A Tale of Two Woodcutters

Some thoughts on productivity

Hi! Before we get started – on Monday 1st July I’ll be back at Mortimer House to talk all things safety in today’s fast paced world. I’ll be joined by lifestyle security expert, Kate Bright founder of UMBRA International, and Ayurvedic authority Mira Manek and we’ll be covering things like how to improve your psychological immunity as well as stay secure on + offline. Join us for tea, coffee, goodie bags + good chats.

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Today I want to share a little fable that I came across earlier in the week… But before we do, here’s a disclaimer – the story is all about chopping down trees. I do not condone chopping down trees (we actually plant a tree for every Journal sold) but it’s a useful analogy so here we are!

Anyway…

Two woodcutters were set a challenge – to see who could chop down more trees in a single day. (Awful, I know.)

Woodcutter No.1, let’s call him Bob, started chopping down trees immediately. He worked tirelessly throughout the day without taking a single break.

Woodcutter No.2, let’s call her Babs, also started chopping down trees immediately. She, however, took lots of breaks. During these she’d sit down, drink water and carefully sharpen her axe.

Bob, as he side-glanced at Babs, judged her for taking breaks. But, ultimately, he was very pleased as he knew he was working harder and so would win the challenge.

Yet at the end of the day, as you’ve probably guessed by now… Babs had chopped down more trees.

Bob was, obviously, pissed about this. He asked her how she did it.

And she replied: "While you were busy working hard, I took the time to work smart by sharpening my axe. Every time I took a break I came back stronger with my axe sharper.”

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This story is a good reminder to take the breaks you need to come back stronger and sharper. To listen to the warning signs. To just stop, now and then. To take time to plan and strategise for your business or life goals. To heed, whenever possible, the true priorities in your life.

Productivity approaches need less of this:

• Thinking you can 'do it all'

• Normalising exhaustion, chronic stress + burnout

• Sleep deprivation

• Sacrificing time with family + friends

• An 'always keep going' mentality

• Believing input is the most important measure

And more of this:

• Understanding you'll never be able to 'do it all'

• Taking care of your health

• Prioritising the things that actually matter in life

• Keeping the joy

• Knowing when being unproductive is the most productive thing you can do

• Understanding output is the most important measure

A good productivity system helps you strike some sort of overall balance between work and personal life – not always, as that's impossible, but the majority of the time.

If it doesn't do that, it's not a good productivity system.

It's just you, running yourself into the ground.

Be more Babs.