CRASH!

That sound of metal meeting concrete at a Palm Desert gas station didn't just interrupt my call with Mom – it started a journey that would challenge everything I thought I knew about systems and self-interest.

An hour later, as I waited in the desert heat, I learned my first lesson in system that we forgot why it exists in the first place, and the ignorance that we have on both the system and ourselves.  

The tow truck driver worked in silence, methodically securing my car. It wasn't until I sat in his cabin that he opened up about what it's really like to work in today's "customer is always right" culture.

"Yesterday," he shared, eyes on the road, "someone demanded I unlock their car without proof of ownership. They couldn't understand why I refused." 

He explained their dispatch system – a central control room making all decisions. "Used to hate not having control. Now? Best defense against unreasonable demands."

Think about that. In an era where we constantly push against regulations and oversight, here was a street-level reminder of why systems matter.

Living Inside the Bubble, Unaware

The irony? As we neared my apartment, I caught myself making the same kind of "unreasonable request" he'd just criticized. I asked about fixing my blown tires, essentially seeking special treatment.

His deepened his voice, and his response was corporate-speak: "I can drop you at the tire shop. Can't guarantee they'll take you. You'll need to figure out the rest."

That's when it hit me – we're all intrinsically self-centered. The only difference is whether we recognize our blind spots.

Sometimes, the systems we rail against actually protect us from ourselves.  But are we getting too comfortable?  

🧵 Continue reading tomorrow for Part 2: When DIY Meets Dead Ends

#LeadershipLessons #SystemThinking #PersonalGrowth #BusinessInsights #AuthenticLeadership

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*Knox Chang is the host of Digital Majority Report, exploring the intersection of business, innovation, and consciousness. Sign Up for our newsletter