Meaningful Returns

I’ve had a lot of jobs. I got paid for some of them.

The worst job I had was in high school working at a furniture store where new and used furniture was sold and delivered, for a fee. I almost cut my left index finger off at that job. And as a result I had an ugly cast in my senior pictures, that finger still feels all tingly because the nerves got destroyed, and I have a scar. Everyone should have a terrible job at some point in their life, but hopefully it doesn’t stay terrible.

And I think this guy should be our ultimate goal. This guy, Steven Weinstein, is an employee at Zappos, which is known for having the greatest customer service of all time and selling shoes on the side. And listen to this: Steven was on the phone with a single customer for more than ten straight hours. 

Why? Because that’s what Zappos does, and because he believes in his work, and loves it, and wants to be the very best at what he does.

I mean, that’s a lofty goal, but can you imagine what your life would look like if you and more and more people and companies around you held that as their standard for work? That would be incredible.