The other day, when visiting a hospital, I saw an interesting notice on the wall of the Starbucks. It said to talk to the staff about the possibility of becoming a barista for a day for 15 minutes. The program seemed to be directed at the health personnel -- on the poster cartoon doctors and nurses smiled manically (perhaps from too much coffee, as free coffee was how they got "paid"). There was a gallery, too, with photographs of those 15-minute baristas. Everyone looked like they were having a fun time.

What a great idea, I thought, to let people try on other people's jobs. It's probably less feasible for the baristas to try on 15-minute surgeries, but I loved the idea that educated, specialized medical workers got a chance to experience what it's like to work in the deceptively simple customer service industry. I'm sure many had their "How hard is it to make my Grande-sugar-free-non-fat-lactose-free-double-shot-decaf-no-foam-extra-hot-Cinnamon-White-Chocolate-Mocha-with-light-whip-and-extra-syrup" questions answered by taking on the barista challenge.

I admit it, there were a few times when I acted like a jerk toward customer service reps -- despite the fact that I've done some of that work myself! I'd let my own frustrations and bad mood take over when standing in many impatient line-ups. I'd get especially irritated when I'd see customer service reps ignoring their customers. I'm so quick to forget how tiring and monotone those jobs can be too. I forget how I'd done the same thing, during crazy-busy days of dealing with rude customers -- how I pretended that people weren't standing in the line-up because it was either that or my head was going to explode. I forget how sometimes people talked down to me and how they felt entitled to way too much, tip-free.

So I think that the barista initiative will get everyone appreciate everyone else's business and help the medical staff understand that making coffee may not be as easy as it seems. True, baristas don't save lives per se, but I'm sure they've saved many wavering, headachy mornings of those who do.

Jowita