• home
  • about
    • emotional intelligence at work
    • GradStart (graduate performance at work)
    • Jeremy Marchant
    • this website
  • how we help
    • people
    • teams
    • businesses
    • other organisations
  • what’s the problem?
  • blog and diversions
    • Jeremy Marchant’s blog
    • newsletters
    • quotations
    • music
    • diverting videos
  • contact
emotional intelligence at work
jeremy@emotionalintelligenceatwork.com | 01453 764 615
Intelligence at Work Linkedin Link Intelligence at Work Twitter Link Intelligence at Work Youtube Link
  • essential
    • relationships at work
    • leadership
    • communication
    • emotional intelligence
  • people
    • leadership
    • personal growth
    • managing people
    • successful teams
    • conflict resolution
    • employability
  • business
    • networking and advocacy
    • business growth and change
    • customer service
    • employability
  • stories
    • work stories
    • more stories
  • short pieces
  • long reads
  • videos
    • Jeremy Marchant’s videos
    • Jeremy Marchant’s videos
    • emotionally intelligent videos

Submarine

825673_66081341
The navy’s most advanced submarine came to a halt and eventually limped into port.  The top repairers were contacted and none was able to fix the boat until one man was called.

He duly arrived, walked around the boat and eventually came to a halt in front of a pipe.  Taking out a small hammer, he hit it gently.  Amazingly, the submarine shuddered back in life.

The navy was very grateful and asked the man to send his invoice.  However, when it arrived, they were disconcerted to find it was for £100,000.  Summoning the man, they complained that this was far too much for simply hitting a pipe with a hammer.  Would he please resubmit his invoice in more detail?

So the man resubmitted:

“For hitting the submarine with a hammer, £100
For knowing where to hit the submarine, £99,900”

Further reading

  • Stuck in the growth stageStuck in the growth stage
  • Falling off the business life cycle?Falling off the business life cycle?
  • On lossOn loss
  • Don’t push—be curiousDon’t push—be curious
  • Tying up the catTying up the cat
  • Possibly frequently asked questionsPossibly frequently asked questions
  • Business transformationBusiness transformation
  • High anxietyHigh anxiety
  • Elevator pitchElevator pitch
  • On politics and politicians—2On politics and politicians—2