The $.2.50 Leadership Lesson | How to Pick the Right Avocado

What an Avocado Teaches Us About Health, Attention, and Small Decisions

An avocado is more than just a fruit.

It’s one of the most nutrient-rich foods we eat—filled with healthy fats, fiber, potassium, and essential vitamins that support the heart, brain, and overall well-being. What was once a simple staple has now become a premium item in our grocery stores.

Most of the avocados we find in Texas come from Mexico, with some grown in California. By the time they reach our hands, they’ve already traveled long distances—carefully harvested while still firm, then slowly ripened along the way.

And today, they cost about $2… sometimes $2.50 each.

Which means… choosing the right one matters.

Because an avocado doesn’t ripen on the tree. It ripens after it’s picked. What you see in the store is part of a journey already in motion. And when you pick one, you are stepping into the final stage of that process.

That’s why selecting a good avocado is not just routine—it’s an art.

Almost a test.

Most people squeeze the fruit, hoping to guess if it’s ready. But there is a better, simpler way.

Gently flick off the small stem cap at the top.

If it’s bright green underneath, it’s perfect—ready to eat.
If it’s brown, it’s already overripe.
If the stem doesn’t come off easily, it’s not ready yet.

A small detail… but it changes everything.

Because once an avocado is ripe, time becomes short. It may last only a day or two at room temperature, or a few more days if refrigerated. And once cut, it begins to change almost immediately.

Which brings us back to the real lesson.

Every avocado is a $2.50 decision.

And leadership, in many ways, is nothing more than learning to make small decisions well—paying attention to what others overlook, understanding timing, and respecting the value of what is placed in your hands.

Small detail.
Big difference.

Because in life… just like with an avocado…
what we ignore is often what costs us the most.