An old story I’d almost forgotten resurfaced for me today. A guy who spent his entire career in the same company, in the same state, mostly in the same building, mostly with the same bosses who were of the same management philosophy once corrected me when I was talking by saying “yes, but in the real world…” It was the first time it became clear to me that “in the real world” could not only suggest that my views are naive, but that the speaker is from a very specific (and perhaps naive) context. It didn't have to be. Sometimes I am naive, but not every time. "In the real world" only meant that my experiences did not coincide with his, and therefore my sense of cause-and-effect seemed far different from the "laws of work" where he spent his time. I must have looked like an alien to him, as he did to me. The things I said about trust, team work, values, and practices sounded entirely unworkable because they didn't follow the rules of his control-...