Three contractors were touring the White House on the same day. One was from New York, another from Missouri, and the third from Florida.
At the end of the tour, the guard asked them what they did for a living. When they each said they were contractors, the guard said, “Hey, we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don’t you guys take a look at it and give me your bids.”
First, the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some measuring, and said, “I figure the job will run about nine hundred dollars—four hundred for materials, four hundred for my crew, and one hundred dollars profit for me.”
Next, the Missouri contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations, and said, “Looks like I can do this job for seven hundred dollars— three hundred for materials, three hundred for my crew, and one hundred dollars profit for me.”
Finally, the guard asked the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, he said, “Twenty-seven hundred dollars.”
The guard, incredulous, looked at him and said, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”
“Easy,” said the contractor from New York. “One thousand dollars for me, one thousand dollars for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri.”
At the end of the tour, the guard asked them what they did for a living. When they each said they were contractors, the guard said, “Hey, we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don’t you guys take a look at it and give me your bids.”
First, the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some measuring, and said, “I figure the job will run about nine hundred dollars—four hundred for materials, four hundred for my crew, and one hundred dollars profit for me.”
Next, the Missouri contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations, and said, “Looks like I can do this job for seven hundred dollars— three hundred for materials, three hundred for my crew, and one hundred dollars profit for me.”
Finally, the guard asked the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, he said, “Twenty-seven hundred dollars.”
The guard, incredulous, looked at him and said, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”
“Easy,” said the contractor from New York. “One thousand dollars for me, one thousand dollars for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri.”
