Fair Is Not Always Smart: The Lemon That Can Change the Way You Think
🍋 Fair Is Not Always Smart: The Lemon That Changed the Way We Think
What if the fairest decision you make is actually the least intelligent one?
We are taught from childhood to be fair.
Share equally.
Give everyone the same.
Divide everything into equal parts.
If there are two people and one lemon, cut it into two halves.
Simple.
Fair.
Logical.
But what if I told you that cutting the lemon in half could be the biggest mistake in the entire situation?
Not because fairness is wrong.
But because fairness without understanding the need can destroy value.
And this is where the difference between average thinking and smart thinking begins.
🍋 The Lemon Story
Imagine you have one lemon.
Two people need it.
You have only one decision to make:
How should you divide the lemon?
The average answer comes quickly.
“Cut it in half.”
One person gets 50%.
The other person gets 50%.
Everyone is equal.
Nobody can complain.
It feels fair.
But before cutting the lemon, imagine asking one simple question:
“What do you need the lemon for?”
The first person says:
“I need the juice.”
The second person says:
“I need the zest.”
Suddenly, something interesting happens.
You don't need to cut the lemon.
The first person can use the juice.
The second person can use the zest.
And both people can potentially receive 100% of what they actually need.
The lemon did not change.
The resources did not change.
The people did not change.
Only the question changed.
And sometimes, changing the question changes the entire outcome.
Fairness Asked: “How Much Should Everyone Get?”
Smartness Asked: “What Does Everyone Actually Need?”
This is one of the most important distinctions between average thinking and smart thinking.
Average thinking focuses on distribution.
Fair thinking focuses on equality or justice.
Smart thinking focuses on value creation.
Average thinking says:
“Let's divide it equally.”
Fair thinking says:
“Let's make sure nobody gets less than the other.”
Smart thinking says:
“Before we divide anything, let's understand what each person actually needs.”
That difference may look small.
But in leadership, business, relationships, negotiation and decision-making, it can create completely different outcomes.
The Trap of Equal Thinking
Equal does not always mean useful.
Equal does not always mean fair.
And fair does not always mean optimal.
Think about a manager with three employees.
One employee needs training.
Another needs autonomy.
The third needs resources.
If the manager gives all three the same training, the same resources and the same level of supervision, the manager may proudly say:
“I treated everyone equally.”
But did the manager actually create fairness?
Maybe not.
Because people don't start from the same place.
They don't have the same capabilities.
They don't face the same challenges.
They don't have the same responsibilities.
And they don't necessarily need the same thing.
Equality distributes the same thing.
Smart leadership creates the right thing.
That is a very different mindset.
🍋 The Lemon Is Bigger Than a Lemon
The lemon is not really about a lemon.
The lemon represents almost everything we manage in life.
Time.
Money.
Opportunities.
Attention.
Resources.
Authority.
Recognition.
Training.
Responsibilities.
People.
Even love.
We often ask:
“How do I divide this fairly?”
But perhaps the better question is:
“How can I create the maximum value from what I have?”
That is the beginning of strategic thinking.
Average Thinking vs Smart Thinking
Let's make the difference simple.
Average Thinking
Problem → Divide → Distribute → Move on.
It looks efficient.
It feels objective.
It reduces arguments.
But it can leave enormous value unused.
Fair Thinking
Problem → Ensure equal treatment → Distribute → Maintain balance.
It creates trust.
It protects against favoritism.
It creates a sense of justice.
But if applied mechanically, it can become rigid.
Smart Thinking
Problem → Understand needs → Identify possibilities → Allocate intelligently → Maximize value
It requires more effort.
It requires questions.
It requires listening.
It requires judgment.
And sometimes, it requires the courage to reject the obvious solution.
The Most Dangerous Sentence in Leadership
One of the most dangerous sentences a leader can say is:
“But I treated everyone equally.”
It sounds responsible.
It sounds fair.
It sounds ethical.
But equality can sometimes hide a failure to understand individual needs.
Imagine two employees.
Employee A has ten years of experience.
Employee B is new to the organization.
Giving both exactly the same level of guidance may look equal.
But it may not be effective.
The experienced employee may need freedom.
The new employee may need mentoring.
If you give both the same thing simply because you want to be fair, you may actually be reducing performance.
