In Billy Joel’s legendary song Piano Man, the lyrics go:
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”
The bar patrons are apparently awed by the Piano Man’s talent and performance.
It’s better than expected.
The performance doesn’t fit with the expectations of a local dive bar.
When you’re at work, does anyone ever ask you, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”
Have you ever been in a fast food restaurant and the person serving you is extra engaged? They smile sincerely. They take their job seriously. They care.
It’s so rare, that when you see it, you notice it. You feel like asking, “Man, what are you doin’ here?” In your heart, you know that this person is destined for both career and life greatness. You sense that in a short time, they will move on to a better, more challenging job to match their talents and performance.
Performing at an exceptional level is mostly about being fully engaged. And caring.
When you go to work, do you fully engage?
When you go to work, is your talent (and caring) on full display?
When you go to work, do people ask, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”