Not so long ago, when the UK still made stuff, a large engineering company in the North West of England, ran into a problem.
You see, this company made ships’ turbines. And one of its biggest orders, which also happened to be the most sophisticated, state of the art, expensive turbine ever developed, stopped dead.
The company tried everything to get it going again. They called in the engineering team, the software developers, the Analytics of Things department.
Heck, they even put in a call to Bill Gates. Or so the myth goes.
All to no avail.
Finally someone suggested contacting the company’s original maintenance man, Fred. (Funny isn’t it, how all maintenance men are called Fred?)
Anyway, Fred peered up at the huge turbine and after a couple of minutes reached into his tool bag, removed an old lump hammer, reached up towards the most sophisticated, state of the art, expensive turbine ever developed and gave it a short, sharp, TAP!
As the turbine whirred back into life, Fred turned to the CEO of the large engineering company and said, “That will be £10,000 please. Cash or cheque.”
“£10,000?” gasped the CEO, “That’s a bit steep for a little tap of a hammer. You need to give me a breakdown on those charges of yours.”
Fred nodded, “£5 for the tap of the hammer,” he said, “and £9,995 for knowing where to tap it.”
In this world of technical wizardry, breakneck speed-to-market deadlines and hyper targeted media, EXPERIENCE, above all else, provides clarity, momentum and peace of mind.
Or so Fred would have you believe.
