I assume you're ready for a donut

Friends,

A lifetime ago, as a first year MBA student, my macroeconomics professor asked what price I would pay for a business. I think he wanted to use my answer in an analogy to the overall economy. Unfortunately, having steered clear of business classes as an undergrad, it would be generous to say my understanding of corporate valuation methodologies was remedial. So, I did what any self-confident twenty five year old might, I blurted out the first answer that came to mind. An answer I thought might be directionally correct. An answer, it turns-out, so wrong the profesor rolled his eyes and made some patronizing remark about yours truly. In hindsight, I think he assumed this was a softball question, one any MBA student worth his salt would have handled better. A flawed assumption. Over time folks have assumed many things about me. They assume I'm not González because of the way I look and talk. They assume I've never ridden a bucking bronco because of my career choices. They assume I share their biases and prejudices because I don't go running for the hills at the first off-color joke. While it's natural to assume others share our values, our knowledge and our background, many don't. So the next time someone fails a "basic" question, be kind. Their background may be different than yours. Nothing a little patience, some coffee and a donut can't fix. If you're lucky you may both learn something from each other.

Happy Friday!

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Friday Donuts

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