The Axe & The Woodcutter
Have you ever heard the expression — “A bad Workman blames his tools”? Well, today we’re going to be turning that idea on its head a little.
So, we’re heading into the woods to meet a skilled woodcutter with everything to prove.
Even as a little boy, Thomas had loved to help his parents with chores around their family farm. He had grown up with little, and from a young age, he was taught to make the most of everything. He had he was resourceful, and because of the tasks he completed in his youth — laying bricks, gathering wood, and tending to the animals from the small hours of the morning well into the night — he grew stronger and stronger into a fine young man and decided the time was right to set out to find a job, to better himself, and help ease the burden of his parents and siblings.
He approached to local timber merchant — a family friend and asked whether he might be able to provide him with the job.
Thomas was known throughout the community to be dependable, reliable, and above all, a hard worker. And the timber merchant was more than happy to take him on. Thomas was told that he would be working as a woodcutter, and the timber merchant walked him to the area where he was to work and handed him an Axe.
Thomas said to work right away, eager to prove himself to his employer.
On his first day, Thomas felled a total of 21 trees, which was no mean feat. The timber merchant was thoroughly impressed with his work had and set Thomas home with his first generous payment requesting that he’d be back first thing tomorrow to continue his good work.
On the second day, Thomas went back to the clearing bright and early, and began all over again. This time he managed to cut down 17 trees, and brought unlike the first day, when the sun set over the horizon, he felt the soreness in his arms and torso as if he’d expended far more energy than he had the day before. He was disappointed that he didn’t have as much to show for it, but the timber merchant was still thoroughly pleased with his work and sent him home with the recommendation to get a good night’s rest to get ready for the days ahead of him.
On the third day, Thomas awoke to a suit of pain across his chest even though he stretched out and rested well the previous night. He decided that his body was simply getting used to doing more work, and with all the strength he could muster headed to the clearing for days three.
This time though, around when he would usually take his lunch, he felt the work was really taking its toll — his legs begin to shake and his back became more and more painful. He finished the day having cut down just 10 trees. The timber merchant was surprised that this young man had started so strong and declined so quickly.
Everyone knew he was a hard worker, and it was clear from watching him that the problem wasn’t related to the effort Thomas was putting into his work.
He went up to the poor boy who was nursing his sore shoulders next to the tent trees he cut down and asked him, “Son, when was the last time you sharpened that axe I gave you?”.
Thomas looked shocked, “I’m sorry sir. I’m afraid that I haven’t sharpened it since you gave it to me three days ago.”
You see, Thomas was by no means a bad workman, but his tools had let him down without him realizing — it if he’d thought ahead and know that part of his success on the first day was down to the simple fact that his axe had been sharper, he could have saved himself a world of pain and a lot of extra effort.
This story definitely makes the case for a mantra that some successful individuals swear by —
“Work smarter, not harder!”
By taking care of the details in advance, we free ourselves up in the moment to present the best possible work we can.
So, can you think of any actions — however small they may seem, which if you were to complete, might make your life just a little easier?
In the same way that a woodcutter needs a sharp axe, business people may need more efficient ways to take notes, and chefs might benefit from new utensils.
When you equip yourself with the right tools, you’ve got the right setup, and you’ve taken care of the little things, big things will come your way!
P.S. See you next time.
