Knowledge and knowing how to apply it

My brother's friend sent this in an email blast. Not sure who to credit for the insight. Just thought it was worth the moment to read and reflect.

Ever heard the story of the giant ship engine that failed?

The ship’s owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work.

He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. T wo of the ship’s owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do.

After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life.

He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. ”What?!” the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything!” 

So they wrote the old man a note saying, “Please send us an itemized bill.”

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer …….. $             2.00 Knowing where to tap ………… $      9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.