Remember the Roof Guy
One afternoon last week I was sitting at my desk in the office, pissed off and stressed, trying to figure out how to un-fu@# something that somebody else had royally messed up. As I sat there stewing and fuming, I heard a voice come just outside my office next to the elevator.
“Man, I wish I had your job!”
I looked out the door and saw a regular looking guy standing there smiling at me. “You do?” I asked. I was about ready to give it to him.
“Yeah, man, it’s hot out there. I work on the roof. I’m fixing the roof.”
I realized that although I thought I was miserable and stressed and stewing, he saw me sitting in a comfortable chair with my feet up on the desk in an air conditioned office. Which was a pretty accurate description, it turns out.
Suddenly I wasn’t so miserable. Although the guy’s English wasn’t perfect, he was clearly a sharp guy and not so different from me, except that he was putting tar on the roof in hot, humid weather, and I was sitting in my comfy chair in my office.
Kind of made it hard to feel sorry for myself.
I work in advertising. Although the clients are occasionally annoying and there are some tight deadlines, it’s not life or death. It’s advertising.
It’s also not laying tar on the roof. Next time you’re having a bad day at work, remember the roof guy and smile a little.
Happy Memorial Day. Have a good weekend.