“…I’m beat! This is hard work.”
“…why don’t you take a break…and sharpen that saw?…it would go a lot faster.”
“I don’t have time to sharpen the saw…I’m too busy sawing!”
-Stephen Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
One of the most vital things any professional can learn (homemakers included) is the importance of taking the time to invest in one’s own self. As Covey rightfully observed:
“[We are] the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute. We are the instruments of our own performance, and to be effective, we need to recognize the importance of taking the time regularly to sharpen the saw…”
Many homemakers strive to work fast. They work hard. They want to accomplish their tasks quickly and can often go at their daily goals with a kind of ferocious effort worthy of Hercules.
But homemaking is not about working fast (though the ability to work fast when necessary is essential) nor is it about working hard (though homemaking can sometimes require strenuous, physical labor). Successful homemaking is about working smart. It’s about knowing how to do what and when and why. It’s about being efficient so your efforts can be effective. It’s about learning how to be wise so you don’t waste.
Taking the time to study and learn (via books or classes) about the profession of homemaking is a way of “sharpening” your “saw.” As individuals who consistently deal with the trade-off between time, energy and money, wise homemakers recognize the impact of knowledge on their ability to manage all their resources…especially the resource that is their own self.
Sometimes, if we wish to go faster (to be able to accomplish our tasks and goals more quickly) we must first go slower. And sometimes we actually have to stop. Don’t be so busy “sawing” that you forget to take the time to “sharpen” your “saw.” Invest in your own personal and professional development. It’s not a waste of resources. It’s smart.
Upcoming class opportunity: “How to Run Your Home Like a Business: Cultivating the Professional’s Attitude”
Where: Puyallup Activity Center
When: September 17 from 7-8pm
Discount opportunity: Because you are subscribed to my email list you get a 15% discount off this first class. Use promo code homemaking13 after you click on the button below.
Click here to sign up for this September class
