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Recently I was sitting down with a couple of my grandchildren and we were reading one of the greatest classics of all time; The Cat in the Hat, By Dr. Seuss. I’m sure you are familiar with the literary genius of this fine work. As I was reading this again after so many years…I came to the conclusion that this was most likely my first introduction to Risk Management. You may recall the following excerpts from this story.

But our fish said, “No! No!

Make that cat go away!

Tell that Cat in the Hat   

You do NOT want to play.

He should not be here.

He should not be about.

He should not be here

When your mother is out!”

 

“Now! Now! Have no fear.

Have no fear!” said the cat.

“My tricks are not bad,”

Said the Cat in the Hat. 

Let me interrupt here and ask a simple question;

In your company, are you the “Fish” or the “Cat in the Hat”?

 

“Why, we can have

Lots of good fun, if you wish,

With a game that I call

UP-UP-UP with a fish!” 

“Put me down!” said the fish.

“This is no fun at all!

Put me down!” said the fish.

“I do NOT wish to fall!” 

“Have no fear!” said the cat.

“I will not let you fall.

I will hold you up high

As I stand on a ball.

With a book on one hand!

And a cup on my hat!

But that is not ALL I can do!’

Said the cat…     

Look at me,

Look at me now, said the cat

With a cup and cake

On the top of my hat

I can hold up two books,

I can hold up the fish

And a little toy ship

And some milk in a dish 

And look,

I can hop up and down on the ball,

And that’s not all!

Oh, no.

That is not all…

Look at me!

Look at me!

Look at me now!

It is fun to have fun

But you have to know how. 

I can hold up the cup

And the milk and the cake!

I can hold these books!

And the fish on a rake       

I can hold the toy ship

And a little toy man! 

And look! With my tail

I can hold a red fan!

As I hop on the ball!

But that is not all

Oh, no.

That is not all…” 

That is what the cat said…

Then he fell on his head!

He came down with a bump

From up there on the ball,

And Sally and I,

We saw ALL the things fall!

Often times in today’s highly competitive business environment many organizations may feel like the “Cat in the Hat”; bouncing up and down on a ball, while balancing all of the key elements of running your business. Items like: Productivity, Profit, Waste, Potential Mergers, Competition, Supply Chain, Regulatory Compliance, Active Shooters, Commodity Costs, Accounts Receivables, Worker Safety, Payroll…and much, much more. Admit it the only thing missing from all you’re juggling may be the talking fish.

And sometimes…to complicate issues even more; when you delegate you may sometimes feel like you have Thing 1, and Thing 2 running around creating more havoc than help.

Let’s face it; the Cat in the Hat was extremely talented to balance as long as he did on that ball. And most business owners and executives are equally as talented, but there are times when even the best are going to stumble and drop the “fish”.

When that happens, the successful organizations…those that can quickly recover…are the ones that have planned and are prepared. Just like in the book; when the fish sees their Mother coming home, panic sets in momentarily as Sally and her brother (and the fish), examine the wake of destruction left by the Cat and Thing 1 and Thing 2. Then suddenly, in comes the Cat in the Hat, he calms their concerns and with a magical machine he repairs, replaces and restores everything back to its proper place.

I came to the conclusion that a sound Risk Management strategy can have the same benefits of the Cat in the Hat’s magical machine. A pro-active Risk Management strategy can help organizations be prepared for crisis when they occur and help expedite the recovery time. If you would like some help evaluating or building your Risk Management strategy please give me a call. Because, honestly… If you are like many organizations there are times you may feel like you’re balancing on top of a ball.

Management of Risk

Management of Risk

Some wave their hands

And mutter tsk, tsk, tsk.  

But those with a strategy

Those with a plan

Are the same organizations

That upon their feet they will land 

Ignore if you must

Ignore if you wish

But Risk Management Strategies

Out preform talking fish.

(Not by Dr. Seuss)              

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