Scott’s Yacht, Choosing to be Your True Self, The Hierarchy of Victimhood

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.

Good morning how are you? From my calendar, it is a Wednesday; I hope you are tracking the same. I slept great and snuggled with my wife, but it’s time to make the doughnuts, so here we grow! Another great day yesterday; I had a couple of virtual morning meetings, then Bay came over, and we hung out and headed to meet some long-time clients.

I set the meeting at an expensive restaurant on Meridian; it was our first in-person meeting in two years; hell yes, we are going swanky.  We met and caught up; the young lady has a twelve-year-old; I met her when the child was incubating.  The young man has a kid on the way; it’s refreshing when people decide to keep the unborn child instead.

We left there, and I headed home; Bay worked a little before heading home. I got an UBER and headed to see my long-time friend Scott.  We were in a peer group together years ago; he’s a whiz kid, successful at 30. I watched him grow a company and think he is one of the most intelligent people I know. Unbeknownst to me, he recently bought a yacht.

My Uber driver, Steve, was a kind man and had three adult kids, two grandchildren, and two young kids. He shared he almost lost his wife to COVID, and his young daughter had her tonsils taken out in the morning. We chatted the entire ride, and before I got out, I asked Steve to make a promise. I said, “here is $40.00” buy your wife flowers and your kid ice cream. He smiled, I purchased a smile for $40.00, and I suggest you look to do the same.

I arrived and met Scott at the gate of the Yacht club, we boarded his boat, and he had bought me Tito’s and club soda. We had a couple of drinks and cruised the lake, I saw a pigeon in prison and some birds nesting, and we shared stories of our business adventures.  I got an UBER home, and my driver was from Haiti. He had been here three years, and it was his daughter’s birthday. When he dropped me off, I gave him $20.00 and said, “this is for the birthday girl.”

I’m jammed today; I’m working with my wife and team. I have a few appointments; I’ve decided to go clear for the next twenty days, no booze, just clarity, I’ve got some big happenings, and I need my brain. Let me share a story that may or may not be accurate.

Bryan was a handsome man, 25, thin, and a runner since high school; he had graduated from a local college after serving time in the military. He began interviewing, and time and time again, he was told he “didn’t fit the role.”  The more he looked, the more frustrated he became. One day he saw a Facebook ad for the job he had previously been denied, and they said they would prioritize LGBTQUILITPQ+ applications.  Bryan had an idea.

At that point, Bryan decided he was a woman. He bought a dress, picked a wig, shaved his beard, and had his girlfriend add some makeup, and he went to interview for the job. His resume had one small change; instead of Bryan, his name was now Brianna. Same last name, same experience. Also, he added his pronouns were They, Them.  Aside from those two changes, everything else was the same.

The interview was on Thursday afternoon; his girlfriend dropped him off and kissed him before walking into floor 10. His dress was simple, he wore flats, and he had padded his chest and walked with a slight sway as his girlfriend had instructed. The interviewee noticed when Brianna walked in; his eyes lit up, “Welcome, are you here for the interview?” “I am,” said Brianna in his now very soft voice.  The young man laughed loudly; I think you will be perfect!

The young man steered the candidate to the “interview room” and began asking questions. From your resume, it looks like you have all the qualifications for the job.  Brianna, who had luckily had another person interview he/him the first time, was connecting with this new interviewer.  He asked, “I noticed your pronouns are They/Them. Are you transitioning? No, Brianna, I feel like a woman. I might later; I’m just living my true self.

Marvelous asked the interviewer. “What do you like to do in your spare time?”  “Well…” said Brianna, I love YOGA (factual) and hanging out with my partner (not a lie), and I love going to the local farmer’s market. Brianna did not like the farmer’s market, but he/his girlfriend did, so he did embellish that part of his new self.

“I love the farmers market too!” exclaimed the interviewer.

The interviewer asked, “Why did you leave your last job? I noticed that was a couple of months ago.” Brianna answered, “They would not accept me as my true self.” “I see; the world likes to bully those being true to themselves.” Brianna smiled and thought, so true.

The interviewer looked at the person and said, “you got the job!” Brianna was over the moon. “Really?” she said? “Yes, you check every box management instructed. Can you start on Monday?” Brianna answered, “Heck yes!” Brianna landed a job, and her girlfriend would be so proud. The following Monday, Brianna showed up, but like Bryan, management was a little confused and asked, “who are you?” Bryan said, “Brianna, but today I’ve decided to be my true self.”

We live in an exciting time when jobs are awarded not based on qualifications but based on the color of one’s skin and how one identifies. I missed the days when people were judged for their character and not for how many boxes they checked on the hierarchy of victimhood.  Be like Bryan, rig the system to your favor, and be your true self. Insert drum snare.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Martin Luther King Jr.