7 Simple Yet Powerful Tips to Keep Your Saw Sharp Every Day
Hint: to stay sharp, you must take care of yourself
“We must never be too busy to take time to sharpen the saw.” — Stephen Covey, an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker
Stephen Covey says that one of his habits of highly-effective people is something he calls “sharpen the saw.” He says that you must preserve and enhance the greatest asset you have:
You.
Covey tells the story that sums up what sharpen the saw is all about:
Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a tree.
“What are you doing?” you ask.
“Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.”
“You look exhausted!” — you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?”
“Over five hours,” he returns, “I’m beat! This is hard work.”
“Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen that saw?” you inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”
“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing!”
Sharpening the saw means you have a balanced program for taking care of yourself. You must take time to help you stay sharp like a saw.
