Perception Of Youth

I’m the youngest of my siblings.

As I approach middle-age it is interesting to observe how my older siblings react at times.

My brother was in a recent negotiation with his boss over some contractual employment issues.

“Mind if I offer some coaching advice?” I asked. And when my brother agreed, I laid out a strategy and a detailed road map of how to move forward through the contract negotiation. All sound advice that I would give to any one of the start-ups I advise, and actionable items that I charge between $200 and $500 an hour for.

My brother sat there in silence looking like what he had expected to be a rabbit had actually turned out to be a snake that had just bit him.

My brother still thinks of me as the greasy, long-haired, 15 year old kid tinkering with motorcycles in the garage rather than as an executive who guided several multi-hundred-million dollar enterprises to success.

Perceptions aren’t just coloured by what we see today, but by what we saw yesterday, the day before that, and years ago.