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Listen to hear a timeless fable, useful in business situations where great ideas face real-world challenges and execution matters.

In Episode 242 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn and Mark discuss a classic fable, Belling the Cat, and explore its value in a business context.

While fables aren’t typically at the forefront of business storytelling, this one carries a powerful lesson about the gap between ideas and execution.

Mark shares a personal story about hearing this fable used effectively in a high-stakes corporate setting, demonstrating how storytelling can provide a safe way to challenge ideas without being confrontational.

They also discuss when and how fables can be used sparingly in business storytelling, the differences between fables and parables, and how young professionals can leverage these timeless tales when they lack personal experience to draw from.

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For your story bank

Tags: Storytelling, Communication, Influence, Decision-Making, Fable

This story starts at 3:24

A group of mice gathered in a grand council, desperate to solve their biggest problem—the cat. The cat was their greatest threat, always lurking, always unpredictable, and always dangerous.

The mice debated many ideas, but none seemed quite right. Then, a young mouse stood up and proposed a brilliant solution: “What if we tie a bell around the cat’s neck? That way, we’ll always hear it coming and have time to escape!”

Excitement swept through the group. The idea was clever, simple, and seemed to solve their problem perfectly. The mice applauded the young mouse for his ingenuity, celebrating what felt like a breakthrough.

But then, an old and wise mouse stood up and asked a simple question: “This is an excellent plan, but may I ask—who will bell the cat?”

Silence fell over the room. The mice glanced at one another, suddenly realising the danger and impracticality of the task. No one wanted to take on the job, and without someone to execute the plan, their brilliant idea was useless.

And so, the meeting ended, and the mice went back to living in fear of the cat—just as they had before.