I had the distinct privilege of meeting Nathaniel Jones last Friday. He is a man who made a singular impression on me the day before. He showed such pride and excellence in his work in three short sentences that I had to make sure I found out his name. What were these words of wisdom?
"Nobody cleans this area as good as I do. I worked in a bakery for eleven years. I know clean."
What struck me was not just the words but the manner in which they were said. They were spoken with a quiet confidence that the job was not only done, but done right, and done well. I knew I had to make sure to introduce myself to this man soon.
I got my chance the next day as I went into the cafeteria area to get some juice. I saw him walking in with his breakfast as I was leaving. I caught his attention and introduced myself. He said his name is Nathaniel Jones and that I could call him Nate or Mr. Nate as everyone did. We spoke a few minutes. I found out that he had worked in a bakery eleven years before working at the University. He was back in charge of the general cafeteria area after having been at another part of the vet school for a while. When I mentioned what an impression he had made upon me the day before, he told me that he was 75 and wanted to make sure they would keep him on staff. I knew as soon as he said it that this was not his sole motivation. And then the next sentence out of his mouth proved me right. "I do my best. That is how any job should be done."
I mean, think about this. He dose a job that most people will not take time to notice. We all, for the most part, go through our day eating at our clean tables, throwing our trash into bins that never overflow, and walk on floors we never even take time to notice are clean. Yet this somehow does not seem to phase Mr. Nate. His sense of excellence comes from within himself. He knows a job that is not well done, is not done at all.
There are two things I have learned from Mr.Nate that I wish to pass on to you:
1. Do your best whether or not others see it.
2. Thank those around you that make your day a little better and little easier.
"Nobody cleans this area as good as I do. I worked in a bakery for eleven years. I know clean."
What struck me was not just the words but the manner in which they were said. They were spoken with a quiet confidence that the job was not only done, but done right, and done well. I knew I had to make sure to introduce myself to this man soon.
I got my chance the next day as I went into the cafeteria area to get some juice. I saw him walking in with his breakfast as I was leaving. I caught his attention and introduced myself. He said his name is Nathaniel Jones and that I could call him Nate or Mr. Nate as everyone did. We spoke a few minutes. I found out that he had worked in a bakery eleven years before working at the University. He was back in charge of the general cafeteria area after having been at another part of the vet school for a while. When I mentioned what an impression he had made upon me the day before, he told me that he was 75 and wanted to make sure they would keep him on staff. I knew as soon as he said it that this was not his sole motivation. And then the next sentence out of his mouth proved me right. "I do my best. That is how any job should be done."
I mean, think about this. He dose a job that most people will not take time to notice. We all, for the most part, go through our day eating at our clean tables, throwing our trash into bins that never overflow, and walk on floors we never even take time to notice are clean. Yet this somehow does not seem to phase Mr. Nate. His sense of excellence comes from within himself. He knows a job that is not well done, is not done at all.
There are two things I have learned from Mr.Nate that I wish to pass on to you:
1. Do your best whether or not others see it.
2. Thank those around you that make your day a little better and little easier.