Charlie Steinmetz was the perfect man for Henry Ford. Charlie was one of the most proficient electrical engineers of his time which is exactly what Ford needed when constructing his automobile assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Charlie built several massive generators which powered much of the equipment on Ford’s new assembly line.
And so it happened that, one day, one of those generators stopped working. Ford’s best maintenance workers struggled to repair the machine to no avail. Finally, Ford called in his old friend. With Henry Ford and the rest of the plant watching, Charlie wandered around the plant, listened, analyzed and deliberated. Finally, he took a hammer, walked behind the generator and pounded on a section of it. Then he started up the generator and the assembly plant returned to building cars.
Not too long after, Ford received a bill from Charlie Steinmetz for the astounding sum of $10,000.00. Well, Henry Ford did not become wealthy by giving away his money freely. He called up his old friend and expressed his concern at the size of the bill. After all, Charlie had only spent a few minutes at the plant and had done nothing more than hit a generator with a hammer. Charlie apologized. Of course, he would resubmit the bill.
A few days later, Henry Ford received a revised bill from Charlie Steinmetz. It read, for hammering on a generator, $5.00. For knowing where to hammer, $9,995.00. Henry Ford, it is said, paid the bill.
And so it happened that, one day, one of those generators stopped working. Ford’s best maintenance workers struggled to repair the machine to no avail. Finally, Ford called in his old friend. With Henry Ford and the rest of the plant watching, Charlie wandered around the plant, listened, analyzed and deliberated. Finally, he took a hammer, walked behind the generator and pounded on a section of it. Then he started up the generator and the assembly plant returned to building cars.
Not too long after, Ford received a bill from Charlie Steinmetz for the astounding sum of $10,000.00. Well, Henry Ford did not become wealthy by giving away his money freely. He called up his old friend and expressed his concern at the size of the bill. After all, Charlie had only spent a few minutes at the plant and had done nothing more than hit a generator with a hammer. Charlie apologized. Of course, he would resubmit the bill.
A few days later, Henry Ford received a revised bill from Charlie Steinmetz. It read, for hammering on a generator, $5.00. For knowing where to hammer, $9,995.00. Henry Ford, it is said, paid the bill.
In life, there are often situations where we have no idea what to do, how to fix a problem, solve a dilemma or deal with a crisis. Hammering in the wrong place can be bad, destructive and dangerous. Not using the hammer can be just as Detrimental. It is in these moments that we need to seek out someone who can help, a person we can trust to know where to hammer. The secret is to prepare in advance. Developing friendships that can be trusted is the best hedge against the day when a hammer is required and someone who knows where to hammer.
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