The Shaper file
Peter Shaper
group president
Harris CapRock Communications
Born: Houston
Education: Master of business administration degree from Harvard University and bachelor of science degree in engineering from Stanford University
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
My first job was a summer job when I was in high school, and I was a gofer. I literally drove a truck, picked things up, dropped them off, drove things all around town, picked up equipment, supplies. The most important thing it taught me was that I wanted to be one of the guys who was working in the office, not one of the guys who was working out on the manufacturing floor.
Whom do you admire most and why?
I admire children most because they have such a fantastic positive outlook on life and none of the weight of negative attitude and bad things having happened to them. That’s just such a wonderful way to go through life. I wish I could still have a child’s attitude.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
It would clearly be the ability to control time. One thing I definitely don’t have enough of is I never have enough time. So if I had the ability to slow time down and create more for myself, that would be my superpower.
If you could have dinner with anyone from any time, who would it be and why?
I would probably choose Jesus because so much of world history since then has been dominated by differing religious views; the crux of them all is during his lifetime, from the Jews before and after, to the Christians, to what that did to the Muslims. I just think that’s a fascinating crossroads in the history of man.
What’s your favorite stress relief?
It’s exercise — playing basketball.
What’s your favorite local spot for a business lunch?
I love going different places all the time so I guess my favorite spot is always the next one that I haven’t tried.