Smart leaders don't confuse equality with effectiveness.
Fairness Is About Trust
This does not mean fairness is unimportant.
Quite the opposite.
Fairness is one of the foundations of trust.
People want to know that decisions are not arbitrary.
They want to know that favoritism is not controlling the system.
They want to believe that their contribution matters.
Fairness creates psychological safety.
Fairness creates credibility.
Fairness tells people:
“You matter.”
But smartness asks another question:
“What would actually help you succeed?”
The most powerful leaders combine both.
They don't abandon fairness.
They add intelligence to it.
Fairness Without Context Can Become Blindness
Imagine a teacher has two students.
Both receive the same assignment.
That is fair.
But one student has access to technology, books and private tutoring.
The other does not.
If the teacher insists:
“I gave both students exactly the same opportunity.”
Is that enough?
Perhaps not.
Because opportunity on paper is not always opportunity in reality.
This is why smart decision-making requires context.
You cannot understand fairness without understanding circumstances.
And you cannot understand smartness without understanding purpose.
The Question That Average People Often Don't Ask
Most people ask:
“What should I do?”
Smart thinkers ask:
“What problem am I actually trying to solve?”
That small shift is transformational.
If the problem is distribution, divide.
If the problem is fairness, establish transparent criteria.
If the problem is performance, understand individual needs.
If the problem is value creation, find a way to use the resource differently.
The solution should follow the problem—not the other way around.
Stop Dividing the Lemon Too Early
This is where the lemon metaphor becomes powerful.
Many of us cut the lemon before asking what it is needed for.
We make decisions before understanding the purpose.
We distribute resources before understanding the requirement.
We create policies before understanding behavior.
We judge people before understanding context.
We give advice before understanding the problem.
We solve the wrong problem beautifully.
And that is one of the biggest forms of wasted intelligence.
A perfect solution to the wrong problem is still the wrong solution.
Smart Thinking Begins With Better Questions
Smart people don't necessarily have more answers.
They often have better questions.
Instead of:
“Who should get half?”
Ask:
“Why do they need it?”
Instead of:
“Why isn't this employee performing?”
Ask:
“What is preventing this employee from performing?”
Instead of:
“Why did the customer reject our product?”
Ask:
“What problem did our product fail to solve?”
Instead of:
“Why is my team resisting?”
Ask:
“What are they seeing that I may not be seeing?”
Instead of:
“How can I make everyone happy?”
Ask:
“What outcome are we trying to create?”
Questions create perspective.
Perspective creates options.
Options create better decisions.
The Leadership Lesson Hidden Inside a Lemon
A leader's job is not always to divide the lemon.
Sometimes the leader's job is to discover that the lemon doesn't need to be divided at all.
This is the difference between resource allocation and resource optimization.
Average leadership asks:
“How much should each person receive?”
Smart leadership asks:
“How can this resource create maximum value?”
Imagine a team with ten hours of additional support.
Average allocation might give everyone two hours.
Smart allocation might discover that one person needs four hours, two people need two hours each, and another person doesn't need support at all but needs authority.
The numbers aren't equal.
But the outcome may be better.
That is strategic allocation.
Smart Does Not Mean Selfish
There is an important warning here.
Smart thinking should never become an excuse for manipulation.
A person cannot say:
“I am being smart,”
when they are simply exploiting others.
Smartness without ethics becomes manipulation.
Strategy without integrity becomes politics.
Efficiency without humanity becomes exploitation.
So the real goal is not:
Fair OR Smart.
The real goal is:
Fair AND Smart.
Fairness provides the ethical foundation.
Smartness provides the strategic approach.
Wisdom knows how to combine them.
Think About Your Workplace
Now look at your organization.
Where are you dividing the lemon?
Are you giving everyone the same opportunities because it feels fair?
Are you giving everyone the same training even though their needs are different?
Are you measuring everyone with the same metric even though their roles are different?
Are you rewarding visibility instead of contribution?
Are you distributing meetings, resources and responsibilities equally rather than strategically?
Are you creating policies for everyone because understanding individual situations feels complicated?
If yes, perhaps your organization does not have a fairness problem.
Perhaps it has a thinking problem.
The Hidden Cost of Average Thinking
Average thinking is comfortable.
It doesn't require too many questions.
