Wulfgang William

So this rambling comes to you from an experience that I had about six months ago ago. I'm reminded of it because today found me up early to fly to Phoenix and now up late to return to Dallas. (Note to self: don't make day trips out West. The time lost coming home is a killer.)

This story comes to you from my first week long training trip for CareerBuilder. You can think of it as boot camp for CB rookies. It was intense, with 8 hours of classroom work every day and a couple hours of homework each night. The training was solid, but long. The fact that I'm not used to traveling and being away from my wife and dog made the week even longer. 

Needless to say, by the time I got to the airport on Friday, I was very ready to get home. It had been a long week, my brain was fried, and I was ready to sleep in my bed.

As I sat in Chicago's O'Hare Airport waiting for my flight, I realized that I was starving. We all know that finding a halfway healthy dining option in an airport is next to impossible. However, amidst the BK Lounges, MCDonald's, and trinket shops with overpriced sundries, I spotted a bit of an oasis. Wolfgang Puck had dropped an airport version of one of his cafes right in front of me.

Thanks, Wulfgang!

Now, this did little to improve my mood, because I still figure if something is in an airport, it's going to be bad. At least this might be on the higher end of bad. The food was overpriced and took itself too seriously to be in an airport, bug it was at least healthy-ish and fresh, and I didn't have to order from a robo-cashier talk box, so I was okay with things.

As I waited in line to order my fancy miniature pizza, I noticed William.

William was a cafe employee, but not behind the counter or preparing the food. William was walking about the tables picking up trash and straightening the chairs. I would assume that in the Wolfgang Puck Airport Cafe team pecking order, William is probably on the bottom.

I ordered my pizza and went to my seat, all the while watching William. He got my attention at first because I people watch at airports. There's not much else to do. But shortly after, I noticed that he was not at all a typical airport cafe employee. In fact, William wasn't typical of employees at most companies.

William was not only picking up trash and straightening chairs, which I assume is what his role expressly calls for him to do, but he was bringing orders to the tables (mine included). In addition, he was offering patrons Parmesan cheese, plastic ware, napkins, drinks refills, and all of the things that one would never, ever expect at an airport cafe. He was actually providing better service than I've had at a number of sit-down restaurants.

Here's the thing, William did it with a smile and a genuine enthusiasm. He embraced the opportunity to affect the people around him.

He took a few seconds to make a joke or a friendly word with each table of people, and in turn, each table had a collective smile as he left.

William was making people smile. At an overpriced cafe. In an airport.

I ate my pizza and drank my beer, all the while watching William work his craft. I was amazed at his passion and enthusiasm with which he went about his business. 

I found myself, for the first time that day, despite all that I take for granted and am not nearly thankful enough for God having given me, in a good mood. William, by simply being friendly and taking pride in his job, had made my day better.

I decided at that moment that I had to do one more thing that day before leaving Chicago. 

I approached William and told him that I appreciated what he was doing, that his positive attitude had made my entire day better, and I thanked him. I shook his hand and told him that I hope God blesses him.

William's reaction is hard to put into words. As he shook my hand, he had a look of gratitude and pride. It was clear that being thanked by a stranger is not something that William is accustomed to.

I say this not to point out that I did a good deed or paid a complement to a stranger. I share this story so that you can be on the lookout for a William as you go through your day. Someone who will remind you that no matter what we're dealing with or going through, or whatever your station in life, you can still make a positive impact on those around you.

Most importantly, when you see a William out there, thank them.

I sincerely hope that I'm not the first traveler in O'Hare to acknowledge William. If you're ever in there and see him at the Wulfgang Puck cafe, please make sure I'm not the last.