One of the fundamental principles of career advancement in any field is that the higher one rises up the hierarchy of management, the farther one tends to get from the ground reality. One no longer has to deal with the nitty-gritty of client grievances, poor-quality software, or operational inefficiencies. Rather, one starts looking at one’s own organisation through the prism of neatly structured tables, presentation slides, and executive briefs. While such distance may seem like an understandable privilege earned by one’s achievements, it creates an occupational myopia that is potentially hazardous. When one stops comprehending the nature of the work done on the front lines, one’s ability to make informed decisions becomes compromised.
But when the two richest men in the world, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, were seen entering a Dairy Queen branch in Omaha as part of a Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s weekend, one could not help but think that it was nothing but corporate promotion at its finest. The two men, dressed in red aprons, took up positions behind the counter for a quick-service job experience. An episode recorded in their Gates Notes blog and on YouTube saw them having to learn to use the cash register, take orders, and even flip over Blizzard treats without damaging them.
