WEEK 2 – OCTOBER 2006
HOW SHARP IS YOUR AXE?
Here is a great inspirational story this week for something different. Enjoy!
A young logger approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. “That depends,” replied the foreman. “Let’s see you fell this tree.” The young logger stepped forward and skillfully felled a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, “You can start Monday.” Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday rolled by. On Thursday afternoon the foreman noticed the young logger wasn’t very effective at his job as the week progressed, so he approached the young logger and said, “You can pick up your paycheck on your way out today. You’re finished working here.”
“But I’m a hard worker,” the young logger objected. “I arrive first, leave last and even have worked through my coffee breaks!” The foreman, sensing the young logger’s integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, “Have you been sharpening your axe?” The young logger replied, “No, I’ve been working too hard to take time for that!”
Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to “sharpen the axe.” In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?
There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
Take care and be sure to sharpen your axe this week!
With love
Ann
Ann Quinn, Ph.D
Peak Performance Specialist
Quintessential Coach, Consultant, Speaker & Author
