The Rich Man and the Roofer
Posted: Aug 13th, '13, 12:44
I was engaged in they capacity as a carpenter to do some repairs to an outdoor deck on a summer home in a high end resort town. I arrived at a very nice home in a stylish neighborhood. It wasn’t particularly large, but the values in this location ran high. This particular house was easily worth well over a million dollars.
When I arrived in the late morning there was a lone roofer hard at work, finishing up re-roofing one side of the home.
The lawns were impeccably kept, green and lush. Likewise the gardens were professionally maintained, in full bloom and looking very beautiful. I got a glimpse indoors when I introduced myself to the owner. The house was impeccably furnished and appointed. In the driveway there was a late model SUV.
I was going about my business when the roofer came down from his perch to fetch the last of the needed shingles. He had only to complete one side of one small dormer, a task he could easily accomplish before the afternoon was out. He took a minute and sat down on the edge of the deck where I was working to slake his thirst from a bottle of cold water.
He was a crusty looking character, as roofers are wont to be, and a bit on the older side for the type of hot, heavy, hard physical work he was doing. We were within speaking distance, but we didn’t speak to one another. I continued about my business and I assumed in a few minutes he would continue about his.
About that time the owner stepped from the house on his way to some social appointment or other, and he made a comment, perhaps at least partially in jest, to the roofer about taking a break at the prices he was charging to do the job.
The roofer took a long swig off his ice-water before he spoke…. Then, without rising, he replied:
“I’ll tell you what…. I’ll let you use my tools, my ladders, my air guns, my staging, everything……and if you climb up there and finish that one side of that one dormer I won’t charge you one single cent for my labor for the entire job.”
The owner stammered as he declined and retreated, departing swiftly in his shiny SUV.
The crusty old roofer cast a knowing wink and a smile my way. I had to smile back.
True Story!
Peter
When I arrived in the late morning there was a lone roofer hard at work, finishing up re-roofing one side of the home.
The lawns were impeccably kept, green and lush. Likewise the gardens were professionally maintained, in full bloom and looking very beautiful. I got a glimpse indoors when I introduced myself to the owner. The house was impeccably furnished and appointed. In the driveway there was a late model SUV.
I was going about my business when the roofer came down from his perch to fetch the last of the needed shingles. He had only to complete one side of one small dormer, a task he could easily accomplish before the afternoon was out. He took a minute and sat down on the edge of the deck where I was working to slake his thirst from a bottle of cold water.
He was a crusty looking character, as roofers are wont to be, and a bit on the older side for the type of hot, heavy, hard physical work he was doing. We were within speaking distance, but we didn’t speak to one another. I continued about my business and I assumed in a few minutes he would continue about his.
About that time the owner stepped from the house on his way to some social appointment or other, and he made a comment, perhaps at least partially in jest, to the roofer about taking a break at the prices he was charging to do the job.
The roofer took a long swig off his ice-water before he spoke…. Then, without rising, he replied:
“I’ll tell you what…. I’ll let you use my tools, my ladders, my air guns, my staging, everything……and if you climb up there and finish that one side of that one dormer I won’t charge you one single cent for my labor for the entire job.”
The owner stammered as he declined and retreated, departing swiftly in his shiny SUV.
The crusty old roofer cast a knowing wink and a smile my way. I had to smile back.
True Story!
Peter