It doesn't require uncomfortable conversations.
It doesn't require deep observation.
It simply follows the obvious path.
Cut the lemon.
Give everyone half.
Move forward.
But comfort has a cost.
Because when you stop questioning the obvious, you stop discovering possibilities.
Average thinking protects the process.
Smart thinking protects the purpose.
That distinction can transform leadership.
Smart People Look for Unused Value
The smartest question in any situation may be:
“What value am I leaving unused?”
The lemon has juice.
It has zest.
Its peel can have uses.
Its seeds have a purpose.
The same resource can create different value depending on how you look at it.
The same employee can contribute differently depending on where you place them.
The same hour can create different outcomes depending on how you spend it.
The same failure can become either regret or learning.
The same problem can become either a limitation or an opportunity.
The resource may be fixed.
Your thinking doesn't have to be.
From Equal Distribution to Maximum Utilization
This is the mindset shift:
Average Mindset:
“Let's divide it.”
Fair Mindset:
“Let's divide it equally.”
Smart Mindset:
“Let's understand it first.”
And then:
“Let's use it in the way that creates maximum value.”
That is the foundation of strategic thinking.
What This Means for Executives
For executives and leaders, this lesson is particularly important.
Your organization will always have limited resources.
Limited time.
Limited budgets.
Limited talent.
Limited attention.
Limited opportunities.
You cannot give everyone everything.
So the question isn't:
“How do I make everyone receive the same?”
The better question is:
“How do I make sure the right resource reaches the right need at the right time?”
That is leadership intelligence.
What This Means for Employees
Employees can apply the same thinking to their careers.
Don't simply ask:
“Why didn't I get the same opportunity as someone else?”
Ask:
“What capability do I need to create the opportunity I want?”
Don't simply ask:
“Why wasn't I promoted?”
Ask:
“What value am I currently creating, and what value would make me difficult to ignore?”
Don't simply compare your half with someone else's half.
Ask:
“What is my lemon, and how can I use all of it?”
That question can change your career.
What This Means for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs live in the world of limited resources.
Limited money.
Limited people.
Limited time.
Limited attention.
The average entrepreneur asks:
“How can I compete with them?”
The smart entrepreneur asks:
“What can I do differently?”
The average entrepreneur asks:
“How much should I spend?”
The smart entrepreneur asks:
“Where will one rupee create the greatest return?”
The average entrepreneur sees a constraint.
The smart entrepreneur searches for unused value inside the constraint.
The Real Difference Between Average and Smart
The difference is not intelligence.
It is not necessarily education.
It is not even experience.
The difference is often the ability to pause before acting.
Average thinking sees the obvious solution.
Smart thinking questions the obvious solution.
Average thinking asks:
“What is the standard way?”
Smart thinking asks:
“Is there a better way?”
Average thinking sees the resource.
Smart thinking sees the possibilities inside the resource.
Average thinking divides.
Smart thinking redesigns.
Before You Cut Your Lemon
The next time you face a difficult decision, don't immediately cut the lemon.
Pause.
Ask five questions:
1. What problem am I actually solving?
Don't solve the problem you were handed.
Understand the problem beneath it.
2. What does each person actually need?
Needs are often different from wants.
3. What assumptions am I making?
The obvious solution may be built on an invisible assumption.
4. What value am I leaving unused?
Look beyond the first use of the resource.
5. Is equal distribution really the best outcome?
Fairness matters.
But so does effectiveness.
The Final Lesson
We spend so much of our lives trying to be fair.
And we should.
But perhaps we should also spend more time trying to be thoughtful.
Because sometimes fairness means giving everyone the same.
And sometimes fairness means understanding that everyone needs something different.
The goal is not to blindly divide the lemon.
The goal is to understand why the lemon is needed.
Because when you understand the need, you may discover that what looked like a shortage was actually an opportunity.
What looked like a limitation was actually a design problem.
What looked like a distribution problem was actually a thinking problem.
And what looked like a 50–50 situation may have had the potential to become 100–100.
🍋 Don't Cut the Lemon Yet.
Before you divide your resources…
Before you divide your time…
Before you divide opportunities…
Before you divide responsibilities…
Before you divide people into “high performers” and “low performers”…
Ask one more question.
“What is actually needed here?”
Because the smartest people don't always get more resources.
