• 0

Marketoonist | Tom Fishburne

Marketoonist is the thought bubble of Tom Fishburne. Marketing cartoons, content marketing with a sense of humor, keynote speaking.

  • Campaigns
  • Speaking
  • About
  • Cartoons
  • Contact
  • Book
  • 0

(out of) control freak

April 27, 2008

  • Paid licensing options include high resolution download.
  • Presentation $40 Add to Cart
  • Newsletter or Website $125 Add to Cart
  • Corporate Blog/Sponsored Post $60 Add to Cart
  • Looking for other licensing options? click here
  • View Cart
TweetLinkedInFacebookEmail

080428control

It’s been a while since I poked fun at senior management.  I heard someone described as a "control freak" recently, and it struck me that there was actually another type, the "out-of-control-freak".  A senior manager who assumes total control of a project or area, but actually doesn’t have the time or interest to really understand it. 

It made me think of this funny dynamic that happens when a project becomes either a raging success or a dismal failure.   People seem to climb out of the woodwork to claim partial credit for a successful project.  Yet a failed project is often pinned to a few scapegoats.

When I was at General Mills, it seemed like everyone I talked to had played a hand in the launch of Go-Gurt (which was the posterchild of successful innovation).  But, I never found anyone who worked on Wahoos (which cratered soon after launch).  It’s human nature of course.  It just cracks me up how some senior managers can be removed enough to escape retribution from the failures yet still take personal credit for the successes.  When, of course, you can learn from both (often you learn more from the failures than the successes).

Filed Under: management

  • Paid licensing options include high resolution download.
  • Presentation $40 Add to Cart
  • Newsletter or Website $125 Add to Cart
  • Corporate Blog/Sponsored Post $60 Add to Cart
  • Looking for other licensing options? click here
  • View Cart
Your Ad Ignored Here Book Image

15 years of Marketoonist compiled for your marketing pleasure.

Order Now

About Marketoonist

Marketoonist is the thought bubble of Tom Fishburne a career marketer and cartoonist. Learn More...

Browse Blog Posts

Most Popular Cartoons Browse Categories

Marketoon Campaigns

contentmarketing

Content marketing with a sense of humor.

Learn More

Keynote Speaking

speakingworkshops

Insightful, funny, and visual keynote talks and workshops.

Book Tom to Speak

Search Blog Posts

Interested? Let’s Talk!

Footer Form - Let's Talk

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Marketoons

Browse Categories
Spacing Things Out

About Marketoonist

Tom Fishburne is the Founder and CEO of Marketoonist, a content marketing studio that helps businesses reach their audiences with cartoons.

© 2025 Marketoonist