SHARPEN YOUR AXE |
Jo John, a woodcutter, worked for a company for five years but never got a raise. The |
company hired Bill and within a year he got a raise. This caused resentment in John and |
he went to his boss to talk about it. The boss said, "You are still cutting the same number |
of trees you were cutting five years ago. We are a result-oriented company and would be |
happy to give you a raise if your productivity goes up." John went back, started hitting |
harder and putting in longer hours but he still wasn't able to cut more trees. He went back |
to his boss and told him his dilemma. The boss told John to go talk to Bill. "Maybe there |
is something Bill knows that you and l don't." John asked Bill how he managed to cut |
more trees. Bill answered, "After every tree l cut, l take a break for two minutes and |
sharpen my axe. When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" This question hit |
home like a bullet and John got his answer. |
My question is, when was the last time you sharpened your axe? Past glory and |
education don't do it. We have to continuously sharpen the axe.