The night made me feel deeply grateful for the lessons I learned from the uncle who owns the coffee shop.
Not through a scheduled sharing session, but through the honesty he conveyed from his experiences, and the character he showed simply by listening. Then, almost casually, he added a compliment one of those typical “financial-freedom uncle” compliments that I thought would carry judgment, but instead revealed a wisdom that felt unexpectedly healing.
At exactly 9:30 p.m., while I was struggling to stay focused on my tasks, he sat there calmly, playing a typical fifty-year-old-dad game on his high-end gadget. Something he probably didn’t need, yet perhaps also one of the things that brought him to where he is now. More than that, I realized that in moments like this, he became the perfect consultant for all the questions in my head. Without hesitation, I asked for permission to disturb him and took the empty seat across from him, leaving two empty chairs on our right as our armrests.
We exchanged a bit of small talk about my work contract, a topic he raised only to tease me, joking dramatically that I must have just been fired. Like most middle-aged men, any form of small talk always comes with an over-the-top joke. I replied, “I’m on break because I’m still a freelancer,” and from there the conversation drifted into the fresh topic of my first job, which has only been running for three months. Before I knew it, I found myself pouring out my concerns—questions about what I should do when facing certain problems at work. All the while, as he fumbled with his dad game, he muttered to himself, scolding himself for talking to someone while rudely playing at the same time.
The moment broke into a small laugh—his fatherly awkwardness serving as an unspoken apology for not giving full attention. Then he continued, reassuring me that the solution I was doubting was actually correct. He supported it with examples from his own employees, giving the reasoning and the ideal standards behind what I asked, and verifying that I had done the right thing.
Our conversation flowed like a counseling session with a seasoned consultant. He spoke with conviction grounded in the fact that running this large coffee shop is only his side job, and supported by the two expensive gadgets I know he owns. Behaviors like that made me feel comfortable, truly listened to, and taught me that integrity must be shown not only through words, but more importantly, through actions.
He reminded me that just like in campus organizations—where he knows I’ve spent many years—a company must also fight for the growth mindset and innovation of its employees. He also shared about his career, starting as a management student who somehow maneuvered his way into becoming a data analyst. The data analyst he is today was shaped from someone who, in the early days, was apathetic and indifferent to his team. He slowly changed and has upheld those values ever since.
As our conversation approached the closing time of the café, he advised me to consider pursuing a master’s degree. This time, it came with a special compliment—his view of how I think. A view formed from knowing me four years ago, even though we only recently began having monthly discussions over the past few months.
Be grateful for the people around you, for each of us carries values shown through the way we treat others. And if you ever feel like ending your efforts, it is not because hope has disappeared, but because you allowed it to fade. Get to know yourself better, because you may find people out there who want the best version of you—and who will help you bring it to life.
