Context...

I have an irrational attachment to the What-A-Burger hamburger. For those who have traveled South with me, you are familiar with the frequent and annoying detours to secure one of these toasted, jalape?oed, American-cheesed gems. My love for What-A-Burger stems from having a location within a mile of my childhood home. I played sports throughout the year and What-A-Burger was where my parents stopped after each game (football, baseball) or match (soccer, golf) and broke down the victory or loss. Game or match, win or loss, my parents sat with me to either temper my ego or pick me up. These were the best meals of my life, in many ways.

What-A-Burger has recently arrived in my new hometown of Kansas City (it took a Texas Native in Patrick Mahomes to make this happen). A couple of observations...the food is objectively average, as is the service. What I have been confusing as quality food is clouded by the context under which I have consumed it for years. I associate the feeling of childhood freedom, competition and unconditional love with that five-inch diameter of fast food. My burger belief has 40 years of persistency.?

If my parents turned something this average into something this great, think about how thoughtful we should be about how we carry ourselves with family, friends and co-workers. Do we allow them the freedom to experience life? Do we let them compete and experience the thrill of victory AND the agony of defeat? Do we love them enough be indifferent to their outcomes but supportive of their process??

Reality is not a function of the event as event, but the relationship of that event to past, and future, events. - Robert Penn Warren

Everyone knows that person that shows up at your door or pops up on your cell...the one that creates the context for a positive experience even when the situation is objectively challenging. These people convert the What-A-Burgers in life into steak frites. Conversely, if you are controlling, judging or pampering, those in your 10 square foot radius will resent you. No matter how positive the scenario, it will be degraded by your presence.

Unfortunately, the door of context swings both ways. Strive to be the person for whom people are willing to open the door or answer the phone.?A voicemail greeting after a ring or two is a leading indicator of work to be done.