Michelangelo could’ve been a flight attendant.
For an early (and very generous) Christmas present, my mom upgraded us to business class on our flight to Italy. (Thanks Ma!)
We sat in the middle, so my wife was served by the flight attendant on the right aisle and I was served by the one on the left.
My wife’s flight attendant forgot her welcome champagne, forgot her dinner order and forgot her breakfast.
When she realized it, she was charmingly apologetic.
“Here’s a glass of the first class champagne to make up for it.”
“Well, we’re off to a roaring start aren’t we?”
“I scrambled them myself!”
My flight attendant didn’t forget anything. No mistakes were made. All expectations were met.
But….dollars to donuts, I’d be my wife’s flight attendant will be more successful over her career for one simple fact…
…she peeled the cellophane.
The dinner salad and breakfast muesli came wrapped in cellophane.
My flight attendant plopped my tray down as is.
My wife’s peeled the cellophane off and added it to a growing ball of plastic wrap.
My flight attendant didn’t miss any steps, but she definitely did not want to be there.
My wife’s missed a few steps, but she enjoyed serving passengers.
My flight attendant mentally rolled her eyes when I took her up on her offer for more coffee. (And was very happy when I didn’t want sugar or cream.)
My wife’s scrambled the eggs herself!
How you do anything is how you do everything.
It doesn’t matter if it’s managing your money, doing a job you’re not really into or hunting for your next career move.
To paraphrase that famous quote…
“Even if you’re just dropping off meal trays, unwrap the cellophane as if you’re Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel.”
BTW Michelangelo didn’t actually WANT to paint the Sistine Chapel.
He did it grudgingly because the Pope made him.
And yet, he still couldn’t help doing his best work.
And the result was one of the most magnificent artistic works ever created.
How you do anything is how you do everything.
