ChorePay Inc.

My commute to work takes me down a city street that’s relatively well traveled during traffic hours.  Every morning, at the corner of 8th and 75th I pass a young woman who is the crossing guard at the crosswalk of that intersection.

She’s relatively small in stature; maybe a little shorter than average height and her Caution Yellow crossing guard uniform coat is charmingly ill-fitting and maybe a size or two too large, like only one hand can stick out of a sleeve at a time.

Generally, every day I pass her and every day she’s standing at her station ready to assist the next child across the street.  I pass and she’s essentially in the same position; both hands resting on the tops of the crossing flag poles and an easy, relaxed smile on her face.  It wasn’t until this morning that I saw her in action.

As I approached her intersection I saw her look my way, then the other, and then proceed to walk with great purpose and intent right into the middle of the intersection, stop and then extend both arms out, a flag in each hand.  She did this with such authority and such confidence that it was awe inspiring.  It would have made Gandalf proud.

Once all traffic was stopped, she looked over to the sidewalk and motioned for a child to cross.  After he was safely to the other side, she turned and walked right back to her station.  As I moved forward through the intersection I waved at her and she returned the gesture with her standard smile back on her face.  However, instead of a wave, what I really felt like doing was applauding.

I considered this the rest of the way in to the office.  Here was a young woman taking a job that most would dismiss as insignificant (although when you think about it, is there anything more important than ensuring the safety of children?) and she was absolutely OWNING it.

Famed Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski is credited with the quote “there are no small parts, only small actors.”  This holds true with jobs or chores.  And this isn’t just a lesson for our youngsters.  Each of us has daily tasks or aspects of our jobs that may not excite us but need to get done.  If we all did everything, even the little things, with the same level of passion, commitment, and joie de vivre that the crossing guard displayed, just think how much fun things could be.

The example the young woman above sets also speaks to the potential one shows for further work.  Maybe the fastest track to getting the job you want is performing the job you have like it’s what you’ve always wanted to do.  Do it with flair and panache and when other jobs become available, people will probably think of you.

In the meantime, I’m going to try to figure out how I can approach my job tomorrow the way this guy approaches his.  I think if we lived in a world filled with guys like that it’d be pretty cool.