The key to [success] found me

My supervisor gave me a task. It wasn't a challenging or glorious task, she simply said, "Please make two copies of this key." She also gave me directions to a nearby key shop. Simple.

Not simple. I was sure I knew a better way. I had recently made a copy of my own key, so I went to the shop I had used. The man at the counter was very nice, but spent 5 minutes searching for the correct key blank. He got close, very close, but no banana (or cigar, as you prefer).

So I grabbed a slice of humble pie and headed off to the shop my supervisor had instructed me to go to. Fortunately, small-town California is conveniently small and walkable. Un-fortunately, the shop my supervisor suggested was nowhere to be found. I asked around, but no one had even heard of it. I put the slice of "pie" back on the shelf.

I called my supervisor, who told me to drive to a shop in the next town. As I was walking, I turned down a small alley. A white 15-passenger van was parked with the side door wide open. Inside I could clearly see a small bench, several tools.... and the inside is lined with key blanks. Excuse me, I poked my head inside the van, hello?

A blonde, bearded, middle-aged face appeared. His pudgy hands examined my key and successfully located a matching key blank. I told him that none of the shops I had been able to match the key. He laughed, "that's because they're professionals."

The new key was an exact match.

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

- Bill Cosby