I have heard different versions of this story about a boiler in need of repair. The owner hired an expert  to fix it. In walks a man with his bag of tools. He listens to the description of the problem and then listens to the machine. He pulls out a hammer and with a flair for the dramatic, he hums to himself,  does a little ‘tap, tap, tap’ and soon the boiler is humming along nicely as well. He writes up the bill for $1,000 and hands it to the astonished man.  “Why did you charge me so much?  You only spent 15 minutes on the job.”  He explained with full justification:

For tapping with hammer: $ .50
For knowing where to tap: 999.50
Total: $1,000.00

Today at the hospital where I work, our copier/fax machine was on the fritz . No amount of cajoling, adjusting, switching it off and on, could bring it full working order. I suggested that we wait for Michelle, our unit clerk to come in, since she seemed to be counted on to fix what ailed it. I call her our copier surgeon.  She takes a look at it, blows on the lid, steps back and voila!  It too is humming along as nicely as the aforemented boiler. I laughed, thinking of the first story. “Don’t tell anyone, or they’ll know how to work the magic too!”, I advised her.  I’ll bet that wasn’t in her job description when she was hired.

Each of us has an accumulation of talents. At dinner tonight with my editor Pam, who helped to bring my Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary to life, we were talking about the experiences we have that have us wondering why. I have come to understand that there is a reason for everything and that each of them has provided me with my own tool kit. In an effort to feel humble, I shy away from the term ‘expert’, but the truth is, at nearly 53, I have areas of expertise that allow me guide people to the best version of themselves. I seem to know where to tap.

Where is your cutting edge area of expertise? Are you willing to claim it?

 http://youtu.be/Y2pFLG6pM5A  Hello, My Name Is Joe…I work in a button factory (: