Sharpen your skills.

Once a woodcutter went looking for a job. He approached a timber merchant, and got a job with a decent salary and good working conditions. The woodcutter was thrilled and determined to do his best. His boss gave him an Axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to fell trees.

At the end of the first day, the wood cutter brought in 15 trees he had cut. His boss was happy with his performance and congratulated him. The woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could fell only 10 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he was able to bring in just seven. day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

" I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to his boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you have sharpened your axe?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees," said the woodcutter.

Most of us never update our skills. We think that whatever we have learned is enough. But good is not enough when better is expected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success.

--Published in The Speaking Tree dated July11, 2010.