Does this make me an Intellect?

At my new consulting position recently I've had two of the executives express their excitement about my work documenting processes.  Both, in separate conversations have said that I'm creating "Intellectual Property" that is extremely valuable for the company.

Here's why this post is not boasting of my amazing ability.    While my outward reaction to their compliments has been appreciative and humble, I am inside stifling a burst of laughter.  If I was honest I would describe my job as picking up crayons and drawing colorful pictures with lines and geometric shapes.  But I'm using Visio to do that. 

Here's an example so you can see for yourself.

Click on the picture to be in awe of my work.

After I'm done coloring, I write down the process in such simple terms that they could hire my 9-year-old grandson to do the job and he'd be bored instantly.  Things like this:

The injury process only begins when a patient is injured.  The patient telephones the doctor's office and the Staff answers the telephone.  The Staff schedules an office visit with the Physician and the Patient notes the date and time of the appointment.  The Patient goes to the Physician and the Physician examines the Patient's injury.  (See, if I'm not clear here, there could be confusion and the Patient might end up examining the Physician's foot.  This may seem like a far fetched example, but believe me, I have heard of stranger things happening.  Anyway, back to the Intellectual Property narrative) 

The Physician amputates the foot and attaches a wheel.  The Patient then rolls home.

When I get done coloring pretty pictures and writing the process in a third grade level, I hold a meeting to get the official executive approval of the document.  I use words like "illustrate" and "narrative" and that makes me sound smart.

Don't you wish you had my skill set?

OK, now I'll add a little bit of explanation as to why this apparently IS a skill set worth paying for.

Obviously this is not the kind of process I am documenting.  Some are very complex and I work with great people who have years of experience in their field and all of the processes and ideas are only in their heads. 

My skill set isn't playing with crayons and writing in third grade vocabulary.  My skill set is communication and extracting the years of knowledge the professionals have in their DNA out of their mouths and into my fingertips so I can break it down into simple tasks in plain English and present it all in a nice professional looking document.  The professionals do not possess the skill set to take their vast knowledge and break it down into simple step-by-step processes.  They can't look at the process from an outsider's view and since I know nothing about their business, I can only understand the process if I break it down to a elementary level.  So, you could say my skill set is thinking like a grade schooler.

The executives then get to take that document, that "Intellectual Property" to the Board, to Investors and to the Clients.  Ultimately, the document creates (or it should) an impression that the company is professional and organized.  They know their business and they can prove it to you.  While it seems funny to me, that really IS Intellectual Property. 

You can bet I'm adding my ability to create Intellectual Property will be included on my resume from now on.  Even if it does feel like I do nothing all day except color pretty pictures.