The Woodcutter’s Axe: A Story About Being Busy

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it.
The pay was really good and so were the work conditions and for that reason, the woodcutter
was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was to work and the first day,
the woodcutter cut down 18 trees.

‘Congratulations,’ the boss said. ‘Go on that way! ’

Very motivated for the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could
cut down 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could cut down 10 trees. Day
after day he was cutting less and less trees.

‘I must be losing my strength,’ the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologised,
saying that he could not understand what was going on.

‘When was the last time you sharpened your axe?’ the boss asked.

‘Sharpen! I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut down trees.’

Life gets like that. Sometimes we get so busy that we don’t take time to ‘sharpen the axe.’