“When
you see a turtle on a fencepost you know it didn't get there by itself.” -
Anonymous
Do not be
a post turtle. Always be in your space. A turtle on a fencepost is not a
success, but a failure.
Do you
know who is a ‘post turtle’?
Any
old US rancher may explain the phrase like this: "When you're driving down
a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a
post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself. He doesn't belong
there; he can't get anything done while he's up there; and you just want to
help the poor, dumb thing down."
Usually
politicians who are placed on high positions they do not deserve are described
as ‘post turtle’. Election season provides endless opportunity for this old
jape.
The phrase "post turtle" can be applied to any seeker of
high office who is attempting to rise above his native abilities and if
successful he would be as out of place as a turtle on a fence post.
We are not sure of the exact definition of the phrase "post
turtle”. Meaning varies a bit from telling to telling. Some variants are quoted
below:
"Well, you know that turtle didn't get up there by himself.
Someone's got to have put him up there. And if there's one thing you know, it's
sooner or later that turtle's going to fall." (Associated Press, August
2008)
"You know he didn't get up there by himself, and he sure as
heck doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do up there and you just
wonder what kind of an idiot put him up there in the first place." (Monterey
County Herald, July 2008)
"It sure doesn't belong there, it didn't get there by itself
and now that it's there it doesn't know what to do." (Buffalo News,
April 2001)
"Ya' know he didn't get there by himself, he don't belong there,
he can't get anything done while he's up there, and you just want to help take
the poor thing down." (Chattanooga Times Free Press, March 2001)
Putting all the definitions of ‘post turtle’ to a crucible may
deliver the meaning as more or less like this: It is any person who has been
placed on a high post where he does not belong by merit and hence is destined
to fail soon or later.
This can happen in politics, family business, corporate business,
job, social organizations etc. One may take it for an instant success. But
unmerited success is worse than failure. We are seeing many family business and
corporate business tumbling down as the leadership changes. One may have many
abilities except the particular ability needed for the particular post. Failure
happens here not because he has no abilities, but because he is in the wrong
space. A turtle when it is on a fencepost is in the wrong place.
Success is not reaching the top of the ladder; it is reaching the
top of “your ladder”. It is reaching the ladder steps where you can sustain
success. It is conquering the mountain with your own ability not on borrowed
support. It is standing on your feet not supported by others.
All else are failure; worse than failure.
Professor Jacob Abraham
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