Sharpening the saw
Jim Siemens
Certified Family Law Specialist
A few months ago I posted about a Covey Leadership training the Siemens Family Law Group attended. I have watched the group practicing the habits since, and I think we have all gained personally and professionally. I know everybody has practiced the 7th habit, because we have all taken some time off this Summer.
This week, I have taken a couple days at the beach. Before I return to the office, I want to post about that 7th habit of re-creation, what Covey calls “sharpening the saw”.
The metaphor goes like this: you can’t saw wood all week and expect the saw to perform the same way Friday as it did when you started Monday. The saw needs to be maintained, it needs to be sharpened. You might say you have too much wood to cut to take time to do the sharpening, but that will only make the saw dull and ineffective.
I have encouraged every member of SFLG to take time off this Summer, for good reason. Time away from the job allows for re-creation. An opportunity to rediscover talents and interests. An opportunity for fresh perspective and insight. I know I am coming back sharper, with more ideas and a renewed desire to care for clients.
But the real message here is for clients and prospective clients. Separation and divorce are some of the toughest life experiences humans endure. In the past 24 months, I have known clients, and their former partners, who have become so overwhelmed by the circumstances and events of their lives that they experienced tragic consequences. I believe they forgot to care for themselves along the way – they neglected to sharpen their saw.
You can’t afford not to take care of yourself. Take a day off and take more if you can. Go for a ride, a run, a hike. Read, paint, play music. Do whatever it is you used to do that brought you joy. Re-create yourself. You will be happier for it, and better able to manage whatever comes your way.
We want our clients to do their best to take care of themselves. Clients who know how to sharpen the saw are better able to follow our advice, make better decisions, and help us to get better results.
Stay sharp and count on us to do the same.