The Popcorn Man

I am new to California. I was born in the Midwest, and since then my personal and professional life have collectively taken me on a journey around the globe. One of the things I love about this part of the country, is the wide array of farmer's markets. California has such a wide variety of produce. I addition to the fruits and veggies, we have recently become fond of a freshly made kettlecorn that they sell at the market. There's a man who we always see. He never seemed very cheerful on past visits. It was hard work, I imagine....standing over that big kettle, the California heat beating down, stirring kernels of corn for hours on end. Today, something was different. The popcorn man had a smile on his face. Quickly, the reason became self-evident. He had gotten a device for the the big kettle that with the simple flip of a switch, would stir the big kettle automatically. The 'pain' had been taken out of his job. Now, all he needed to do was cheerfully scoop out the bags of hot popcorn to happy customers.

At farmers' markets and in offices, there are a lot of people out there waiting for the day that someway somehow, someone will take the 'pain' out of their job. For some, maybe they're in the wrong job. For others, maybe it's a matter of making some simple changes - like automating certain functions. Whatever the situation, I think the most fulfilling part of my job is helping people figure out how they can be more fulfilled and more successful at their job.