Probably one of the hardest challenges in working life is navigating people issues. There is a convoluted tangle between ambition, hidden agenda, greed, pride and lust for power (among other things).
Last night, the little bear was trying to make porridge for the family. It was a very adult thing to do, and Little Bear felt very responsible and grown up. "Let's see," thought Little Bear, "Mama said to put salt AND pepper", and so he did. The porridge looked very nice when it was cooked, and so very proudly, Little Bear presented his concoction to Mama and Papa bear.
"Here you go, mama and papa! I took the initiative to make you porridge, seeing that you're tired from a day of foraging in the forest!"
"Excellent! I'm hungry!" roared Papa bear, and he grabbed a big bowl and gulped it down, before coughing and throwing it all up on the floor. "What is this slop?", Papa bear growled. "It's too salty! It tastes like sea water mixed with mud!"
Mama bear took a little taste of the porridge. "Well it *is* a little salty, Little. Try soy sauce in the future." (because they were oriental grizzlies)
"You said salt, didn't you, mama?" asked Little Bear, confused and embarassed, for the neighbours were already crowding around the den to see what the commotion was about.
"That might have been another recipe, honey," replied Mama bear, "I've always used soy sauce."
"Perhaps," said Little Bear, sorely disappointed at the lack of appreciation.
Later that evening, Little Bear trawled through the recipe book, and found that it WAS salt, and not soy sauce. Mama must have adjusted the recipe to suit the taste of oriental grizzly bears, but Little Bear never really knew. However, that was the last time Little Bear would try something like cooking again, for the bears who stood to benefit were not appreciative, the information was only shared in a small group of like minded bear cooks (although unintentional), and Little Bear was publicly humiliated, and afraid to try anything new again.
