There’s an old joke in the trades. A parable, really. The details vary depending on who is telling it, but here's one version. A wealthy capitalist in in despair because his factory is shut down due to a broken machine that no one seems able to fix. He’s hemorrhaging money every day the machine is unproductive. As a last resort, he calls in an old-school repairman in coveralls and a gray beard. The repairman approaches the machine with a small toolbox in hand. He takes out a modest ball peen hammer and confidently taps the machine in one precise spot. The machine starts up and production resumes. The wealthy capitalist is overjoyed. Until he receives the repairman’s bill, for $10,000. He calls the repairman, furious, and demands an explanation. “All you did was hit the machine with a hammer!” he says. “It was only five minutes labor!” “Well,” says the repairman, “I charge ten dollars for the hitting. The rest of it’s for knowing where to hit.” Music by Jake Shane. null #craftsman #capitalism