Edition #11

Will you sharpen your axe?

A woodcutter turned up for a new role, full of enthusiasm. The foreman gave him an axe and off went the woodcutter.

The first day he cut down 18 trees.

The second day, 15 trees.

Full of energy, the woodcutter came back for a third day, trying to work even harder to break his record…

…10 trees were cut down.

The following day, only five trees were cut.

The woodcutter approached the foreman, asking what he was doing wrong. The foreman said “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?”

You get the moral of the story (at least we hope so 😉). 

If you were to score yourself from 1-10 (1 is low and 10 is high), for how well you’re consistently investing in yourself, what would you score?

Will you focus on your values? 

Our values guide our decision making and actions, often in an unconscious way. 

They were mostly grown and rooted in our formative years. 

They inform what we get passionate about. 

What makes us mad.

How we go about our tasks.

Do you know what your values are? Write them down.

Now try to pick out the one or two which are most important to you.

Test this with someone closest to you who really knows you, and see if they agree.

Will you create memories? 

In the latest episode of Sky Sports Boardroom, Karren Brady says:

“End life with memories not with dreams”. 

This sounds a little sombre, but it does focus the mind.

Are you making the most of creating memories with your family/friends?

Are you making the most of embracing your challenges at work with your team mates?

Make the most of everyday. Life can consume us but it’s important to enjoy the journey.

Identify how you can create and celebrate some small wins with your family and work mates in the next month. 

Watch the full episode of The boardroom with Karren Brady below.

P.S. Keep winning!