There’s an old railroad folk song I’ve always enjoyed about the competition between John Henry — “a steel driving man” — and a steam drill. John Henry was old school; he swung a hammer and drove steel spikes into the rails to hold them down. He was the best at it that anyone had ever seen.
Then one day the boss showed up with a new machine that could do John Henry’s work: a steam drill. John Henry scoffed at the machine and said that he could beat the machine in a head-to-head competition:
John Henry said to the captain,
“You go and bring your steam drill around.
But before I let that steam drill beat me down,
I’ll die with my hammer in my hand.”
The big day came and everyone turned out to see the competition. They were all rooting for John Henry. And John Henry won, but it took everything he had. He pushed himself too hard; at the end of the race John Henry “laid down his hammer and he died.”
John had outdone the technology. He won, and by a considerable margin. But was it worth it? It took so much unnecessary effort that it used him up. He beat the machine… once. One highly skilled man just couldn’t compete with the new technology for any sustained length of time.
Do you see any parallels here? Could we substitute the name “rebuilder” and factor in some of your newest technology? It applies to all of us, doesn’t it? Sure, it’s possible to keep up without embracing today’s technology… for a while. But it takes everything we have.
Is it worth it? Wouldn’t it be smarter to take advantage of what today’s technology has to offer? Not that it’s supposed to replace us: Nothing can replace the human element that we’ve created for our market.
But, by embracing technology and working with it, we can do… well, more. And we can do more without having to burn ourselves out. Unlike John Henry, we can take charge of our technology and expand our own capacity.
Nothing will ever replace the intuition, wisdom, and journeyman abilities of a master rebuilder. At the same time, no master tradesman will ever be able to stay out front without embracing the latest technological systems and breakthroughs… at least, not for long.
To be a professional means constantly learning and expanding your craft. ATRA is committed to bringing you the latest and greatest techniques taught by the true masters of the day. The seminars, webinars, articles, and sessions at Expo are designed to keep you out front. Let them help you become, and remain, the best in your field.
Expo is where you can get a firsthand look at the latest technology, techniques, and business strategies that are showing up on the horizon. It’s where you can meet with the men and women who built the “steam drills” that are changing the way we do business, and learn how to incorporate them into your business model.
Isn’t there some software that you’ve heard about, but haven’t begun to use? Aren’t there a few really amazing tools that you haven’t built into your daily routine? Do we need to schedule a head to head between you and the machine in the hands of a skilled technician? You might win, but would it be worth it? Is the highest and best use of your talent being applied to the job? How much better could you be with the latest advancements and tools?
I can’t help but admire John Henry: He stood his ground and he won. But was it worth it? I’d rather embrace the technology and remain to fight another day. That’s not a strategy that people write folk songs about, but it’s certainly makes for a longer, more profitable future.
Make technology your friend and seek change anytime it can lead to improvement. The old ways may be the most comfortable, but, then again, so is a padded coffin. Stay on the learning edge, and keep on growing. Don’t let today’s technology send you to an early grave.
If you want to keep going, there’s no better way to discover the latest technology and business strategies than at Expo. Reserve your spot today!