They create more value from the resources they already have.
And perhaps that is the real difference between average thinking and smart thinking.
Average thinking asks: “How do I divide the lemon?”
Fair thinking asks: “How do I divide it equally?”
Smart thinking asks: “Do I need to divide it at all?”
🍋 Same lemon.
🧠 Different question.
🚀 Different outcome.
Fairness creates trust.
Smart thinking creates possibilities.
Wisdom knows when to use both.
A Reflection for You
The next time you are facing a problem, ask yourself:
Am I trying to divide the lemon fairly—or am I trying to discover its full potential?
Because sometimes, the biggest limitation isn't the resource.
It's the way we are thinking about the resource.
— Jagrati Tiwari | Executive Coach
Absolutely. For this blog, I would position the SEO around the stronger search concept of “fair vs smart thinking”, while using the lemon metaphor as the memorable storytelling hook.
🔎 Complete SEO Package
1. SEO Title
Fair vs Smart Thinking: Why Equal Isn’t Always Better | Lemon Metaphor
Alternative title:
Fair vs Smart Thinking: The Lemon Metaphor That Changes How You Make Decisions
2. Meta Description
Is fair always smart? Discover the lemon metaphor and learn how smart thinking goes beyond equal distribution to understand needs, maximize value, and make better decisions.
3. URL Slug
`fair-vs-smart-thinking-lemon-metaphor`
4. Focus Keyword
fair vs smart thinking
5. Secondary Keywords
fair vs smart thinking
smart thinking vs average thinking
difference between fair and smart
smart decision making
strategic thinking
critical thinking
leadership decision making
equality vs equity
equal distribution vs smart allocation
leadership mindset
effective decision making
value creation
strategic leadership
workplace decision making
leadership intelligence
problem solving mindset
smart leadership
how to think strategically
better decision making
resource optimization
6. Long-Tail Keywords
What is the difference between fair and smart thinking?
Why equal distribution is not always the best solution
How smart thinking improves decision making
Fair vs smart thinking in leadership
How to make better decisions using strategic thinking
Why treating everyone equally is not always fair
How leaders can maximize value from limited resources
Difference between equality and smart allocation
How to develop smart thinking skills
Lemon metaphor for leadership and decision making
---
# 🎯 Search Intent
Primary intent: Informational
The reader is likely searching to understand:
* What is the difference between fair and smart thinking?
* Is fairness always the best approach?
* Why isn't equal treatment always effective?
* How can leaders make smarter decisions?
* How can limited resources create greater value?
Recommended H1
Fair Is Not Always Smart: The Lemon That Can Change the Way You Think
This is stronger than using a purely keyword-heavy headline because it combines:
H2 Structure for SEO
Use these headings in the article:
H2: The Lemon Story That Changes Everything
H2: Fairness Asked “How Much Should Everyone Get?”
H2: Smartness Asked “What Does Everyone Actually Need?”
H2: The Trap of Equal Thinking
H2: Average Thinking vs Fair Thinking vs Smart Thinking
H2: Why Equal Does Not Always Mean Fair
H2: The Most Dangerous Sentence in Leadership
H2: Smart Thinking Begins With Better Questions
H2: The Leadership Lesson Hidden Inside a Lemon
H2: How Smart Thinking Creates More Value
H2: What This Means for Executives
H2: What This Means for Employees
H2: What This Means for Entrepreneurs
H2: 5 Questions to Ask Before You “Cut the Lemon”
H2: The Difference Between Average and Smart Thinking
H2: Final Lesson: Don't Cut the Lemon Yet
Suggested Featured Snippet Section
Place this relatively early in the article:
What Is the Difference Between Fair and Smart Thinking?
Fair thinking focuses on treating people justly and ensuring that decisions are consistent and equitable.
Smart thinking goes one step further by understanding the actual need, considering the context, and finding the most effective way to create value.
For example, if two people need one lemon, fair thinking may divide it into two equal halves. Smart thinking first asks what each person needs. If one needs the juice and the other needs the zest, the entire lemon can potentially create value for both.
The key difference is simple: fairness focuses on distribution; smart thinking focuses on purpose and value.
