LINCOLN QUOTE - MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY
As I was reading quotes attributed to Abraham Lincoln recently, I was struck by a few quotes that I found profoundly meaningful. However, this one about spending four of the six hours alloted to a task actually sharpening the tool struck me as a double edged sword. I thought it might be worth exploring further. So, here we go…
IS THIS A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE WAY TO WORK?
First, let me just admit that I read this quote and felt a sigh of relief that someone else approaches projects and tasks in a similar manner to the way I work. But, does this mean it is the best approach?
It might be said that the act of preparation, the sharpening of the axe for example, addresses efficiency. This act of sharpening ensures you have the necessary, working tools needed to execute the task. With the axe example, how long would it take to successfully chop the tree down with a sharpened tool versus a dull tool? Let’s be honest. It’s probably not going to happen and therefore is inefficient. BUT, it would certainly be a learning lesson, because if the lack of preparation (sharpening the tool) happen once, it probably isn’t going to happen a second time. There is even a possibility that all the planning in the world isn’t going to get the task completed if you neglect the tools.
THE POSITIVE
Now, let’s talk about what I think Lincoln underlying message with this quote might include. Here are three initial thoughts:
The planning and preparation phase is important to completing a task well and sometimes this phase, requires a greater percentage of time than the actual “doing”.
© 2011 SuZan Alexander. Abraham Lincoln Seated Statue Washington, D.C., Digital Photography
As part of the planning and preparation phase, it is important to gather the necessary skills, tools, and information to complete tasks - especially complicated tasks and tasks that might lie just outside our wheelhouse.
It’s important to take this time, not only to do the job well, but to also consider how our actions sometimes have a far reaching effect, so perhaps we need to take a beat to just consider the big picture.
THE LESS POSITIVE
However, instead of feeling vindicated, I immediately felt a little convicted because I KNOW I can research something to the nth degree. By the time I’ve researched it throughly, I’ve sometimes researched way past the time I should have moved on from the research phase and started the work. At this point, I have missed the moment, the boat has sailed… You know, like the times I should have written the blog post, submitted my portfolio, worked on a series of images….
As an illustration of what I am talking about, I currently have a few paintings that are blocked-in on canvas with under-painting just waiting for the paint to be applied. Why do they remain in this unfinished state? Because, I want the color scheme to be accurate to the time period, as well as the subject. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who loves gathering information.) While information is not necessarily a “bad” thing, it can keep you from moving forward, doing the work and/or sending it out into the world - where it belongs.
This “four hours” can be things other than research too. It can be tools, supplies, courses, education,… These things are all necessary - to a point. The point at which they become something holding us back from completing a task, or worse, even starting a task, well, that’s when it might become not so positive. Like everything in life, I suppose moderation is the key.
So, how do you know the “four hours” are up and it’s time to get to work? I’m curious.
