Jillian and the Window Washer, this Week’s Cool People!

On my fourth attempt to leave home this year, I finally arrived at the city printed on my ticket! 

January: business trip to San Diego canceled due to flight delays and missed connections. 

February: Caribbean cruise canceled due to illness (I got sick after jumping into the ocean for charity). 

May: Nashville trip canceled after getting stuck in Charlotte due to storm cancellations. 

As I look out the window…yup, it’s Nashville! 

While Tina is working (I tagged along for her business trip), I’ve already begun doing what I do best: discovering cool people. 

This morning I met Jillian. 

She works in the hotel restaurant…and she is awesome.

When she checked in to make sure I was enjoying my continental breakfast, I asked her a question: 

“What do you love most about your job?” 

Her answer came instantly, with a smile: “I work here, and at a nail salon. I am sitting all day when I work there, and on my feet all day here…and meeting nice people is my favorite part of both". 

Love that answer. 

I told her that, as a speaker, my reason is exactly the same. 

I then pointed over my shoulder to the gentleman washing the windows at the building next door. 

“That guy takes a lot of pride in what he’s doing, I can tell.” 

“He’s a great window washer” she agreed, “we see him over there every day.” 

As she walked back to her station, I noticed the window washer holding the door for two people. 

One was a young lady who smiled and thanked him. 

He smiled and waved back. 

The next was a very well-dressed executive-type gentleman. 

While I could not hear him, I watched his face. 

His lips never moved. He never cracked a smile. He showed no emotion. 

The window washer may have wished him a good day, I don’t know. 

Do I know for sure that he did not say thank you? 

Nope, but I saw the window washer staring blankly an extra few seconds after the man walked through, before he continued his job. 

But here is what I will say: what I love most about my job is meeting cool people who take pride in their work, just like him…and Jillian. 

How about YOU? 

What do you like most about what you do for a living? 

Is it the work? 

If not, is it the paycheck? 

If so, what does that paycheck allow you to do? 

Perhaps it is your schedule, which allows you to spend time with people you care about. 

Maybe this question is one you haven’t thought of in a while. 

I hope it makes you think, and even makes you smile a bit. 

What do I love most about being a speaker and author? 

I am doing it right now: sharing a message from real life…with some really cool people. 

Some people appreciate. Some just keep walking on by…and that’s okay. 

I do my best to focus on the cool ones. 

Yup, that’s YOU.