Many years ago, I watched a television segment that has stuck with me ever since. It was about mindset—how our attitude shapes not just performance, but also happiness and fulfillment in life.
The story centered on a New York man who worked in a toll booth. Day after day, car after car, he could have easily gone through the motions, treating the job as nothing more than a paycheck. But instead, he brought a boom box with him to work.
Between each passing car, he would dance. His music and energy transformed his lane from just another place to pay a toll into something memorable and uplifting. Drivers who encountered him weren’t just paying money to get through—they were greeted with a smile, music, and a moment of joy. Many said they deliberately chose his lane each day, because he brought them light on an otherwise dreary commute.
When interviewed, he explained that his true dream was to be a dancer. He didn’t want to spend his life stuck in what he called a “vertical coffin.” And so, he made a choice: “If I can’t get paid right now doing what I love, then I am going to do what I love while getting paid.”
That mindset shift is powerful. How many of us approach work as though it’s something happening to us, rather than something we can shape with what we bring to it? How often do we feel stuck in roles, expectations, or routines that we never chose—without realizing we have the power to infuse our passions and creativity into them
For leaders, this story is a reminder that our perspective influences not only our own experience, but also the people around us. The toll booth dancer turned his job into a stage—not only for himself, but for the countless drivers he lifted up each day. Leaders have the same opportunity. When we bring positivity, energy, and authenticity into our work, it creates a ripple effect. It sparks morale, resilience, and even joy in those we lead.
The lesson is simple but profound: We may not always control the role we’re in, but we can always control the mindset we bring to it. And sometimes, that mindset can transform not just our own experience, but the experience of everyone around us.
So, ask yourself: Where might you be treating something in your life as a “vertical coffin”? And what would it look like to bring more of what you love into it—starting today?
