I've lived in Nangang, Taipei for over a year now. Every time I pass by "Yi Coffee" on Nangong Road Section 3, I can't help but peek inside. Because there's a staff member there who always wears a surgical mask, constantly moving back and forth between the front and back of the store, pouring brewed tea into containers to keep warm. Even when there are no customers, he never sits idle—he often stands at the counter looking outside, afraid of missing any crowds, and frequently uses a cloth to wipe down the counter or a broom to clean the shop.
Diagonally across from Yi Coffee is 50 Lan, and within a few steps you'll find Ching Shin Fu Quan, then further ahead is Tea Soup Meeting. Surrounded by three major bubble tea chains, the lunch rush from nearby office buildings constantly floods these stores. Only Yi Coffee has fewer crowds, appearing somewhat quiet and lonely, yet Mr. Wang, working as a staff member, remains diligent, carefully attending to the smallest details.
Who says 35 dollars can't get great coffee? Temperature control, sugar precision—Mr. Wang is meticulous about every detail
That slogan made Yi Coffee famous back then, and Mr. Wang is no exception. "Yi Coffee is really delicious and affordable," he says, moving drink containers in and out, so busy he's dripping with sweat, barely having time to chat with me for more than a moment. But when he mentions his own beverages, his eyes light up with obvious pride.
Mr. Wang is in his fifties. Every day from 7:30 AM to 8 PM, he spends 12 hours in the shop. He commutes by motorcycle between Neihu and Nangang, with only four days off per month, yet he's content with it all. He has no complaints and is genuinely happy because he's doing what he loves.
He's not the boss—just an employee earning a monthly salary. After observing for a year, I've never seen him playing with his phone or chatting while sitting down. He's always organizing the shop and making drinks. Once when I bought a drink from him, he pressed the caramel from top to bottom, waiting for it to rebound, repeating this process three times in a thorough manner to ensure all the caramel really got into the cup. Unlike some staff members who just press it a few times carelessly.
Mr. Wang always wears a mask in the shop, wearing a neat uniform and hat, maintaining his appearance and ensuring the cleanliness of the beverage counter. Even when there are no customers, he never takes off his mask, no matter how hot it gets, staying consistent. Though these things seem simple and basic, looking around at beverage shops nowadays, staff members hardly ever wear masks.
Someone so conscientious and grounded, putting effort into doing everything well, can inspire those who merely observe from the sidelines. Yet Mr. Wang humbly says there are actually two other employees in the shop and he's not that capable. He even jokes that "the boss would definitely be happy to hear you say that."
(According to the Food Safety and Sanitation Standard Section 6, Item 6, Point 1: "Food business personnel in food operation venues should wear masks when necessary.")
Stepping out from behind the counter, carefully picking up a small styrofoam piece—treating the beverage shop like his own because life is his own
"Wait a moment!" In the middle of our conversation, Mr. Wang suddenly stopped and hurried out from behind the counter. I looked curiously, and realized it was because a tiny piece of styrofoam had somehow ended up on the shop floor. It was really just a small piece, but he spotted it with sharp eyes, quickly picked it up, and threw it in the recycling bin, worried the shop wouldn't look good.
"I'm in my fifties," he says. Most beverage shop staff are young student part-timers, but he's already past fifty—quite a unique position. When I pressed for more information, I learned that Mr. Wang used to be a senior engineer, working in that field for about 20 years. He became so passionate about Yi Coffee that he decided to switch careers. Even though his salary dropped significantly, it didn't affect his enthusiasm.
Over 10 years ago, Mr. Wang switched from being an engineer to working as a staff member at Yi Coffee—a decision that takes considerable courage for most people considering such a career pivot. Fortunately, his family didn't object and even supported him. He believes work is simply something that sustains life. As long as you can be happy and make a living, it doesn't really matter what you do. There's no need to specifically pursue fame and fortune. He's quite optimistic: "It's really about doing what you can within your capacity. There's no need to compare yourself with others."
Mr. Wang says he doesn't have big aspirations. In today's society, it's no longer an era of "all pursuits are lowly, only reading is noble." Many people who earned PhDs still can't find work. Constantly chasing to climb higher, like becoming a company executive managing and dealing with office politics—he lacks that ability, and his heart would feel more exhausted. There would be too many things to worry about, making it hard to truly experience life.
"What's most important is to have interest—then you won't feel tired," he explains. Working as an engineer put him under great stress. He was good at planning work, so his health didn't suffer, but his mind and spirit weren't free. Now that he's switched to making beverages, even though it's just repeating the same tasks, he feels at ease. "Mindset is very important." How you view something determines how rich your life will be.
Someone like Mr. Wang, who treats every task in his life with such seriousness, truly inspires many people. I myself often get lost in others' lives, thinking I could do what they're doing too, so I drift aimlessly, coming and going, losing myself in the process. Such a life is not only tiring but also erodes self-awareness over time. With a clear goal and moving forward, persisting and repeating, whatever you do will succeed. And such success is defined by you, not by others.
I'm Karen, currently conducting an interview project with 100 hardworking individuals, documenting people who are making an effort. If you have dreams, you're welcome to submit your story so more people can share. Submit to: 100powerpeople@gmail.com
