In my first job back in Korea, on one evening, I had a chance to sit next to a successful and wealthy businessperson. Our company hosted a dinner party with prominent guests, and I was lucky enough to be seated next to this successful entrepreneur from Taiwan.
I asked him, “How did you become so successful?”
He said, “Shine in small things.”
Too cliche, right? But as it turned out, shining in small things was the only logical explanation for his success that he could offer.
His life story is a classic example of rags to riches. He came from nothing. At around 17, he worked at a restaurant, washing dishes and mopping floors. But he said he washed dishes and mopped floors “as if these were the last jobs he would ever have”. Soon, he was noticed by the owner, and his responsibilities grew. Fast forward some many years, and he started his own restaurant business, which eventually grew into a real estate empire.
Sure, we’re in different times now. Many of us are not living in developing countries in their fast growth era. Companies don’t really take care of us, which is why some people feel they need to bounce around 5 different side gigs. But who knows? Shining in small things and doing the best possible work in your current role might still lead to amazing results over time.
(A side note: So much of your professional or life perspective can be influenced by who you meet early in your career – I still remember that dinner with the Taiwanese businessman, so many years after.)