The Cleaning Lady at McDonalds
Daniel Jordi
Helping Switzerland's Digital Leaders to Accelerate Digital Innovation & Growth
A few weeks ago, I had a long drive through Germany in front of me. So I decided to stop and eat something before going further.
As it happened, the only place close was a McDonalds.
So I ordered my healthy meal and made my way to the table. Sitting there and enjoying my tasty burger, I observed the room.
I love people watching, but in this circumstance, there was one person that particularly stood out to me.
The cleaning lady.
I first noticed her because she was the only person smiling in the room. Everybody else was either busy playing with their smartphone or indulging in their burgers and fries. Everybody seemed stressed and the air was filled with a sense of urgency.
The cleaning lady, however, radiated an aura of calm, something that made me calm just by looking at her.
She moved around the room, doing her job but recognizing that her job was much more important than what most others see in her.
At one point, she stopped at a table where a woman and a child were sitting. She looked at the child and struck up a conversation. The first reaction of the child was a smile and then the mother smiled. Even the people sitting at the table next to them looked over and briefly smiled before staring back into their smartphone.
I couldn’t help but feel great. There was something about this cleaning lady that made me feel happy.
And I think it was the glimpse of hope that humanity may not be doomed after all if we can just care a little more, be a little more human, and give a little more of our humanity.
How This Relates to You
If what I talked about before resonates in any way, I think we both know what our obligation is here.
If we truly recognize that we are human beings, we need to make a more conscious effort on being more human.
What’s the point of being human if there is not much left that expresses this humanity?
And there’s the kicker. For all of us business people, we are always looking for the ROI in everything. So it’s more than justified that we are asking “What’s the ROI of being more human?â€
Let me tell you.
Imagine people coming to the office with a smile on their face instead of a wish that the day, or in some cases their life, to be over again soon.
Imagine people actually talking to each other in the train, bus, at work, or any other place instead of mindlessly staring into their smartphone trying to please the notion that being busy is the point of life.
Imagine people seeing each other as possible collaborators instead of competition that has to be weeded out.
Imagine people come to work every day in your company and actually caring about their work, caring about your company and caring about your vision.
And maybe most important of all. Imagine yourself being the “people†in all these instances before.
Now you tell me. What’s the ROI of that?
By the way, if you care to make a more human connection with decision makers you are trying to reach, download these 23 Mental Triggers That Make Busy People Say YES.
The Humanity Challenge
While observing the cleaning lady at McDonalds, I came up with an idea.
A little more humanity every day goes a long way and I believe it can even change the world on a massive scale.
So I’m going to start a project in the comings months to inspire sparks of humanity where everyone can share their stories and experiences where “being human†happened.
Obviously, I will need your participations in this to make it happen.
Here’s where you come in.
Please leave a comment below and share a story, an experience, anything where you felt that glimpse of humanity, either because of something you observed or something you did.
I’m counting on your help to make this world a more human place again.
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Daniel Jordi is a Visionary Connector & Advisor, on a mission to bring humanity back into business.
On that journey, he has advised hundreds of leaders and entrepreneurs on making connecting with high-level leaders more effective & authentic.
He’s also a board member at the Global Entrepreneurship Network Switzerland, the Trestle Group Foundation and the ChangeMakers Hub.
If you’re a High-Impact Leader and want to make business development more human and more effortless, request a call here and let’s have a conversation.
I Connect biology and cell and molecular students to opportunities STEM | Research | Clinical | Academic | Pre Health
8 å¹´The amazing cleaning woman at the Boston College Career Center immediately comes to mind. She told me she was blessed to have a job and work at such a wonderful school. She proudly wore her BC sweatshirt and made everything sparkle a little brighter because of her smile and upbeat attitude.
Owner of 3Shamrocks Studio | Founder & Creator of Trashure-Hunters.com ?????????? Clean&Win #ecogame
8 å¹´So when I was much younger, possibly in my youth, I was riding in the car with my grandfather. We were on our way either to or back from the market and on our way we passed by an old man who seemed to be laying on the sidewalk. My grandpa quickly stopped the car and said "get out and help him!". I jumped out of the car to pick the old man up, brushed the dirt off his clothes and as he came to his senses he thanked us both and walked away. Flash forward about 12 years later, grandpa was gone by now. One morning I was on my way to work, driving in my car, sunroof is open, happy music blasting in high volume. The street was full of cars, everyone is minding their own, rushing to get out of that horrible traffick jam and get to their jobs. All of the sudden, in the corner of my eye I cought an old man on the sidewalk, clinging on a fence. My first initial thought was "is he trying to climb over this fence or something?" but as I passed him by I could tell he was trying his best to hold on and not fall to the ground. Immediately I pulled my car on to the side walk and stopped the car, blocking half of the lane I was on. I didn't care. All I could see in my head was that day with my grandpa in the car. All I could hear was his voice.. "get out and help him!" I picked the old man in my arms and sat him down on a bench. It turns out he was on his way to get a medical care but on his way just lost all energy and was ready to pass out when I showed up. A taxi driver that saw the whole thing pulled over and agreed to take him to the medical center near by, no charge. Good deeds go a long way. You never know when your turn will come to be the old guy clinging on a fence. Be good, do good and good will come back to you.
Psychologist and Relationship Coach | Helping couples reconnect so they can live their best life, together
8 å¹´Love this Daniel! I'm with you on the being human project. I believe that is the future of 'self-help'. Becoming 'super-human' might look like it's working but always falls flat. Becoming more human and expressing more of our capacity for love, compassion and humanity - now that's a wonderful and realistic proposition. Have you seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZY5b85KoOU Although he's selling social media, the title alone is a powerful reminder of what really matters
Agent SEPS
8 å¹´I had that epiphany long time ago and trained myself and now its a habit to compliment people on their appearance. And the 1st ten times I did it all reacted as if it was maybe the third time in their live someone said it. And to this day all react with pleasurable surprise and pride when I do that. For me it started when I got annoyed at people looking at me and expressing their feelings or thoughts with their expressions. So if they smiled I smiled back and said thank you with a wink. If they frowned, I looked myself up and down and raised an inquiring eyebrow like is something wrong, help. And I have become comfortable in it and have met many great people because of that openness. Surrounded by people and still very much alone are many. It causes nothing, a smile, a laugh, a wink. After a while you actually see the people who need one, and that's a great feeling.