Learning to Tie My Shoes (Again)
I learned something new today and I was humbled in the process. True story.
I went out for a brisk walk just after lunch today on a beautiful Autumn day in Calgary along the Elbow river. On my way I decided to stop at a men’s clothing store to get a new pair of laces for my shoes. The friendly salesman brought out a wide variety of different laces and advised most people went for contrasting and fun colors. I picked out purple laces for my grey shoes and the salesman kindly offered to help me put them on.
As I was sitting with one shoe up on the ramp the salesman showed me how to loop the straight bar lacing pattern my old laces had. When he had finished tying my right shoe he said to me, “I noticed you had your old laces in a double knot, do you always do that?”
I replied, “Yes. Why do you ask?”
“Could you tie your other shoe? I’d like to see you how do it.” he suggested.
So, I tied my left shoe the way I had always done.
The salesman looked closely at my bow and said, “Do you see how your knot is twisted compared to the knot I tied?” I looked carefully and sure enough, I could see the difference.
He asked me to do tie my knot again, but stopped me after I had made the loop with one end and was pulling the other end through. “Switch your hands when you pull the loop and through part so the knot is straight”. I did as he asked and saw the completed knot looked just like the one the salesman had tied. “That’s it.” he said with encouragement.
The salesman went on to demonstrate the twisted knot I was tying would loosen when there was tension from the laces, while the straight knot would remain tight. That would explain why my laces would always come undone when I walked any significant distance.
I couldn’t believe this. I’d been tying my shoes the same way for over forty years. Everyone knows how to tie a knot, don’t they? I guess not. I’d been doing it wrong the whole time, or at least not the best way.
I thanked the salesman for showing me the correct way to tie my shoes. “No problem,” he said, “I try to learn something everyday too.” I left the store both excited at having gained a new skill and embarrassed at the realization I hadn’t yet mastered a skill taught to preschool children.
As I continued on my walk along the river I reflected on my encounter. I realized the salesman showed me what I was doing was wrong, demonstrated a new way, explained why the new way was better and did this all with the utmost professional care and respect for his customer.
He sold me the laces and gave me a lesson on how to use them. I know where I’ll be buying my next pair of shoes.
I wonder if there are any lessons here for the maintenance, reliability and asset management community?
UPDATE: I just saw this scientific article on Gizmodo. My sales guy is right!
http://gizmodo.com/physicists-are-finally-getting-to-the-bottom-of-why-you-1794231332