Sharpen The Axe
Chapter 49 from “The Attitude Book” by Simon Tyler
The intent to stay sharper or even to sharpen the impact we have in all that we do is held by most of us, most of the time, but the challenges we face from the pressures, urgencies and volume of everyday minutiae in which we are involved often leads us to forget! Without reminder or the trigger inspiration to pause and take sharpening action we, quite simply, become blunt.
Each time I use this metaphor to remind and inspire individuals and groups to reflect on this… it is just what is needed. The sharpening of your axe has come to encompass many things with the essence remaining the same - how you prepare for anything is how you end up doing anything.
For some people sharpening their axe might be going to the gym or working their brain muscles in different ways. For a friend of mine, playing the piano is his meditation, for another it is twenty minutes on a cricket bowling machine, honing his amateur batting technique! Ultimately, what matters is refuelling yourself – mentally, emotionally and physically. Expecting to turn up everyday and perform at your peak is unrealistic. Equally, without proper reflection, preparation and investment (time) you limit your growth and evolution on the constant learning journey.
Abraham Lincoln famously aid “to cut down a tree in five minutes, spend three minutes sharpening your axe.” Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying that on days when he had most to do, he would get up earlier and meditate longer!
How do you sharpen your axe?
Turning up to your duty every day expecting peak performance every time, without sufficient rest, relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation (sharpening your axe) places unrealistic demands on your automatic attitude selector and your attitude resilience.
The more you progress in your career and personally evolve, the more environmental friction you are likely to attract, compounding further the need for time given to axe-sharpening.
The friction, demands and challenges you attract will increase and will be different too; new versions of old challenges to the way you are, the way you go about things, your habits and how you move forward.
To ensure your attitude continues to soar (or perhaps saw!), it will need sharpening.