Imagine, for a moment, that you’re standing in line somewhere. 

Perhaps it’s the post office, or maybe it’s the grocery store. Or possibly you’re standing in the midst of a few neighbors, getting ready to cast your vote on the local school budget. 

A conversation begins and soon you’re asked for a suggestion. 

Maybe they’re looking for a plumber to replace their leaky pipes or they’ve noticed their aging front door could use a replacement. Perhaps they’re in need of someone to drop in a few times a month to clean their home — wash the windows, wipe down the baseboards and keep the chaos in check. 

Standing face to face, what would your answer be?

Would you look at this person who you may have just met 2 minutes prior, this person who you barely know, call them out for being “lazy” and tell them they ought to be doing this all themselves?

The right answer here is of course not ... I’m not a judgmental jerk. 

People have all sorts of reasons for calling on professionals to provide them with services, from cleaning their gutters to updating their siding and everything in between. 

Maybe they’re working several jobs and know they won’t have time to get to the work before next winter, but they need the job done now. 

Maybe they’ve got a bad back or they’ve been felled by the flu. 

Maybe they’ve got a family member fighting cancer, and they’re spending their days driving back and forth to New York City. 

Maybe they don’t have the know-how or the proper equipment to complete the job. 

Or maybe they just don’t want to ... and they’re willing to pay someone a fair rate to do the job. 

I could keep going, but I shouldn’t have to. 

These are all reasons why the service industry in America exists, why professionals with expertise in a certain industry are invaluable members of the community who help us keep our lives on track. 

They’re also all reasons why the next time you see a “seeking recommendation for X service” posts in a local Facebook group, you have two choices. 

You can share your recommendation. 

Or you can keep on scrolling. 

If you don’t have anything nice to say, after all, you don’t need to let the whole world know you’re a judgmental jerk.