Leadership story: How can words “Not my problem” take down a queen

Once upon a time, a queen sat on her balcony eating rice cakes and honey with her chief advisor. As they ate, they gazed down at the busy street below. The Queen pointed to something in the distance, and as she did a drop of honey from her rice cake landed on the balcony railing. “My Queen, you have spilled a drop of honey,” observed the advisor. “Shall I call a servant to come and clean it up?” But the queen laughed, “A little drop of honey is NOT MY PROBLEM. Someone will clean it later.”

They went on eating and talking as the drop of honey warmed in the sun and began to slowly drip down the side of the railing until it landed in the street below with a plop! “Your Highness,” the advisor said, “that drop of honey has now fallen into the street, where it is attracting flies. Shouldn’t we call a servant to come and clean it up?” But again the queen yawned and replied, “A little drop of honey and a few flies are… NOT MY PROBLEM. Someone will deal with it later.”

Soon a lizard darted out from underneath the palace wall and began to catch the flies with her tongue. Then a cat sprang from the baker’s shop and began to bat the lizard back and forth like a toy. After a few moments, a dog charged out from the butcher’s shop and began to bite the cat on the neck. “Your Highness, ” the advisor implored, “now the…