Once upon a time, a very strong
woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was
really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter
was determined to do his best.
woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was
really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter
was determined to do his best.
His boss gave him an axe and showed
him the area where he supposed to work.
him the area where he supposed to work.
The first day, the woodcutter
brought 18 trees.
brought 18 trees.
“Congratulations,” the boss said.
“Go on that way!”
“Go on that way!”
Very motivated by the boss words,
the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The
third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day
he was bringing less and less trees.
the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The
third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day
he was bringing less and less trees.
“I must be losing my strength”, the
woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could
not understand what was going on.
woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could
not understand what was going on.
“When was the last time you sharpened
your axe?” the boss asked.
your axe?” the boss asked.
“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen
my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”
my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”
Reflection:
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 that ever.
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 that ever.
Why is that? Could it be that we
have forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and
hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important
things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our
Creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.
have forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and
hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important
things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our
Creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.
We all need time to relax, to think
and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the
“axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the
“axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
Author:
Stephen Covey
From: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey
From: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
