That’s the notice taped to the elevator in my building. It’s been there for over 10 days. No calls, no updates. Just a standard, “The elevator is out of service, sorry for the inconvenience.”

The person who put up the banner probably did exactly what was expected—print the sign, tape it up, send a generic email, and move on. Job done, right?

But who is responsible for caring?

What if we approached our work differently? Not just checking off tasks, but actually caring—about the people, about the impact, about what really needs to be done.

It’s easy to do the minimum, to follow the script. But what if we took the opportunity to do more? To show empathy, to communicate with the residents, to find a solution instead of just stating the problem.

The banner could have said, “We know this is frustrating. Here’s what we’re doing about it, and here’s how you can reach us if you need assistance.” A small shift, but one that shows care.

The difference between simply doing your job and doing work that matters isn’t about titles or tasks. It’s about choosing to care, to connect, to make a difference—no matter how small.

That’s the work that changes things. That’s the work worth doing.