I once worked for a zombie startup*.

At one point, the “leadership” team decided they needed to just get away and do some real soul searching. A candid mandate was issued that everyone read Creativity Inc in the next three days.

They travelled to an old west dude ranch in Arizona, the team met to discuss the changes that had already taken place: The removal of the CIO and COO, as the company tightened its belt in a desperate attempt to “get organized” and “make a plan”.

Someone was ordered to pick up a dozen hatchets from the general store for the meeting. On each hatchet, each “leader” was to name their hatchet with sharpie marker. Later on the team would proceed out into the desert where they would burry all of their hatchets. (A team building exercise that had clearly been recommended by the business coach).

As I was the most senior technology person on staff following the dismissal of the CIO, I wasn’t invited to the meeting. But the hatchets showed up on Monday at the office. Intrigued, I picked up the first one I came across.

Written across the face of the hatchet in the CEO’s handwriting, “The Best”.

Either the team couldn’t figure out how to dig a hole in the desert (possible) or they were too lazy to try (likely).

Either way, The Best™ hatchet is still doing fine work for me.

*Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be construed as a recommendation to bring a hatchet to a zombie fight.