For Want Of...

"For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost; being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail." - Ben Franklin

Had a very hectic day yesterday, and today promises to be even better! My concern at times like these is

1. Am I being busy moving towards my goals? Or am I getting into "the thick of thin things"?
2. Do I have the energy and capability to cope with my schedule?

The first point can be creatively argued; though The Law of Straight Lines (Mark Joyner) would quickly refute any spurious explanations and justifications.

However, it is the second point that is easier to address. Am I taking good care of myself? Am I carrying out regular maintenance? Am I sufficiently fuelled and have enough water? How fast can I go and for how long? How do I feel in the morning when I wake up? How does my car feel in the morning when I start it? Are my skills being developed constantly? Or am I too busy to take good care of myself?

Stephen Covey tells a story of a man who needs to cut down many trees and sets about his task, sawing away nonstop. After a while, he gets tired and his saw gets blunt, but he keeps sawing. His father suggests to him that he takes a break to sharpen his saw and also rest a little. He declines, saying "I don't have time to sharpen my saw, too many trees to cut". So he keeps sawing away, but each tree takes longer and longer to cut down. Ultimately, he slows to a halt...

Sharpening your saw is a vital activity that increases or at least maintains your achievement capacity. The busier and more challenging your life, the sharper your saw needs to be...