Why Jobs Are Done Poorly:

“How is it that these halls are never clean?”

“They don’t seem clean to you?”

“No, they don’t. It seems every time I walk through these halls, the floors are still dirty and the sills are still dusty. The work is only half-finished. I’ve complained and they’ve changed the janitors two and three times, but it’s always the same! Why?”

“I can tell you three truths: the first is the ‘truth’ you want to hear; the second is the ‘truth’ the world wants to believe; and the third is the actual truth, which almost everyone shuts out. All of these truths are false except the last, so which do you want to hear?”

“Why don't you tell me each one?”

“Very well, the truth you want to hear is that the janitors are lazy, so they're not doing their job. In fact, there should be serious consequences for the lack of work they've done: their wages should be docked, or they should be fired."

“Yes, that’s right!”

“The truth the world wants to believe is mixed. Some want to believe that the janitors aren’t able to clean well because they are not given good wages or the training or supplies needed to do their work, while some will agree with you that the janitors should be fired.”

“Okay, what’s the actual truth?”

“Have you ever heard of medals or trophies given to janitors?

“No, I’ve never heard of that.”

“Have you seen a book written about janitors?”

“No, I’ve never seen one.”

“Have you spoken to or heard someone else speaking well about janitors?”

“No, I’ve never spoken to a janitor; what's your point?”

“That's the reason why the floors will never be fully clean and why there will always be a little dust here and there on the sills; it’s because no one aspires to be a janitor. Many people in this world would make excellent janitors —and these halls would be pristine— but when human beings only recieve dignity and respect on the basis of what they do, no one would willingly choose an occupation that gave them none, such as a janitor. Imagine how good the world would be if every person in every occupation received the same dignity and respect as an astronaut, president, or doctor. The actual truth is that the floors are still dirty and the sills are still dusty because of you.”

“Me? How is it my fault?!”

“Because you don’t want to be a janitor -even though you see what needs cleaning better than anyone else.”

“You’re crazy! The halls are dirty and dusty because those lazy janitors are just not doing their job. What a waste of time. I’m getting out of here!”

“Maybe you can clean the floors or dust the sills before you go.”

“That’s not my job!”

“You’re right. Who wants to be a janitor?”