And they had these minor-superhero things they could do.
Like he could hammer around a corner. You would think it wasn't a big deal, but he could put wire staples places where a beginner or a fancy staple gun couldn't reach.
Because of the way the strands are laid, wire has a direction and way it "wants" to go. I'd been an electrician twenty years by that point and knew how to work it. Not strength. Not that I said any of that.
Might not be as strong or fast as he used to be, but knows how to do it smartly.
Sometimes the problem truly requires strength and brute force, but not usually.
Even something like taking up concrete. It seems straight forward but you can waste a lot of energy hitting the wrong places.
Friend of mine worked in Prisons for a while, and has a way of telling the difference between people with a lot of muscle and people who know how leverage their musculature to high effect.
You get enough experience and you can turn a bolt or screw and tighten it to stretch a little.
Not too little (doesn't hold parts together and/or can come loose).
Not too much (uneven tightening or snap/strip something).
Just right (torque wrenches make this precise).