A Man with a Plan

Over my past five years in leadership development I've read a lot about the importance of building a vision, laying a sound plan, of taking clear and decisive action, of delivering success. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the case-in-point, Mr John Robert Patterson of Sydney, Australia.

A FORMER Telstra worker (Australian telecoms company) stole a tank and used it to demolish six mobile phone towers as he led police on a wild two-hour rampage through western Sydney last night...

His former boss (and owner of the tank), Greg Morris, said the man had a beef with mobile phone towers...

"He used to work for Telstra and told us he was going through a medical claim for his head injury. He said something about the radiation from the towers had caused it," Mr Morris said.

"He actually worked on the tank he stole, doing a lot of wiring and putting the engine in."

"The problem he's got is not with us. It's just that it's the tool he needed to do it."

"So he planned out a map of where the towers were that he wanted to destroy."

At its maximum speed of 52km/h per hour, it continued on through the suburbs of Mount Druitt, Dharruk, Emerton, Glendenning and Plumpton with 10 police vehicles in pursuit.

The joyride ended at 4am when the vehicle stalled as the driver attempted to destroy a seventh mobile phone tower.

His defence lawyer Ivan Bertoia told the court that in a police interview his client" suggested he had the authority to behave in such a manner".

Extracts from news.com.au

He had a clear and relevant vision. He built a plan. He developed the necessary tools. He operated at maximum efficiency. He succeeded in surpassing the goals he set. He said that he had the authority to drive a tank around Sydney and smash down mobile phone towers. Many are called, few are chosen. Tank Commander Patterson- you are the leadership hero of the week.