Confession time.
I have a lot in common with an eight year old boy.
Stick with me for a second because you just might too : )
In the 1990s Christmas classic The Santa Clause Tim Allen as Scott Calvin, a dry-humored divorcee, gives his disenchanted son Charlie what every child wants from Santa… dinner at Denny’s.
It’s Christmas Eve and Tim Allen woefully attempts to resurrect their evening after he flambéed and drenched their home-cooked meal in fire retardant. Despite Charlie’s protestations, the 24 hour American institution welcomes them to sit and dine.
Things were just starting to look up for Charlie until…he orders a chocolate milk and (gasp!) they’re out.
Soul leaving body.
Charlie casts his eyes down and, in a nasally/mouth-breathing whine, responds to the waitress:
“Plain milk’s fine…”
Look, I know this going to make me sound like a horrible person. But, here it goes. Even after years (over 25) - ever since I was about Charlie’s age - I still think “What an ungrateful little bastard.” Every. Single. Time. I watch that scene.
There I said it.
Okay okay, but seriously. More than just an opportunity for a cheap shot at an eight year old kid, this scene holds tremendous significance for me.
In fact,“Plain milk’s fine” has become a staple one-liner and a poignant image in our household.
Whenever we catch ourselves whining about something, Peter or I will simply say:
“Plain milk’s fine!”
(usually in a super nasally voice for added effect)
A few chuckles later and we snap out of our whining. Back to being grateful for what we do have.
I never thought I’d say this, especially not after calling the kid a little bastard, but we have a lot in common.
You could say “I’ve pulled a Charlie” on more than one occasion. Not over a chocolate milk shortage, but 100% over similarly stupid shit.
Like I said, we have a lot in common, Charlie and I.
We…
Allow ourselves to be disappointed.
Fail to be grateful for what we do have.
Feel like we’re forced to settle for something undesirable.
Feel victimized by our situation, like things are happening to us and we have no choice.
Don’t embrace the opportunity to try something new like orange juice - What’s wrong with orange juice!?! Nothing. That’s what. Nothing is wrong with orange juice. If he didn’t want plain milk, why didn’t he just order some damn juice?!?!?!?
{sorry got a little heated back there. I’m better now}
Instead of responding “plain milk’s fine” with such a soul-crushing, everything’s-bad-nothing’s-good attitude, he could’ve taken the opportunity to:
A) Try something new, like orange juice (I promise, I won’t flip out again)
B) Go with plain milk, being grateful he won’t have to run to the toilet in 20 minutes because of the laxative effect of chocolate
C) Ask Dad what he would suggest, thereby making Dad feel like he doesn’t totally suck for making them celebrate Christmas Eve at Denny’s
D) Ask the waitress to surprise him and live a little dangerously
Look, I know you may think I’m over-analyzing the hell out of this scene but it’s so amazing how often I catch myself (AND others) sporting a similarly craptastic attitude.
Don’t leave me hanging…
Do you ever respond like a whiney, nasally Charlie at Denny’s on Christmas Eve when things don’t go the way you want? When life is gives you plain milk?
If so, you’re not alone.
And, great news! I can stop being a whiney little bastard ANY TIME I WANT.
I know this may sound wild but sometimes I forget that little fact. Sometimes I forget that I can choose TO BE a whiney little bastard. And I can choose to NOT BE a whiney little bastard.
You are a powerful, mighty being with the ability to choose how to respond to all situations.
You are so incredibly capable I can’t even stand it.
You don’t have to settle. For anything.
If you choose plain milk, then drink that shit up. And do it with joy.
Because, seriously. Plain milk is fine.
Or you can make the wise choice and go with OJ : )
—Lauren
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Episode #23 Demystifying the Path to Big Tech: Insights From a 3x FAANG Engineer with Andy Wong
In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon pulls back the curtain a little on the world of big tech with three-time FAANG engineer, Andy Wong. Despite his impressive software engineering career at Google, Amazon, and Meta/Facebook, what sets Andy apart is his unconventional background. As an English and Psychology major who transitioned into tech through a coding bootcamp, Andy offers a refreshing perspective on achieving success in the industry without a traditional Computer Science degree.
Andy humbly attributes much of his journey to luck and being in the right place at the right time, debunking the myth of overnight success. He shares invaluable insights on how to prepare for FAANG interviews, emphasizing the importance of leveraging online resources and staying persistent.
One of the most surprising revelations from Andy is the mutual admiration between startups and big tech organizations. While startups often idolize big tech, Andy reveals that the reverse is also true, shedding light on the symbiotic relationship between these entities.
Throughout the conversation, Andy demystifies the aura surrounding big tech, offering a refreshingly human perspective on what it's like to work in these renowned organizations. His circuitous journey from liberal arts to tech is not only inspiring but also a testament to the diverse paths one can take to achieve success in the industry.
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