Really Caring

This is our inspiration.

I walk into Starbucks to get my iced grande caramel macchiato and a pumpkin scone (400+ calories, but I  just worked out!).   As usual, the Starbucks team members behind the counter are busy with everything they have to do:   make drinks ("half caf/half decaf, 180 degrees"), get pastries, grind coffee, heat sandwiches. . .these are busy, busy people.

After I place my order, a woman approaches the counter and says something that is not only totally unrelated to procuring one's morning coffee, but it makes no sense.  In a pleasant,  but somewhat haltering delivery she asked whether it ever "gets light" in Seattle like it does in Tacoma.    (Right there is the off ramp for many people - they are going to find a way to get out of this conversation as quickly as possible).   Instead of sliding by the remark, the busy, busy barista is attentive and engages her in further conversation.   After a few exchanges back and forth, I hear the barista ask her, "Are you concerned that you can't find your home?"

And the heartbreaking answer comes back.  "Why, yes, I am."

He then asks  a series of questions about where "home" is and makes preparations to call (it turns out it is a group home) so that he can secure this individual's  passage back to where she feels safe and secure.

Don't you wish someone cared about you that much?  A busy barista, he could have easily sidestepped the out-of-place question and gone about the tasks that make up his job. He could have justified  that it "wasn't his job" and he "would let someone better suited figure out what was wrong."    Instead, he wandered into the fray of this individual's dilemma and proceeded to do what ultimately we all want and need someone to do. . . take care of us.

The power of putting the  job lists "on hold" to really take care of someone is immense.  By helping an individual you have demonstrated that you truly do care. . .yes, about the individual but also about the state of the community.     The little time it takes to invest in caring has a wide-ranging impact.  The barista was self-less;  in that act he demonstrated incredible leadership.

Stop.   Really care.   Do what you can.

This is how you change the world.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.