Thoraiya DyerHow much for your thought?
November 27th 2006 12:57
filed under Tall True Tales
In the wilds of Afghanistan, the big car of an American [surveyor] broke down and refused to start, recounts Peter Drucker in Landmarks of Tomorrow. No one could figure out what was the matter; even the factory representative who was flown in gave up. The surveyor was ready to abandon the car and go home when someone remembered that an old blacksmith who lived beyond the mountains some 50 miles away had, in his youth, tinkered with engines.
In his despair, the surveyor sent for him. Three days later, the old man appeared on a mule. He took one look at the car and asked for a hammer. He gently tapped one spot on the engine twice, and said "Start her up." And the engine purred as smoothly as if it had just left the test stand.
-What do I owe you? The grateful surveyor asked.
-A hundred dollars.
-What, a hundred dollars for two taps with the hammer?
-Well, I can itemize it for you, the old man said. For two taps with the hammer, ten cents. For having known where, 99 dollars and 90 cents.
It's a bit tragic that in our time people are more willing to pay for action but not for thought.
In the wilds of Afghanistan, the big car of an American [surveyor] broke down and refused to start, recounts Peter Drucker in Landmarks of Tomorrow. No one could figure out what was the matter; even the factory representative who was flown in gave up. The surveyor was ready to abandon the car and go home when someone remembered that an old blacksmith who lived beyond the mountains some 50 miles away had, in his youth, tinkered with engines.
In his despair, the surveyor sent for him. Three days later, the old man appeared on a mule. He took one look at the car and asked for a hammer. He gently tapped one spot on the engine twice, and said "Start her up." And the engine purred as smoothly as if it had just left the test stand.
-What do I owe you? The grateful surveyor asked.
-A hundred dollars.
-What, a hundred dollars for two taps with the hammer?
-Well, I can itemize it for you, the old man said. For two taps with the hammer, ten cents. For having known where, 99 dollars and 90 cents.
It's a bit tragic that in our time people are more willing to pay for action but not for thought.
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