The innkeepers had recommended that my husband and I dine at a nearby farm-to-table restaurant featuring a limited, creative menu. Our server, Darren, had me at hello. He welcomed us with a smile that lit up the room and engaging eye contact. He was young and enthusiastic. Instead of the artificial, memorized meet-and-greet (“Hi, guys. Welcome to the ABC. My name is Darren. I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with a cocktail or an appetizer?”), he spoke to us like we were engaged in a real conversation (because we were).

Throughout the meal, Darren would check in with us. He was very attentive to any requests. Since this was a Saturday night, my husband and I wondered if he had another “day job” during the week, so we asked him. His reply: “This is my full-time job. This is what I do.” He explained that he believes in the restaurant’s philosophy, that he has always been in the hospitality industry, working at restaurants or hotels, and that he loves serving people. I said, “It shows. It’s clear that you enjoy what you do. You were very attentive and made our dining experience very memorable.” He was genuinely grateful for our comments and thanked us.

What was different about Darren was that his passion for what he does for a living was crystal clear from the moment he greeted us. This was opposite of the experience we had two nights earlier with a server who flashed his artificial runway smile just to earn a bigger tip. The customer knows the difference between artificial and authentic…you can’t fake authenticity!

Thank you, Darren, for being the wonderful, authentic person you are. And thank you to all the authentic individuals out there who truly enrich our lives.