As I write this blog today, I’m watching two guys dig a swimming pool. That’s right. I said, “two people digging a swimming pool.” In fact, these two people dug the entire pool in an afternoon. This is a big pool and not a little pond. Without sounding too obvious…”How did two men dig a huge family pool in just a few hours?”
You know the answer. They didn’t do it with shovels. They used heavy equipment to do the heavy lifting…an excavator, a front-loader and a dump truck. I know what you’re thinking. “No-duh”. But here’s the principle. Use the right tools and you’ll accomplish more. What is an obvious answer to a construction situation can be overlooked in the day to day routine.
Pastor Rick Warren is often heard quoting Ecclesiastes 10:10, “A dull axe requires more strengthen, be wise and sharpen your blade.” It was Abraham Lincoln who said:
“Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Use wisdom to strengthen your skill set to work smarter not harder. That very wisdom might direct you to “find the right tool” for the job. You may need help. You may need additional staff. You may need a fresh perspective to solve the problem. The writer of Ecclesiastes is warning all of us, don’t wear yourself out using dull a dull blade.