The Balloonist and the Bystander

To all fellow engineers - A fitting tale of our lives.....

A man flying in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced height and spotted a man down below. He descended a bit further and shouted,

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees north latitude and between 58 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.

"I am," replied the man, "but how did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "Everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information and the fact is I am still lost."

The man below responded, "You must be a manager."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "You don't know where you are or where you are going.

You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."