Sharpen your ax A very strong woodcutter started a new job for a timber company. The pay was good and so were the working conditions. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an ax and showed him the area where he was to work. The first day, the woodcutter cut eighteen trees. “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!” Very motivated by the boss's words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but could only cut fifteen trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only cut ten trees. Day after day he was cutting fewer and fewer 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 ax?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my ax. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…” Author Unknown [[PhilosophyWorks.org]]