Work hard, be lonely forever.

Sometimes I don't have fun at work because I try too hard to be the one setting the example by not making jokes or standing around not doing anything. Know what I mean? Since I'm a trainer, and I've also been working at Nasty for much longer than many other employees, there is pressure to instill that strong work ethic that tough managers instilled in me years ago. If Cafe Nasty loses that insane energy, where workers are always buzzing around and scrubbing shit and being hyper-motivated to get the job done, then we're just another lame coffee shop full of burnout youths.
To think that the public could ever view us that way saddens me greatly. However, as time passes and there are so many new people, so many young people, the fear grows within me that we're headed to a bad place.
So to combat this, I go the extra mile by sometimes not even saying one witty thing or engaging in one minute's worth of small talk with my crew for our entire shift. I work hard instead. I give orders, and throw disapproving glances in the direction of those who slack on the job. Sometimes this works and a good flow is achieved, where we're each doing something of value and there's never a dull moment. Other times, I just end up alienating myself from the team and I spend the day in my corner while they chat and laugh and exclude me from all their jokes- and they don't work.
What to do when this happens?