🍋 Semantic SEO / Related Concepts
Naturally incorporate these concepts throughout the article:
Fairness
* equality
* equity
* justice
* consistency
* trust
* transparency
Smart thinking
* strategic thinking
* critical thinking
* problem solving
* decision making
* creativity
* adaptability
* resource optimization
Leadership
* leadership intelligence
* resource allocation
* employee development
* team management
* performance
* organizational decision making
* strategic leadership
Psychology
* perspective
* cognitive flexibility
* assumptions
* decision bias
* contextual thinking
* problem framing
❓ FAQ Section
These FAQs can help capture long-tail searches.
1. What is the difference between fair and smart thinking?
Fair thinking focuses on justice and equitable treatment, while smart thinking focuses on understanding needs, context and creating the best possible outcome.
2. Is equal treatment always fair?
No. Equal treatment gives people the same thing, while equitable treatment considers differences in circumstances and needs.
3. What is the lemon metaphor in decision making?
The lemon metaphor illustrates how people can create greater value by understanding what others actually need instead of automatically dividing a limited resource equally.
4. How can I develop smart thinking?
Start by questioning assumptions, identifying the real problem, understanding people's needs, considering alternatives and looking for unused value.
5. Why is smart thinking important in leadership?
Leaders work with limited resources. Smart thinking helps them allocate time, talent, money and opportunities where they can create the greatest value.
6. What is the difference between average thinking and smart thinking?
Average thinking often accepts the obvious solution. Smart thinking questions assumptions, reframes problems and searches for better possibilities.
7. Does smart thinking mean ignoring fairness?
No. Effective leadership combines fairness with strategic thinking. Fairness creates trust, while smart thinking helps create better outcomes.
🏷️ Suggested Blog Labels / Categories
Primary Category
Leadership Development
Secondary Categories
Strategic Thinking
Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Executive Leadership
Personal Development
Workplace Psychology
Problem Solving
Blogger Labels
`Fair Thinking, Smart Thinking, Strategic Thinking, Leadership, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Leadership Development, Problem Solving, Executive Coaching, Workplace Psychology, Smart Leadership, Resource Optimization`
Featured Image SEO
Image File Name
`fair-vs-smart-thinking-lemon-metaphor.jpg`
Image Alt Text
Fair vs smart thinking explained through a lemon metaphor
Image Title
Fair vs Smart Thinking – The Lemon Metaphor
Image Caption
Same lemon. Different question. Different outcome.
Image Description
A leadership framework comparing average, fair and smart thinking using a lemon metaphor to explain strategic decision making and value creation.
Internal Linking Strategy
This article can become a pillar article for your leadership content.
Link from this article to related articles such as:
Recommended Internal Links
Why Great Employees Leave Their Organization
Anchor: understanding employee needs
The Psychology Behind Why Great Employees Leave
Anchor: workplace psychology and decision making
**Stop Comparing Yourself With Others
Anchor: strategic thinking
Why Top Performers Move Differently
Anchor: high-performance mindset
The Hidden Psychology of Leadership
Anchor:leadership decision making
The Torque Effect in Professional Growth.
Anchor: strategic use of effort
Become a Category of One
Anchor: thinking differently
The Three Filters That Shape an Irreplaceable Mind
Anchor: better thinking and decision making
External Authority Linking Opportunities
For stronger E-E-A-T, you can reference credible concepts around:
Equality vs. equity
Critical thinking
Decision-making biases
Resource allocation
Strategic leadership
Organizational justice
Option 1 — Search + Curiosity
Fair vs Smart Thinking: Why Equal Isn’t Always Better
Option 2 — Storytelling
The Lemon That Changed How I Think About Fairness and Smartness
Option 3 — Leadership
Fair vs Smart Thinking: A Leadership Lesson From One Lemon
Option 4 — High Curiosity
What If Cutting the Lemon in Half Is the Wrong Decision?
Option 5 — Strongest Emotional
Don't Cut the Lemon Yet: The Difference Between Fair and Smart Thinking
My recommendation:
Don't Cut the Lemon Yet: The Difference Between Fair and Smart Thinking
It creates curiosity while naturally containing the primary keyword concept.
Social Sharing SEO
Don't Cut the Lemon Yet: Fair vs Smart Thinking
Open Graph Description
We are taught to divide equally. But what if the smarter question isn't “How do we divide it?” but “What does each person actually need?”
