When initially starting a company, most key employees tend to be both map writers and runners as there is no alternative, no one else to take action and run the courses charted. Chart your own map, sprint to the end, collect your reward, chart the next course and repeat the process. The longer the course, the more complex the map, the greater the reward in the end.

At some point, a map is drawn and handed to a separate runner; no longer the writer himself, a new runner who sprints to the end, collects their winnings, brings home the prize and waits for the next map. While the runner moves to the end of the map, the writer is left to create a new map for the next runner. Inevitably there comes a point where there are too many maps and not enough runners, where all available runners are out in the field and the writer is left holding more and more maps, waiting for the first available runner. In learning the trade of map creation, the writer gets very good at creating the maps, and is able to quickly create longer and more complex maps to maximize the forward movement and size of reward earned by each runner. With all runners out in the field, more maps piling up and still, maps longer than ever continue to get created. What then? Should the writer stop and wait until the runners get caught up? Should he create more maps despite the lack of runners? Should he push for more runners regardless of the fact that the runners in the field have yet to return with their rewards?

While waiting for the runners to return, a fellow map writer walks by and asks why he continues to create more longer and more complex maps. This map writer continues to probe and asks what is being done while the runners are away, how he is surviving without a fresh lot of winnings, what is he doing to pay the bills and hold down the fort while the runners are away. To which he replies; it is not my role to ensure that the bills are paid while the runners are gone; my role is to create maps and hand them to runners. The time of me running my own maps has past; there are others to do that now. I am the best map writer ever; I create the longest and most complex maps that fetch the highest rewards for the runners. Why should I be tasked with anything else? The fellow map writer suggests, why not create a short and simple map, stretch your legs and run it yourself; collect some reward and return with something to show other than a new map with no one to run it? By the time you return from your short run, you should have a runner or two returning with their winnings, ready to take new maps and run again. The writer has choices, he can respond in many ways.

The writer returns to his task and continues to create elaborate maps, awaiting the return of a runner with winnings. Finally, a runner returns, yet the winnings are less than expected. Not only are the winnings less, but the runner is exhausted and frustrated with the length and complexity of the map. Not sure if he can make it through another map, the runner decides to bow out and no longer run the maps created, opting for a different writer with shorter and less complex maps. Now what?! Less winnings and still no new runners, again, the writer has many choices to choose from.

A decision is reached, and the writer will meet with his fellow writers to discuss the next steps and find out what they are doing. Around the table they go, one stating the he is still writing more maps too, another that she has stopped writing but is still deciding what to do next, another is confused and not taking any action, while yet several others are taking action, writing short maps, running the course themselves, reaping consistent rewards and waiting for his runners to return. They reach the lead writer, the one responsible for managing all of the maps, the runners and the results brought in from each writer. With all runners in the field, few rewards coming in and less than expected results from those maps completed, he too has choices and decisions to make. Should the lead writer wait it out and see what happens? Should he stop some of the runners and tell them to go home, map incomplete with no winnings to show? Should he reduce the number of writers or re-task them with running again? Should he make it required that there be a mixture of short maps and long maps with reward to those writers who balance and succeed?

In the end it is his decision. While all others, writers and runners, have options to choose from, the decision of the lead writer must ultimately be followed and the roles created be filled. His job is to manage all of the maps and coordinate all of the runners. It is also his responsibility to ensure that all runners and writers are taken care of, well fed and rested for the next map. Decisions are made, reactions take place, options are given and the cycle repeats itself.

Tags: