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Keeping your axe sharp

  • Published
  • By CMSgt Steven J. Milby
  • 20th Maintenance Group
One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in life is finding the right balance of a resource we rarely have enough of, and cannot buy more of: time.

A majority of people have more tasks than time or energy needed to accomplish them. To be effective in accomplishing tasks, we have to manage time better as this commodity will determine success and failure in both our personal and professional lives.

Do you have balance in your life?

We have heard this phrase many times throughout our careers and often still struggle with it every day as we squeeze our calendar to make room for more commitments.

Balancing a personal and professional life is difficult, and requires establishing priorities. These priorities should routinely change back and forth between work and personal commitments to maintain balance.

For instance, there are times when it is necessary to work extra hours toward a special project or to finish paperwork. However, at times lunch with the spouse, attending a child’s sporting event or dance recital, taking the dog out for a walk, or simply getting a good workout is just as important as work.

These events allow us to recharge our batteries and become stronger, more focused, happier and more effective in life.

There is an old adage in which a merchant hires two lumberjacks named Chris and Mike to harvest trees in the local forest.

On the first day, Chris chopped as hard and fast as he could, never taking a break. However, Mike took a ten-minute break every hour. At the end of the day, Mike had a larger pile of wood than Chris.

“How is it that I worked without breaks, but you cut more wood?” Chris asked. Mike answered, “cause on those breaks I was sharpening my axe.”

How sharp is your axe? When was the last time you sharpened the edge?

There is nothing wrong with hard work. However, we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life such as family or personal time.

So, what exactly is sharpening the axe? Dr. Stephen Covey, who popularized the phrase, said it “increases your personal production capacity by daily self-care and self-maintenance.”

We all need time to relax, think, learn, stay fit, laugh, and have a chance to grow. Maintaining a balance between your professional and personal lives will provide the opportunity to stay sharp and be more productive both at home and work.

One way to achieve balance and save time is to learn the difference between what is “urgent” and what an “important priority.” is

An urgent task requires immediate attention whereas important priorities contribute to our long-term values and goals.

After 28 years of marriage, I have learned balance is crucial to success in both family and career. The goal of a balanced life should be to complete all obligations and service commitments with family, friends, and peers still at your side at the end of your military career.

So, do you have balance?