A Fruit or A Piece of Fruit? A lesson in differences and rolling with it

It started as a lighthearted debate in my household.

I handed my partner an apple, which she called a piece of apple.?

I firmly declared that holding an apple or a mandarin meant holding a fruit. My partner, Adele, rolled her eyes and countered, “No, you’re holding a piece of fruit.”?

Surely, I was right. I mean, it’s obvious… isn’t it?

Confidently, I took the debate to LinkedIn, being an influencer of sorts. What better place to settle an argument than the internet’s professional peanut gallery? Little did I know, this simple question would spiral into philosophical chaos.

I saw partners, co-founders and friends voting differently, while others voted the same. I saw people vote and delete votes, others were changing their votes. What was happening?

And the comments rolled in - logical breakdowns, passionate defences and a fair share of wit. Some pointed out that "a fruit" was about the whole, while "a piece of fruit" was about the piece. Others decided to throw both into the blender of relativity. All the while, Adele sat back, moving between rolling her eyes and smirking, as I realised I was holding onto my argument as tightly as I was holding that hypothetical apple.

Now that we have the results, the poll didn’t settle the debate but it taught me something bigger. As much as I know I am right - so right - the responses reminded me that there are different perspectives, all equally valid (no matter how much I may not want to admit it). This wasn’t about winning. This is about listening, learning and accepting differences - even when they challenge my logic and views.

Whether it’s people, customers, or stakeholders, this little fruit fight highlighted something crucial - great experiences come from embracing all of it. The whole, the pieces and everything in between. The perspectives that make us pause. The ideas that challenge our own. The moments that bring unexpected laughter and learning.

So, here’s where I’ve landed - both are right. Sometimes, we need to roll our eyes at ourselves and realise that debate and a willingness to unlearn what we believe makes us better. In a world where we consistently have binary thoughts and views pushed onto us, it’s nice to be reminded that we can have it all, and by embracing it all, we all become better.

… Now, I have moved on to consider whether a straw has one hole or two. I’m debating whether I should bring Adele into this internal monologue.