Social Share Quote
“Before you divide the lemon, understand why people need it.”
LinkedIn
What if the fairest decision you make is actually the least intelligent one? 🍋
Instagram Caption
Same lemon.
Different question.
Different outcome.
Suggested SEO Keyword Placement
Don't force the keyword everywhere.
Use “fair vs smart thinking” naturally in:
SEO title
H1
First 100 words
One H2
One FAQ
Meta description
Image alt text
Conclusion
URL slug
Use semantic variations elsewhere.
**Important:** Don't repeat “fair vs smart thinking” unnaturally. Google understands related concepts and semantic context, so the article should sound human first.
Article
Recommended properties:
`headline`
`description`
`image`
`author`
`datePublished`
`dateModified`
`publisher`
`mainEntityOfPage`
👤 Author E-E-A-T Positioning
Use your professional identity naturally in the author section:
Jagrati Tiwari | Executive Coach
Author bio:
Jagrati Tiwari is an Executive Coach and Leadership Development professional who helps professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs develop strategic thinking, executive presence, communication and decision-making skills. Through practical frameworks and relatable metaphors, she translates complex workplace and leadership concepts into actionable insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between fair thinking and smart thinking?
Fair thinking focuses on justice, equality, and giving people appropriate treatment. Smart thinking goes deeper by understanding the actual need, context, and purpose before deciding how to use available resources.
2. Is being fair always the smartest approach?
Not always. Fairness is important for trust and credibility, but simply dividing resources equally may not create the best outcome. Smart thinking asks what each person actually needs.
3. What does the lemon metaphor teach us about smart thinking?
The lemon metaphor shows that we often divide resources before understanding their purpose. If one person needs the juice and another needs the zest, cutting the lemon in half may be unnecessary. Understanding the need can help create more value from the same resource.
4. What is the difference between equal and equitable treatment?
Equal treatment means giving everyone the same thing. Equitable treatment considers individual circumstances and gives people what they need to achieve a fair outcome.
5. What is average thinking?
Average thinking often accepts the obvious solution without questioning the assumptions behind it. It asks, “What is the usual way?” Smart thinking asks, “Is there a better way?”
6. How can leaders develop smart thinking?
Leaders can develop smart thinking by questioning assumptions, understanding the real problem, listening to different perspectives, identifying individual needs, exploring alternatives, and looking for unused value in existing resources.
7. Why is smart thinking important in leadership?
Leaders rarely have unlimited time, money, talent, or resources. Smart thinking helps leaders allocate limited resources strategically and create maximum value without compromising fairness or ethics.
8. Does smart thinking mean ignoring fairness?
No. Smart leadership should combine fairness with strategic thinking. Fairness creates trust, while smart thinking creates possibilities.The goal is not to choose between the two but to use both wisely.
9. How can smart thinking improve workplace decision-making?
Instead of applying the same solution to everyone, smart decision-making considers the specific problem, individual needs, available resources, and desired outcome. This can lead to better performance and more effective resource utilization.
10. What is the biggest lesson from the lemon metaphor?
The biggest lesson is simple: Don't divide the resource before understanding the need. Sometimes the smartest solution isn't to distribute more—it is to discover how the existing resource can create more value.
11. What question should I ask before making an important decision?
Ask yourself: “Am I solving the real problem and focused on giving 100%values, or am I simply applying the fairest-looking solution?”
12. What is the difference between smart thinking and manipulation?
Smart thinking uses creativity, context, strategy, and problem-solving to create better outcomes while maintaining ethical standards. Manipulation uses intelligence to exploit people or situations. Smartness without integrity is not true leadership.
🏆 SEO Content Positioning
Your strongest content angle is not simply “fair vs smart.”
It is:
“Stop dividing resources before understanding the need.”
That gives the article a deeper leadership message:
Average → Divide
↓
Fair → Equalize
↓
Smart → Understand
↓
Strategic → Optimize
↓
Wisdom → Create maximum value
Your signature takeaway:
🍋Don't ask only, “How can I divide this fairly?”
Ask, “How can I use this fully?”
That line can become the central intellectual property/message of the article and can later be expanded into a LinkedIn carousel, keynote framework, workshop activity, or leadership model
Jagrati Tiwari | Executive Coach
Fairness creates trust. Smart thinking creates possibilities.
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