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Abe Lincoln

by Rick Baker
On Aug 30, 2011
Abraham Lincoln said,
 
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”.
 
And, as you already know, it is much harder to build up people and build up business than it is to chop down a tree.
 
Eventually, Lincoln became skilled at both chopping down trees and leading people. The history books are not clear on whether or not chopping down trees came easy to Lincoln. On the other hand, there has been much written about the people challenges Lincoln experienced during the early part of his unusual career. Lincoln fought some bitter public battles, embarrassed himself, and experienced some bitter lessons before he learned how to develop strong interpersonal and leadership abilities.
 
I imagine Abe Lincoln, sitting with his back rested against a tree on a hot summer day. The sun is beating down, the leaves are rustling under just a little breeze, and the insects are humming.
 
I see Abe chewing on a piece of straw.
 
That tall hat of his is tilted down at the front, almost resting on his nose.
 
Abe is thinking to himself:
  • These interpersonal things have caused such problems for me
  • Maybe I should plan my dealing with people, like I plan chopping down trees?
  • Say I have 6 hours to spend on a person-to-person interaction…
    • Should I spend no time planning up front and 6 hours with the people?
    • Should I spend 2 hours planning then 4 hours with the people?
    • Should I spend 4 hours up front planning then 2 hours with the people?
  • I think I will spend 4 hours planning up front then 2 hours with the people
  • Hold on…I just thought of a tree-axing metaphor I can use to explain why I do things that way
When Abe Lincoln did hone his people skills he was as prepared as any leader could be. His preparation served him and his countrymen well.
 
Abe Lincoln is one of my heroes.

Tags:

Hero Worship

Comments (1) -

Greg Schott Canada
9/2/2011 10:23:01 AM #

Rick,

On the woodcutter theme, here is a related story that I use frequently to reinforce the importance of planning.

A young woodcutter was quite exasperated that he could not keep up with his much older associate. No matter how much harder the young woodcutter worked, the older woodcutter always cut a lot more cords of wood every day. To make matters worse, the old guy always seemed to be taking breaks, unlike the young woodcutter who never took breaks in an effort to catch up.

Finally one day, in total frustration, the young woodcutter confronted the old woodcutter, " I can't figure it out, I am working twice as hard as you, I don't take breaks like you do, and you outproduce me every day. What's going on?"

The old woodcutter smiled and said, "What you haven't noticed my young friend, is that during my frequent breaks, I am always sharpening my axe!"

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