3-4-25 Red Mike Message: The Assumption Trap

Welcome back to the Red Mike.

Happy Mardi Gras!

This is a delicate subject, and I ask that you make no assumptions—about me, my character, or my message. Instead, I urge you to take it in the spirit in which it is offered.

Performance should always speak louder than assumptions.

Lately, I’ve seen this debate come up a lot—especially in response to some of the president’s actions—about how we view qualifications. There are people on both ends of the spectrum:

• Some argue that if a person of color and a white person are in the same role or up for the same opportunity, we should assume the person of color is probably better qualified because they've had to work twice as hard for half the opportunity.
• On the other hand, some assume that a person of color is unqualified and was hired as part of a diversity initiative, DEI quota, or something similar—dismissing their achievements before even giving them a chance.

I reject both of these viewpoints. The only fair approach is to make no assumptions at all and evaluate people solely based on performance.

Assumptions Are a Trap

If you assume someone is unqualified based on their background, race, gender, or any other characteristic, that’s wrong. Likewise, if you assume someone is more qualified for those same reasons, that’s wrong too.

Black, white, Hispanic, male, female, gay, straight—it doesn’t matter. Everybody is different. Everybody has their own talents, their own abilities, and their own ways of bringing value to the table.

The right move isn’t to shift assumptions—it’s to eliminate them altogether.

Measure people by:

• Their results
• Their character
• Their work ethic

Not by preconceived notions—whether they come from you, society, or even the government.

I’ve said it a million times: I believe in fair competition. I recognize that people face different obstacles, but at the end of the day, success should be defined by what you do—not by what others assume about you.

That’s the standard I was raised on. The Boys & Girls Club taught me to believe in:

• Fair play – Judge people by their actions and effort.
• Honesty – Recognize both struggles and successes for what they truly are.
• Sportsmanship – Respect the game, win or lose, based on effort and results.

No Bias, No Assumptions—Just Results

It doesn’t matter what you think. It matters what you do. Don’t trade one bias for another. Be fair. No assumptions. No shortcuts. Just results.

That’s today's Red Mike Message.

I hope this resonates with you. I appreciate you all so much—thank you for being here.

And since it’s Mardi Gras, if you’re going out to celebrate, be smart. Get a designated driver or just stay safe.

Go out there, be smart, have a great day, and as always— Life is short. Drink the bourbon.

Red Mike Messages are leadership and life lessons I’ve picked up from 25 years as a public servant, 16 years as a youth football coach and scouting volunteer, and 10 years as a mediocre athlete with far more heart than actual physical ability.