Joe: the employee that behaves like the CEO

Joe keeps a steady diet of sleep, family time, and purpose-driven work.

On workdays, he wakes up every morning after six to eight hours of sleep, goes to the gym, and gets to work. He is the first one in the office every morning, with some rare exceptions. He is the one that pulls the coffee pot from the washing machine every morning before preparing his coffee.

His work is impeccable. So is his dressing. If he commits to a deliverable, you know it is a hard fact it will get done. Everyone wants to work and partner with him. He is a force of nature. He drives culture. He is an institution.

And he is kind.

Every office should have a Joe.

Why is Joe so committed?

Life was not always easy for Joe.

He had to struggle through school. He had to figure things out on his own when he moved to the big city. “Pain and suffering” as stated by NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, were endured.

And the way Joe channeled all of his life’s frustrations into productivity make his resolve strong. It keeps him sharp. And his temper steady. It was the hardships that made him value the opportunities that came his way.

No complaints.

Radical acceptance of the task ahead.

He keeps the struggle alive and uses it as fuel: a daily reminder of what life was like as opposed to what it is today. And that’s enough. The distance is large.

He smiles.

He thinks like an owner, which does not come from the company’s culture or stock options or autonomy of the tasks. It comes from the real desire to thank the company for taking him out of the struggle. And he pays it back with value and values.  

Find your Joe.