When I was younger, I studied music in university. During the summers, I had the unique opportunity to join the Ceremonial Guard Band—a military unit that marches and plays on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This was no simple summer job—being part of a real military unit meant we had to do everything the guards did, including basic training.
However, there was one notable difference: as specialist musicians, we could advance in rank—and pay—faster than the regular guards. Each summer we returned, we climbed a little higher, not because we were cutting corners, but because of the expertise we brought with us.
This didn’t sit well with some of the “real” guards. From their perspective, we hadn’t earned those promotions the way they had. What they didn’t see was that our training had already happened—just not on a parade square. We had spent years honing our craft, practicing for hours each day, mastering an instrument with the same discipline they were now applying to military training.
It reminds me of an old story about a ship’s engine that broke down:
The ship’s owners brought in mechanic after mechanic, but no one could fix it. Finally, they called an expert who had spent his life working on engines. He walked around, listened carefully, and after a few minutes, took out a small hammer and gently tapped one specific part. Instantly, the engine roared back to life.
A week later, the ship’s owners received a bill for $10,000. Shocked, they asked for an itemized invoice. The expert replied:
- Tapping with a hammer: $2.00
- Knowing where to tap: $9,998.00
The lesson is clear: effort matters, but expertise—earned through years of dedication and experience—makes all the difference.
And that’s exactly why we believe so deeply in our Seasoned Pros. You’re the experts who have mastered your craft, gaining the kind of insight that can’t be taught overnight. If you ever wonder why we speak so highly of you, it’s because we see the value in every tap, every insight, and every solution you provide. You’re not just good at what you do—you’re great because of the lifetime you’ve spent becoming exceptional. And that’s something truly priceless.
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