A couple of years ago, I was complaining to a very successful, business owner friend of mine. The complaint was about how difficult it was to move a particularly entrenched bureaucracy. It was a case of one step forward, two steps back.

He said, “They can’t help it, they are a’ama crabs.”

To which I said, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“When you go catch a’ama crabs, all you need is a five gallon bucket to keep them in. You throw them in the bucket and as one starts to get to the top to escape, the others pull him back down. It’s what they do. You are dealing with a’ama crabs.”

When you find yourself dealing with a’ama crabs, don’t take in personally. Build the system, support the few people that on board from the crabs, and understand that you have to drive the change because the a’ama crabs don’t have the capacity.

Also, if you find yourself dealing with an organizational a’ama crab mentality, I would have a big ceremonial crab boil. Boldly confront the mindset and challenge you people to move up the evolutionary ladder.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Just a reminder for existing LYS readers and an invitation to new LYS readers, Sunday is advice day. Send me your favorite piece of advice and why, along with your mailing address. If I post it, I’ll send you a world famous Lead Your School can koozie.

Your turn…