In the service department we have what is called the Magic Touch. This means one having the experience of fixing an issue in a very short period of time without much effort. This can come in the form of using a quick trick we know or simply pressing the power button and seeing that everything works perfectly, much to the amazement of the machine’s owner. Hence, “You have the magic touch!”. Whether it be a customer at the service counter with a MacBook Pro or my Mom having trouble with her iPad, there are “aha!” moments that are hard to explain how they happened. While this doesn’t happen all the time, it certainly is miraculous.
Of course, this could all be attributed to coincidence or “luck”, but I believe in the power of positive attention. What this means is to use objects with care and view them as something more important than just disposable parts. In most cases this comes natural to technicians and lovers of technology in general. But it goes deeper.
It wouldn’t be extreme to see in the future a device as a family member, a “living” being you carry around with you. If an iPad was strapped to a humanoid and realistically interacted with you, would you still see it as just an iPad? Most likely not.
This will become more real (and confusing) as time goes on.
Believe it or not, this thought process is common in Japan, where objects, in general, are famously known to have a longer lifespan. It is not uncommon for one to think of objects possessing some sort of energy one can relate to and interact with. When working on devices, at times it almost seems as if they have sighed in relief at receiving attention from someone who has the intent on making them healthy again. Which is why I believe they will sometimes “just work” when we investigate an issue.
The next time something goes wrong with your iPhone, before blaming your phone or even Apple, ask yourself if you have given the care it should have received.
As Shunryu Suzuki once said:
“Take care of things, and they will take care of you.”
Be kind to your little friendly machines and they will be kind to you. Then you, too, will gain the magic touch.