Focus on something you have a passion for, and hone that skill for a lifetime. –C.S. Lewis

New York has always held a special place in the hearts of my family.  My wife and I briefly lived in the city before exiting for the suburbs, and we have taken our children back there religiously for years.  I had not been there since the pandemic, and here I was soaking in the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps.  I didn’t realize how much I missed all the energy and understated splendor.

After a glorious dinner, I strolled down 5th Avenue toward Bryant Park (Queue: Balloon Man by Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians).  I was overwhelmed by the controlled chaos emanating from every quadrant of Gotham.  Tourists. Rollerbladers.  Young mothers with baby carriages.  Old men with walkers.  A melting pot of tumult!  But amidst the bedlam was a sudden sea of calm.

An older worker, wielding a 20-foot-long squeegee, was painstakingly and peacefully cleaning the side of the building.  As madness erupted around him, he whistled and sang and concentrated on the task at hand.  And the building seemed to sing back in beautiful indifference.  Something about it mesmerized me and I couldn’t take my eyes off of the tranquil scene.

As I walked closer, the worker took a break, wiped the sweat from his eyes, and then stared directly at me.

“You like my work?” he inquired in a thick Turkish accent.

I hesitated and stammered, and that was all the opening he needed.

“My name is Tarik.  Here.  You try!”

And with that, he smiled broadly, handed over the massive, upscale mop, and implored me to get to work.  Slightly shocked, I fumbled with the handle and awkwardly started cleaning.  He made it look effortless and even elegant, but I reflected all the grace of an ice-skating rhinoceros.  Tarik laughed once again.

“Not so easy, is it, my friend?”

Yeah, not so easy.  

“Aw, don’t feel bad.  I’ve been doing this every day for years.  You can’t be Tarik with one try.”  

Now it was my turn to chuckle.  But then I saw a look of pride mixed with incredible confidence as the smile drained away from his face.

“This is what I do.  And nobody can hold a candle to Tarik!”

He said it with such conviction.  And shouldn’t we all take such pride in the little things that we do so well?

We Can’t Take Our Talents for Granted

We all have grandiose dreams and goals. We all want to maximize our impact in this world.  And why not?  Go big or go home!  But sometimes we get so caught up in thinking big, we forget to concentrate on the seemingly insignificant skills that we need to hone and perfect.  We lack basic people skills but our analytical skills are world-class.  We are proficient at connecting people but lack the confidence to negotiate the intricacies of the deal.  We have grandiose ideas but have trouble focusing on the smaller steps necessary for execution.  We get overwhelmed in the workplace but excel at executing the details of taking care of our family.  

Personal development demands improving those skills that are deficient.  We all want to be well-rounded.  But we can’t take those insignificant skills that come naturally to us for granted.  The world needs connectors.  The world needs analysts.  The world needs big thinkers.  The world needs people to manage the family ecosystem.  We can’t let other people try to label us as one-dimensional. We can’t let other people diminish our seemingly insignificant talents.  We need to double down on our skills and work them to perfection.  It is better to be world-class in one minute discipline than average in a multitude of broader disciplines.

Success is Measured in the Depth of Impact

Taking pride in our work is the key to success.  And the key to resilience.   It starts with an attitude.  An unashamed embrace of our task at hand. No matter how small.   Then our confidence grows with the repetition and hard work that ultimately leads to mastery.  Will that mastery bring fame and fortune?  Will it change the world? It’s possible.  But it absolutely will make our corner of the world a little better.  Our impact will be best measured by depth rather than breadth.

Every day, Tarik cleans a single building. Starting at one end, and gliding to the other.   But instead of cursing the drudgery of this Sisyphean task, Tarik takes great pride and joy in mastering his skill.  There will be no statues built for him.  He likely won’t end up living in a New York penthouse or on the cover of a magazine.  But he has accomplished something many of us strive to achieve.  He is proud of his work, dedicated to his craft, and confident in his contributions to this world. In the end, that will always lead to success.

He’s right.  Nobody can hold a candle to Tarik!