The two images above were taken shortly after 13 of our service members fell in Afghanistan. There is a story behind them.
I live in a small town. Up until the past few years, it hadn't seen major development. Like many small towns, there is a bar that the locals frequent. My wife and I enjoy popping in on occasion to see familiar faces in our community—one of those faces we see more often than not. Let's call him Bill.
Bill likes to have a good time. He's a very kind and genuine guy. And I'll reiterate, he likes to have a good time. But on the afternoon of August 28th, Bill was not his usual self. The bar owner had set aside a table for the night and filled it with 13 beers. In front of each was a picture of a fallen service member. It was a very moving tribute—one that sticks. Bill spent a long time by himself in front of that table.
After 15 minutes or so, Bill went to the bar and got two double shots. He went back to the table, took down one, and placed the other at the head of the table. Then he came back to where my wife and I were sitting. I gave him a big hug. I don't know why other than he looked like he needed it. Some tears came out before he let go and pulled out his phone. He sat with us and scrolled through pictures of his time serving in the 108th Airborne Division. We had no idea that Bill was a veteran.
This experience reinforced a foundational lesson: never judge a book by its cover. Hard as that may be, it's imperative. When it comes to finding talent, the aperture needs to be wide. More light needs to be let in. More context needs to be gathered. Credentials alone don't paint an accurate picture. I care almost entirely about trajectory. Where did you start? What did you start with? How far have you come? And what obstacles did you have to fight through to be where you stand?
The experiences that answer those questions are the most important predictors of future performance. How hungry are you? Given the right environment, there will be plenty to eat.