Whenever I have free time  free time is when nobody is buzzing  as quickly as possible, I bring the packages to the tenants, and the dry cleaning.

To be a good elevator operator, you’ve got to love people. I’ll be honest. Over the years, everybody has their times  the ups and downs in life. Everybody loves when you’re smiling, and when you cry, you cry alone. That’s a fact in everyday life, and that’s the case here.

The night before work, you’ve got to say: “Tomorrow, I’m going to work, and I’m going to be happy I’m working. I’m going to make my money.” I always say, if it weren’t for bills, I wouldn’t be working. But I’m glad I’ve got bills.

The tenants notice if I’m having an off day, and sometimes, they’re having an off day. Don’t forget, I get very intimate with these people. I get to know part of their life because you’re in the elevator, and you hear things. Once we go to a concierge, we’re going to lose that connection.

Knowing when to strike up a conversation comes naturally. Sometimes, I see a person and I say, “Wow, you smell great.” I love loud colors. Some of these women in this building, they dress so beautiful, in phenomenal outfits. The guys dress up nice, too. They’ve got beautiful ties on. Of course, there’s always the weather you can talk about.

I’ve learned a lot from the people in this building, about politics and all sorts of things. I’m from the Bronx. I don’t have much education. But you learn about respect and how to treat other people.

I always like to ask the tenants, “Where did you go?” Because they go to the Hamptons, or to Colorado skiing, or to Europe. So maybe one day, I’ll go to that place. Maybe one day, if I’m ever in Colorado, if they went to a particular restaurant, it’s nice to know. Sometimes they think I’m nosey, but I’m not. I do it out of curiosity.