Last week, I was in search of long ladders, grippy shoes, and nerve. Wisely, I decided to call a professional.

When the roofer arrived, he first evaluated the work from the ground. After some discussion, he said, “Well, I’ll go check it out.”

Pulling a folding ladder from his van, he walked not to the area closest to the second-story leak, but to the front porch. Extending the ladder, he climbed to the porch roof. He turned around, pulled the ladder up, placed it carefully on the porch roof, and climbed to the upper roof.

(Ah. I see.)

My own approach was to seek longer ladders and a run to the top. The professional’s approach was to navigate shorter distances, in sequence, one at a time.

My own approach was to move from point A to point B. The professional got to my “point B” by starting from a place I hadn’t anticipated, and taking steps I hadn’t considered.

We can learn on our own. But we can learn even more by watching professionals at work. Not to abandon our own experimentation, but to let our creativity be informed by the strategies, techniques, and wisdom we find in those who travel the path.

“Watch and learn.” Hackneyed perhaps, but still good advice.