I never thought a Philly cheesesteak would teach me a lesson about humanity, but life is funny like that.
Turns out my favorite cheesesteak west of the Liberty Bell comes from a little food truck in Hillsboro, Oregon, practically in my backyard. The first time I visited, I was hit with a wave of discomfort: the owner was decked out in pro-Trump gear, which signaled to me that our values probably didn’t align at all.
Still, I ordered my sandwich — and it was delicious.
Over time, I found myself chatting with him. We discovered a shared love of the East Coast and swapped stories about growing up there: Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Chesapeake Bay. Our lives had all kinds of surprising parallels. But I grew up to be me, and he grew up to be him. And we both ended up in Hillsboro, Oregon with a love of a really good Philly cheesesteak.
Not once did politics come up verbally, though his were plastered all over his body and food truck. And it struck me how much I focus on the thin lines that divide us, forgetting the miles of common ground we share. It also reminded me of an important truth: connection doesn’t require agreement. It requires curiosity. When we engage with others beyond our assumptions, we open doors to empathy and understanding. We’re supposed to be different. Right? There’s strength in diversity, yes?
As leaders, we can’t afford to forget this — especially in teams with differing viewpoints. Recognizing our shared humanity and focusing on what brings us together can foster deeper collaboration and stronger relationships. After all, we’re all more than just the labels we attach to ourselves.
So the next time you’re faced with someone whose views challenge your own, remember curiosity; there’s always more that unites us than divides us. And they may make an awesome Philly cheesesteak.
