This includes eating the right kinds of foods, getting sufficient rest and relaxation, and exercising on a regular basis. The physical dimension involves caring effectively for our physical body.
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To be effective, we need to recognize the importance of taking time regularly to “sharpen the saw” in all four ways – physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional. The single most powerful investment we can ever make in life is to invest in ourselves, in the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute. It is the habit of continuous improvement that creates the upward spiral of growth that enables you to reach your potential. This includes regular, balanced renewal of the four basic dimensions of life – physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional. In order to be more effective and productive, Covey presents Habit 7, the habit of renewal which suggests you should sharpen your saw regularly. You might find you will be more effective in a tidy, organized workplace. If your workplace is messy and disorganized, sometimes it is better to take the time to declutter and get organized. This might help you be more focused and effective after your break. For example, when you have a deadline at work or school, sometimes it is better to take a break. This theory can apply in many different situations.
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However, these 5 minutes cut the sawing time down by 20 minutes so they have actually saved you 15 minutes! Therefore, you can see that it takes 5 minutes to sharpen the saw which seems like 5 wasted minutes. Cutting the log with a sharp saw – takes 10 minutes.Cutting a log with a dull saw – takes 30 minutes.In the Workbook for The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey gives the following example: However, had he taken the time to sharpen the saw, he would have sawed down the tree in less time even if you take into account the time he “wasted” sharpening his saw. He thought he didn’t have time to sharpen the saw. He doesn’t want to “waste time” sharpening his saw, so instead, he spends hours trying to saw down the tree with a dull saw. Sharpen the Saw Meaning What does “Sharpen the Saw” mean?Ĭovey starts the chapter on the 7 th habit with a story about a person who is trying to saw down a tree.
![stephen covey sharpening the saw stephen covey sharpening the saw](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EW9Z6VAZ5kY/hqdefault.jpg)
STEPHEN COVEY SHARPENING THE SAW FULL
Renewal of our mind and body empowers us to keep becoming better versions of ourselves and to reach our full potential. Your mind and body are the greatest assets you have and the 7 th habit focuses on preserving, renewing, and enhancing this asset. Habit 7 “Sharpen the Saw” is the one habit that makes all the other 6 habits possible. If you are not familiar with the first six habits then read the 7 habits of Highly Effective People Summary. In the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey, presents an approach to effectively reach your goals by adopting 7 different habits.