Stress and The Inner Game of Work

As luck had it, life sent me someone who was a perfect example of what was pervading my mind. My flight from LAX to London was delayed by an hour, so, being resourceful, I used the extra time as an opportunity to get my shoes shined while I waited to take off. When I approached, it seemed like an ordinary airport shoe shine stand. I didn’t know then that I was about to get the best shoe shine of my life, let alone that I would witness a most unique example of the inner game of work at the hands of Marvin, „the best shoe shiner in the world.” At least, that’s what the inscription on the front of his shirt proclaimed. He wore five stars on each shoulder, and „Complementary Shoe Shines” embroidered into the back of his shirt, in large letters. This grand display should have tipped me off to the unusual experience that was about to take place, but instead I sat, musing about my upcoming book launch and seminar unawares, watching Marvin work on the shoes of the two people ahead of me, while I waited for my turn.  

Marvin’s corner of the airport was adorned with a large bulletin board. The board was covered with pictures of him alongside his adoring customers, including celebrities like Brad Pitt. The other side of his stand was marked by a row of seats for his patrons.  As I settled into an empty middle seat, Marvin was explaining his daily two-hour commute from the north to get to LAX every morning. He confessed that, after the long trip home at the end of the day, he had to dig for the energy to play with his kids and „give them all the attention they needed.”

As the conversation went on, he gushed about his work, despite the challenges and the distance.

„I’ve really heard it all from the people I serve –“ he said.

„They tell me everything!  And I just say, «very interesting, very interesting.» I’m really a bartender, an entertainer and psychologist all at the same time.“

He kept up a running dialogue with his intrigued customers about life, its challenges, and the specific polishing techniques he’d learned from his teacher who shines shoes in San Francisco.  He seemed to learn something from each customer, to share a laugh with them, and to always strive do his best work.

Marvin was clearly a joyful worker—no hint of boredom ever crossed his focused eyes.  Within ten minutes, all three of us were now among his many satisfied customers; remarking at his skill, looking down at our shining shoes and exclaiming: „This was ‘the best shoe shine I’ve ever had.’”

„This job keeps me humble,” he said. „And, when I go to heaven and stand to account before God—for what I did with my life—I will say with a smile on my face, that I sure touched a lot of soles in my days.“And so he did.

In case you’re wondering how he was able to make a living off his complimentary shines, we all gave Marvin tips (the only form of payment he accepted). These tips amounted to more payment than he would have received if there been a fee in the first place.  That’s the way Marvin liked it. When he was finished, he simply looked each one of us in the eye and said, „Thank you, thank you very much.“ He had managed to support his wife and two children for over twelve years on his „tip-only“ income.