The story of a guy with Downs Syndrome, some grocery bags and an idea straight from the heart.

Paul Michael — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:51:36 +0000

Something I have often heard from teachers, mentors and my own parents is the following phrase: “Be the best at what you do, whatever you do.” It’s a lesson I have tried to live up to most of my life. But the following story, well, it really illustrates the point.

Most of us try and be good at what we do. In our daily jobs, we try and be a great employee. In family life, we try and be a good husband, wife, father or mother. But how many of us strive to be the best that we do, regardless of the task?

That brings us to Joe (not his real name), a man who was born with Down Syndrome and has more reason than most to feel sorry for himself. Of course, Joe isn’t like that. His condition makes most jobs out of his reach, but that didn’t stop him from getting a position at the local grocery store as a bagger.

A bagger is not a particularly glamorous job. It’s dull, repetitive work and the pay isn’t exactly wonderful. Joe didn’t see it that way. He wanted to be the best bagger in the store, if not, the city. So, he had an idea.

He went home and, with the help of his father, typed up inspirational sayings and quotes. Then, he cut them out and took them to work. Every time he put groceries in a bag, he would add one of the little inspirational quotes. It made Joe happy to spread a little joy, and the customers loved it, too.

In fact, they really loved it. So much so that pretty soon, people were lining up to get their groceries bagged by Joe. It didn’t matter if another checkout was open, people would stand in line to meet Joe and get one of his inspirational sayings with their weekly shop.

From a mundane job, Joe created something extraordinary. He got tips, too, which was not the goal but certainly helped him out. He did something remarkable and genuine, and everyone around him felt inspired. That is the embodiment of being the best at what you do.

Take that story to heart and let it sink in. What could you do better in your daily routine? It doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money, but just a little thought. Put your ideas to work and who knows what the outcome may be. It could turn an ordinary business into an overnight success. It could turn an average day at work into something exciting. “Be the best at what you do, whatever you do” are words to live by.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: