A grocery manager gave a young man his first job. Eager to please, the new employee would rush through every task. Then he would say: “What can I do now?”

After a while, the manager let out a deep breath. He wanted to critique, not criticize. He said, “Son, come here. I want to show you the rule in this store.” Leading the young man into the storeroom, he pointed to the back wall where a large sign said: “When in doubt, sweep.”

This is Howard Butt Jr. of Laity Lodge. Some routine tasks always need to be done. Beginners wait to be told to do them, but a rising employee accomplishes the routine and anticipates what comes next … in the high calling of our daily work.