This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Moral of the story: make sure you identify WHO is responsible for everything you request. Don’t send an email addressed to a group of people and expect that any one of those people will just assume responsibility. Just because it’s important to you, doesn’t mean it’s important to the people you sent your email to. Focus your attention on an individual, and confirm their acceptance of responsibility.