It is an impossible undertaking.
Your friends have invited you to a FUN OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. You have packed your VARIOUS BELONGINGS. You just need to GET DRESSED and you will be ready to go. You check the weather report.
Oh no. Oh no no no no no.
It is 60°F, a NOTHING TEMPERATURE. It could be dry or damp or both or neither. The first whispers of fall or a gentle spring day. Partly sunny or partly cloudy. All you know is it is too cold to be hot and too hot to be cold. It is a DISASTER.
You throw on a T-SHIRT and JEANS. Your arms are chilly, while your legs are trapped by thick, impermeable fabric. Only your knees are freezing, because your jeans are RIPPED and therefore FASHIONABLE. This accentuates the contrast with your burning thighs.
Your legs seem to run hotter than your arms, so you change into a LONG SLEEVE SHIRT and SHORTS. Now your legs are two icicles, while your arms are refreshingly comfortable. You find some THIN STRETCH COTTON LEGGINGS. Somehow, your arms are no longer comfortable.
LAYERS should be a logical solution. You pull out an ATHLETIC TANK TOP, a CHUNKY SWEATER, and a WATER-RESISTANT JACKET to zip and unzip depending on the precise wind speed and direction. You also reach for a VEST, but common sense reels you back. No one should wear a vest. As you put on your layers, you feel a dull heat emanating from the very center of your being. You flash forward to your certain fate. The moment you step outside, you will be drenched in DANK SWEAT, a distraction and embarrassment to all. When you take off your layers, you will feel a nanosecond of relief before your sweat evaporates and you go back to being way too cold again.
What if you packed extra clothes into your bag? No, you cannot count on the chance for an outfit change. Should you wear a QUARTER-ZIP or a HALF-ZIP? It is an impossible choice. 3/4 LENGTH SLEEVES? A BUTTONLESS BLAZER? BERMUDA SHORTS? CAPRIS? CROPPED ANYTHING? You haven’t even looked at SHOES yet, with all their closed-toe and open-toe possibilities. Regardless, once a single breeze comes your way, you will be a goner.
You give up and climb into a GARBAGE BAG, tearing arm and leg holes out of the plastic. The material is nice and stretchy, but it is not breathable. You are still too hot, except for the parts of you that are too cold. You take another glance at the weather report. You took too long to get ready. It is now 65°F.
Vicky Liu (MBA ’26) grew up in Surrey, Canada. She graduated from Yale University with a double major in Political Science and French. Prior to HBS, Vicky worked in technology M&A at Evercore and technology growth equity at Summit Partners.
Comments