It has a body, it has a mind, but does it have a heart? Observations of the life of a cafe.

When I enter a cafe, I expect a few things: A nice ambience, proper music and lighting, comfortable furniture, well-made drinks and good service be it at a large, well-known brand of an establishment such as the famed Starbucks, Twinnings and the likes, or at a small shop in the corner that is privately owned.

The fault with many cafes, though, is not in all that I have mentioned earlier, for most would have a body (a physical establishment that is well-designed to meet the expectations of its patrons) and a mind (a strategic business plan created to bring in profits). However though, as much as one may be inclined to think otherwise, without a beating heart, one such place would fail at creating an impact in a noisy marketplace filled to the brim with eager competitors.

Where then, does the heart of a cafe lie? It lies where all other hearts lie: in people, in the staff of a cafe. It is they who bring genuine smiles to the customers, they who add that little extra foam for a familiar regular who comes in every morning knowing that that is how he likes his coffee, and they who may just make someone's day that much brighter and more meaningful with an acknowledging nod and an enthusiastic greeting.

So the next time you encounter a cafe with a heart, remember who it is whom deserves the credit. Motivate and inspire that cafe staff, and you will see the difference. One who is inspired, will inspire others.