The Nun Strategy

“A sniper wouldn’t shoot at a nun driving a school bus.”

That line came from a steel worker under Jack Stack before he led Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation (SRC).

Jack tells the story in his book The Great Game of Business.

Years ago, he was a young leader at the International Harvester plant in Illinois. They were bringing steel in from Gary, Indiana.

Truck drivers were getting shot at on the highway (in the 70’s, look it up!).

If the steel didn’t arrive, production stopped.
If production stopped, workers went home without pay.

He didn’t know what to do.

So he pulled five guys into a room and said,
“I’m in a bind. I don’t know how to solve this. Help me figure it out.”

One of them said, “They wouldn’t shoot at school buses, would they?”

Another said, “They wouldn’t shoot at nuns driving them.”

So that is exactly what they did.

They rented a school bus.
Dressed up grisly steel-working men like nuns.
Loaded the steel.
Made the delivery.

Production continued.

It flipping worked.

Two lessons for us missional-minded agents and business owners.

1. Leadership is not having all the answers.

Sometimes leadership is saying,
“I don’t know.”

Dropping the ego.
Bringing the problem into the room.
Trusting the collective wisdom around you.

That takes courage.

Too many isolate when they feel stuck.

They pretend they are fine.
They spin in their own head.

They delay action because they do not want to look weak.

Strong leadership often looks like inviting help.

2. If it matters, you will find a way.

If it does not matter, you will find an excuse.

“We’re getting shot at” sounds like a pretty good excuse.

And yet… they found a way.

In real estate, the bullets look different.

• Rates are high
• Inventory is low
• Buyers are scared
• Sellers are hesitant
• I am not sure what to say

All reasonable.

But the question is not whether the obstacle is real.

The question is whether the mission matters.

If helping families move forward matters…
If building a healthy business matters…
If serving your community matters…

Then you will find a way.

You might have to ask for help.
You might have to step outside your comfort zone.

You might even have to dress up like a nun…and rent a school bus.

But there is a way.

Here is the reflection for this week:

Where do you feel stuck, when what you really need is the humility to ask for help and the courage to find a way?

You are not alone.

Drop the ego.
Bring the problem into the room.
And let’s find a way forward.

If I can be one of the guys you drag into a room, I’m ready to help. 

In your corner,

Chris