How a Simple Tap with a Hammer Taught a Priceless Lesson in Expertise and Value

Waleed Al Yarubi
A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure out how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away.

The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer....................... $ 2.00

Knowing where to tap.......................... $ 9,998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

Have a nice day
KavithaViswarao
Hi,

A very good story. Effort is very important, but the effort should be in the right way. This story helps us understand how effort should be applied to become a better person.

Regards,
Kavitha Viswarao
spellbinder
Hi,

Great story! I had originally read this in an NLP book in its introduction... I guess it was "Frogs into Princes." Nice story! Makes you look at using "common sense."

Best wishes,
Nad

sanyu
Hi,

That was really a good one. I would like to know the process of sacking an employee on grounds of absenteeism. Can anyone help me with a flow chart? :)

Sanyu
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