A few days back, Atlas Shrugged. I was at this place, which many in Singapore will recognize. When I stepped out, I had to take this picture with Atlas. It brought back a conversation from over two decades ago. During my MBA, I applied for the Tata Administrative Service, then one of the most coveted jobs on campus. After being selected, I went through two days of regional interviews at the then rather grand Tollygunge Club in Kolkata. At the final feedback session, Nowroze J. Cama, who led TAS and chaired the selection committee, remarked to me: “You seem like Atlas. Shrug it off sometimes?” Cama was a distinguished personality and an old-school gentleman, so the observation carried weight. I got selected, which suggests the Atlas part counted for more than the shrugging question. At least I convinced myself that was the case! But the question stayed, and I reflect on it now and then. In Greek mythology, Atlas was, of course, condemned to carry the heavens. And for those of us who read and admired Ayn Rand, the reference had another layer: what happens when Atlas chooses to shrug? Atlas Shrugged remains, for me, her best alongside The Fountainhead. The capacity and ambition to carry something large is a strength. But so is knowing when to put something down, change course, or let others carry it with you. I am still not particularly good at shrugging, I think. Have a good weekend. Perhaps shrug off whichever world you are carrying and have a great gin at Atlas, or wherever your haunt may be. Things will be fine!