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The story of a woodcutter

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”

Very motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.

“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

 

Reflection:

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy that ever.

Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our Creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.

We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. 

Author: Stephen Covey
From: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

{ 88 comments… add one }
  • Juan August 18, 2023, 12:35 pm

    Wack ass story

  • afrah June 28, 2022, 7:07 am

    nice story

  • Pius March 17, 2021, 2:55 pm

    Touching and mind setting

  • MRUNALI March 10, 2021, 12:50 pm

    truly inspirational

  • K PRASAD October 15, 2019, 11:05 pm

    Inspiring one.

  • Rubin Galbao February 2, 2019, 8:49 pm

    Very nice

  • Jay Oza December 27, 2018, 11:44 pm

    Motivational capsules like this are welcome.

  • Benedict June 21, 2017, 2:10 am

    Vety Inspiring.

  • pradeep koli June 20, 2017, 11:21 am

    It was good and admirable. Feeling precise and focus on relationship.

  • Sedi May 9, 2017, 6:58 am

    Exactly

    • Hasini June 14, 2021, 5:29 am

      Ya
      So good I am telling this story for my story compilation I think so I will get first prize

  • Kalungi kassimu March 10, 2017, 4:46 pm

    I really appreciate this story, because in other words it potrays majority ‘s lives

  • Narrthana Ganesini September 9, 2016, 11:34 pm

    Honesty is the best policy

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