“A society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit under.”
A Drop in the Bucket
The coffee run is a shared ritual. For many of us, that 5-minute interaction between ordering and receiving can shape the tone of our day. The barista, often unknowingly, holds the power to turn that $6 cup into a day-maker or day-breaker; not just for the customer, but for everyone the customer meets afterward.
The coffee gets made, the transaction ends, but the impact continues. A frustrated barista passes frustration forward. A cheerful barista passes warmth. Each interaction ripples outward and multiplies.
Every job, every act, carries both an immediate and long-term impact. The immediate is visible. The long-term is invisible; the impact extending far beyond what we will ever see.
The Ripples of Impact
It is easy to chase only what’s immediate: results, awards, recognition. When outcomes feel slow or distant, we grow restless and demotivated. Yet the most meaningful work rarely produces instant gratification. It’s about planting trees whose shade we may never sit under – not just for the consumer holding today’s cup, but for the coworkers, families, and communities who benefit long after.
Creating ripples of impact requires a shift in how we measure success. It asks us to trade urgency for integrity and instant gratification for enduring contribution. True integrity is staying committed even when the results aren’t immediate. It’s showing up with care for the next person, the next interaction, and the next generation.
Each small act, each drop, creates a ripple. Each ripple creates “shade” for the future and for others.
