Using the Ludic to Define a Strategic Plan

The Parable of the Unmotivated Ant, A Project Manager

“Every day, an ant arrived at the office early and worked hard. The ant was productive and happy. 

The wasp manager found it strange that the ant worked without supervision. If it was productive without supervision, it would be even more so if it were supervised. And he appointed a cockroach, who prepared beautiful reports and had a lot of experience, as its supervisor. 

The cockroach’s first concern was to standardise the ant’s arrival and departure times. Soon, the cockroach needed a secretary to help prepare the reports, and a spider was hired to organise the files and control the phone calls. 

The wasp was delighted with the cockroach’s reports and asked for graphs with indicators and an analysis of the trends that were shown in meetings. The cockroach then hired a fly and bought a computer with a colour printer. Soon, the productive and happy ant began to complain about all that paperwork and meetings! 

The wasp concluded that it was time to create the position of manager for the area where the productive and happy ant worked. The position was given to a grasshopper, who ordered carpeting in her office and a special chair to be purchased. The new grasshopper manager soon needed a computer and an assistant, the flea (her assistant at the previous company) to help her prepare a strategic plan for improvements and budget control for the area where the ant worked, who was no longer humming and was becoming more and more upset every day. 

The grasshopper then convinced the wasp manager that a climate survey was needed. However, upon reviewing the finances, the wasp realised that the unit where the ant worked was no longer performing as well as before and hired the owl, a prestigious and famous consultant, to diagnose the situation. The owl stayed in the offices for three months and issued a voluminous report, with several volumes, which concluded: There are too many people in this company! 

And guess who the wasp fired? 

The ant, of course, because she was very unmotivated and upset.” 

The Parable of the Unmotivated Ant: A Project Manager's Journey Towards New Direction

Several people must have already read this parable, which I read and decided to take a new direction, still without an ending. 

After being fired, the ant, who was also a project management specialist, lamented for a while about the injustice suffered, at least in her eyes. She spent months introspecting and searching for explanations for the perhaps inexplicable. 

After the phase of revolts and questions, she realised that she could do some things that she didn't have time to do before, because she was involved in her daily routine. 

Rediscovering Strength and Purpose

She knew she could lift 100 times her weight, but she needed to think about how to use that to his advantage, being just a little ant, in quantity and way. 

Due to circumstances, she returned to studying, reading more, researching and envisioning other horizons in other market segments. Over time, she began to learn the meaning of the word entrepreneur and to have an even more managerial vision. 

In one of her moments of reflection, she had the idea of ​​creating her own business. Something that only seemed obvious after years of toil. 

Defining the Strategic Plan

It was necessary to define the strategic plan and put it into practice, she looked for some tools and decided to use the Business Model Canvas. But, what would your business be? What would be the scope? So many unanswered questions. For now. 

One fine day, talking to another ant, she heard the following sentence: 

“My business is not a small thing. Either I want the world, or I want nothing.” 

A snap or, for those who prefer, an insight. The scope was defined. 

She thought of something that didn't exist. But, what?

After reading so much, she also decided to write, following the suggestion of a third ant. In a quick calculation, she realised that the three of them together would be able to support an even greater weight than she could alone. WOW, mathematics, always it. 

The size was no longer a barrier. 

But, despite the discovery of a new skill, writing, she was not content with doing what so many were already doing in his environment and in the same way. She thought of something serious, but not unsmilling. In the middle of an article, she received a message on WhatsApp, it was another one of her friends who always sent jokes, this time with a drawing. 

Defining the Focus: Humor and Playfulness

New snap or insight. Humour and playfulness. The focus and form were defined. 

Excited by the avalanche of ideas, she listed partners, defined activities, sought resources, defined how she would add value to what already existed, what the relationship with customers would be like, what channels she would use, which segments she would attack, what the costs involved would be and how she would have any revenue. Phew. Early morning, it was time to sleep. 

Reaching the World with Limited Resources

With few financial resources, she thought about how to reach the world without money and read one of these readings. WOW, reading, always it. 

“Creativity is more important than knowledge.” 

Its main partners are spread across the globe. And how to reach them? 

The first step would be to know where they are.

There were many, and she would have to do a lot of work like a little ant. 

Taking Action: Building Partnerships

New snap or insight, she remembered that she was a little ant, so obvious. 

Therefore, the work would be nothing more than what she was used to, but at this time, for her own benefit. 

One by one, more than 300 partners were contacted, and 365 days went by. Ants of various nationalities and cultures brought with them a wealth of knowledge, and with each interaction, more was gained. WOW, knowledge, always it. It doesn't take up space and makes a lot of difference. 

Innovation and Empathy: The Key to Success

Between questions and quick acceptance, her product appeared in several countries because it was innovative. WOW, innovation, always it. Often confused with novelty, it was accepted almost instantly. But it was empathy and the ability to connect that was what really drew us in. The human factor became a mirror. 

With each country reached, the motivation grew alongside the progress. A true citizen of the world.

The Journey Continues

The story does not end here, and the plan is still running its course; there is still a lot to be achieved. 

The message of this text is the determination of the ant. Obstinate, she began to see herself as great, to see herself shining, to see herself as a thinking being, to want more, to go after it, to give her opinion, to believe, to insist, to convince and to motivate herself. 

The employees of the company where the ant was fired say that she has an ambitious plan to found a company called Anthill and become a market reference in the world. 

Conclusion: The Power of Passion

The time will tell. 

"When you exude passion for your work, success is just a consequence."

The return to the dream, WOW the dream, it always keeping us alive. 

With a determination, WOW the  determination, it always there, that encourages us to start over as many times as necessary. Such resilience. 

With a goal, WOW the goal, always it, which once defined encourages us to look forward towards the horizon. Just like GEPLANUS.

The FAITH in VICTORY must be UNSHAKABLE!