When a system rewards creative loopholes over honest use, maybe it’s time to question the system itself. Here’s a little Friday joke about Apple and Microsoft – and what happens when those who play by the rules end up losing the most.
Three Apple engineers and three Microsoft engineers are taking the train to a conference. At the station, the three Microsoft engineers each buy a ticket, while the three Apple engineers only buy a single one.
“How do you plan to travel with just one ticket for three people?” asks one of the Microsoft engineers.
“Just watch and learn,” replies an Apple engineer.
They all board the train. The Microsoft engineers take their seats, while the Apple engineers cram into a restroom and close the door. Shortly after the train departs, the conductor comes through to collect tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says:
“Ticket, please.”
The door opens slightly, and an arm reaches out with a single ticket. The conductor takes it and moves on. The Microsoft engineers witness this and agree – it’s pretty clever.
After the conference, they decide to copy the Apple engineers on the way back to save some money. At the station, they buy just one ticket. To their surprise, the Apple engineers don’t buy any ticket at all.
“How are you going to travel without a ticket?” asks a confused Microsoft engineer.
“Just watch and learn,” replies an Apple engineer.
Once onboard, the three Microsoft engineers squeeze into one restroom, while the Apple engineers go into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the Apple engineers quietly leaves their restroom, walks over to the one hiding the Microsoft engineers, knocks on the door, and says:
“Ticket, please…”
This little train story got me thinking about something I wrote earlier on ideas and ownership. Because there’s a big difference between copying what you see – and truly understanding the depth behind it. I believe we often overestimate the value of the idea itself and underestimate everything invisible that makes it actually work.
Read more: Ideas can be copied on the surface, but rarely in depth.
