The man with a bucket full of trash; or how hard work still matters

The daycare my daughter goes to is on a really cool piece of property. It used to be a giant farm. Now it’s been turned into an area that includes the daycare, a wedding venue, and a small office complex.

There’s even a light house on a small pond.

The only downside is the parking. Because of the layout of everything, the daycare entrance is about 75 yards from the closest parking spot. To get to the daycare, you have to walk down a sidewalk between a doctor’s office and a local magazine’s office.

Every day, without fail, I pass the same guy while walking into the building. He’s employed by the complex. Each morning he walks around with a five gallon bucket picking up trash. Part of his job is to make sure the sidewalks are clean. If it’s raining: he’s there. If it’s cold: he’s there. No matter what’s going on, he’s there with his bucket.

I haven’t gotten the chance to meet this guy yet, but I have learned a lot from him.

I can’t imagine he gets excited about walking around picking up trash, but he still does it. Not only does he do it, but he does it with a smile. He greets people walking down the sidewalk. He isn’t grumpy at 7:30 on a Monday morning when it’s 50 degrees and rainy.

Regardless of the situation, he shows up and does his job. 

I’m part of a generation that, while great in many areas, isn’t great at doing that. Don’t get me wrong, if we are passionate about something, there’s nothing that will stop us from making it happen.

But if it’s mundane?

Or we don’t care about it?

Yeah. That’s a different story.

We don’t do a good job putting the trash in the bucket. We complain about it or procrastinate hoping someone else will come along and do it for us.

We want fun and fulfillment, not necessary and boring. 

I say we in this because this is something I’m horrible at. Whether it’s with my business, my marriage, or my health, if it doesn’t sound fun or I don’t want to do it, I usually find a way to get out of it.

I’m still convinced our generation can impact the world around us and make it better. But our impact will never reach its full potential until we become a generation willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

We have to want to work on our relationships.

We have to want to make hard decisions.

We have to want to pick up the trash.

Being passionate about something is awesome. But being diligent enough to make an impact is even better. 

This week, embrace the necessary and boring. Make it your priority and not something you push off and hope goes away.

Fun and fulfillment is great.

But boring and necessary is what gets stuff done.

Let’s become a generation that gets stuff done.

Say your prayers and take your vitamins.

Have a nice day.

-Jonathan