As I look back on that frustration, I can see a rich cocktail of youthful naiveté, headstrong certainty, and a dash of genuinely useful observation about the way the organization operated. I’ve since learned that this mix is fairly common in intelligent young employees first stepping into a job for a big firm, be it JPL or another aerospace firm, Apple or Google, or anywhere else. A fresh perspective frequently brings with it insight not available to those on the inside. Zen Buddhists call it shoshin—“beginner’s mind.” That is one of the greatest gifts an entering employee can give, but it
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