Corporate Newsletter: SureWest
Issue 4: Do You Need to Sharpen Your Ax?
July 2, 2002
It's July already? How did that happen? The last CIA newsletter was in January, and perhaps you thought you'd never hear from me again. Au contraire! After catching up from a trip to China in February, transitioning to the ITS department in March and April, learning my new job in May and June... I'm back, and I now hope to offer you a small (but tasty) bite of encouragement and inspiration each week.
>> SHARPENING THE AX
You might have heard the story of the man cutting wood in the forest. He started at sunrise, chopping away ...THUNK! ...THUNK! By the time you see him in the late afternoon he's exhausted -- and getting frustrated with how slowly his pile of cut wood is growing.
So you walk up to him and suggest, “Why don’t you take a break and sharpen your ax?”
“I can’t!” he replies, “I’m busy chopping, and I have a lot to do before the sun goes down in order to meet my goal. I don’t have time to sharpen my ax!”
Uh-huh. You walk away, shaking your head. "What a silly guy! If he'd just stop for a minute and sharpen the ax, it wouldn't take very long and he'd be twice as effective as he is now!"
Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” made this story popular (though they used a "saw" instead of an ax), and the principle is taught in our own company’s “What Matters Most” training class (a great class, by the way, I highly recommend it!).
I can relate to the man in this story! Since I transitioned into the ITS department here at SureWest, I've had so many things to do while learning my new job and tackling my assigned project(s) that I thought I was TOO BUSY to sharpen my ax. After a few months, I couldn't figure out why I was getting so tired, why some things seemed to be moving so slowly, and why I felt like I wasn't able to see (much less reach) my goals.
Sound familiar? Have you ever experienced that? Maybe you have. Maybe you were on a roll a couple of weeks ago, but you've lost your momentum and your vision has become a little muddled. Or maybe you've been using a dull ax for so many months or years that it doesn't bother you anymore. You've settled for accomplishing less with harder work, and stopped believing you could do anything else.
Whatever the case, I know you want to be an agent for change. That's why you signed up for this newsletter. So whether you're tired from days of the dull ax or from years of it, now is the time to STOP!
Just STOP.
Print this email and take it with you for a walk. (Okay, so it may be too hot for a walk outside -- but you could walk to the breakroom!)
Now, according to Covey, there are four areas to cover when sharpening your ax:
- Physical - caring for your physical body (eating the right food, getting enough rest, exercising regularly)
- Spiritual - your commitment to your value system (you need a source from which to draw inspiration, guidance, fresh perspective)
- Mental - keeping your mind sharp and well-fueled (reading, writing, organizing, planning; read broadly and expose yourself to great minds)
- Social/Emotional - nurturing your relationships with others (cultivating friendships, business networking, helping others)
Think about it... Which area have you neglected the most? For which area does an appealing remedy come most quickly to mind? Find a pen, and write down for each area one thing you could do every day to sharpen that ax.
The ax-sharpening should include all four areas if you want a rewarding, meaningful life. Neglecting any one of these areas negatively impacts the others. When you neglect ax-sharpening, things that used to be important to you don’t seem to matter any more, relationships seem like more effort than they’re worth, you can't effectively prioritize and you fail to find creative solutions to the challenges you face. All these symptoms and more can plague us...
...But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel (and trust me, it’s not a train).
>> YOUR MISSION
The July 4th holiday is coming up this week. Set aside some time during this break -- an entire day, or even just an hour -- to sharpen your ax. It may feel like important things aren't getting done while you "indulge yourself," but you need the mental and spiritual refreshment, the rebuilding of physical strength, reconnection with friends and family. It's an investment that pays great dividends.
If possible, do a little something for all four areas. For example, on Thursday I plan to do some extra walking (the physical area) to attend the Lincoln 4th of July parade and fireworks. I might go to a BBQ at a friend’s house and spend some time praying with them or thanking God for this country’s freedom with voices, drums, guitars (spiritual). I’m in the midst of several books, and I will continue my reading over the weekend (mental). And finally, my younger brother is visiting for the week, and I hope to visit some friends throughout the holiday and weekend (social/emotional).
There! See? That was easy… Now you try!
Let me know how it goes… (Hint: "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is available in any major bookstore, and it's a great way to sharpen your mind!)
"As for myself I am an optimist -- it does not seem to be much use being anything else."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
See you in the hallways, change agents!
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Some ideas and definitions used in this newsletter were found in the "Fifth Discipline Fieldbook" by Senge, Kleiner, Roberts, Ross and Smith (ISBN 0-385-47256-0)