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My Psychedelic Trip in Australia
The vital role of emotion in business and life
First flight to Sydney February 3rd, 2015
“Hi, I’m Fiona,” said a voice with a distinct Australian accent. I turned my head to a friendly, inquisitive face with long brown hair. She reached out her hand from the window seat and shook mine as I sat down in the aisle seat.
“Do you have Coles in America?” was one of her very first questions.
“You mean the clothing store?” I was thinking of the Kohl’s retailer and had never heard of the Australian supermarket chain.
Fiona didn’t respond and turned her head back to the window, staring at the concrete tarmac at LAX in contemplation. She was probably wondering how I thought a supermarket would sell clothes. She abruptly turned back to me, pretending I didn’t suggest the institution that is Coles would sell clothes.
“Do you have Pink Lady apples in America? I looked for them everywhere in the supermarkets in Denver and couldn’t find them.”
I had never heard of Pink Lady apples before but imagined they must be exceptionally good if this Australian was searching all over for them.
We were later joined by Mackey, a 34-year-old from Melbourne, high on life in typical…