franklin-Covey and AchieveGlobal. He is currently the CEO of Previdence Corporation. He lives with his family in Utah.