Are You Sharpening the Saw?

Can we all agree that it seems like life has gotten tougher and there is less room today for complacency? Have you heard the famous Dr. Stephen Covey saying, "Sharpen the Saw" from his best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People? So what does 'Sharpen the Saw' really mean and how can it help us?

Well, when the late Dr. Stephen Covey referred to Sharpening the Saw he often used the common analogy of a woodcutter who had been sawing for several consecutive days and was becoming less and less productive. I think we can all see how the process of cutting or sawing over and over would eventually dull the blade, right? So, I guess the solution to this dulling would be to periodically stop and sharpen the saw, right?

Well, Dr. Covey takes this analogy a step further by explaining that when we sharpen the saw we are really preserving and enhancing the greatest asset that we have, which is ourselves. And how do we do this? Well, according to Dr. Covey, we do our best when we take time to practice a balanced and self-renewing of our physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual lives.

It's better to take a step back in life and contemplate on whether we are working smarter or just harder. At this very moment, are we really living our lives smarter and in a way that will bring us more joy, satisfaction, skill, and balance? Or are we just spinning our wheels, getting bogged down, ignoring our needs, and digging ourselves a messy rut in that muddy quagmire called life?

Now teens, go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Remember to make sharpening the saw a daily habit of success for yourself, because in the end brains and balance trumps over short-sighted brawn in creating the type of life that we want to live, and the type of life we want to pass on to our children. And once again, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do...

Award-winning author, speaker, and educator Dan Blanchard wants you to take some time to sharpen your saw. For more great tips from Dan please visit his website at: http://www.GranddaddysSecrets.com. Thanks.

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