My first own written parable (might need significant improvement, but hey please be fair, I am working on new skills)
A man has a business and his business is going badly at the moment.
But he has to buy new shoes soon and there is no money.
This is how the man thinks: "I cut off my toes, then smaller shoes fit and they certainly cost less money!" (Initiative GEO / FEI). Made and done. But the man finds that the smaller shoe number costs as much money as the larger pair of shoes. Now the man has new shoes, has spent just as much money. But can no longer dance and do sports.
When he needs new shoes next year, the man thinks: "I'll have a leg amputated, then I only need one shoe and that's definitely cheaper than 2 shoes". Said and done (Above Field reduction in previous years). But the man has to realize that the shoe sellers never sell only one shoe. And so he pays for a shoe, the full price. Can only go on crutches and in the end has saved nothing.
And that's why he decides next year to have his second leg amputated so he doesn't have to spend money on shoes. Done and done (Actual lay-off season). Unfortunately, however, he finds that he can no longer walk. And that the wheelchair is even more expensive than many pairs of shoes.
Customers now come back to the store more often. But the man can no longer walk and he can no longer climb the ladder to get to the upper shelves. So he is not able to satisfy his Customer. And so many customers go again. And don't come back this time. The man has to close his shop.
WE (the “normal” employees) ARE THE LEGS (the brains, the hearts how else you like to name it) of ExxonMobil. Nobody else! And we are amputate well trained legs (able to run always the famous extra miles – even if not receiving the incentives) now to be replaced by what? EM values people? Maybe, but only if they cost nothing and are not questioning anything. The company culture exists only between all the wonderful colleagues – always willing to help each other. But not between hierarchies. There is no positive or honest culture impulse coming from the top. How this company should develop a future? WE ARE EXXONMOBIL!