THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION
Abraham Lincoln said “…if I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six hours sharpening my axe,”
King Solomon said, “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength” (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
Preparing for the day ahead is a discipline, art and skill continually being developed.
Today I am going to show you through Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes that the discipline of “PREPARATION” is biblical as much as it is practical. Let’s get started.
When we attend training at work, we are sharpening our axe. When we attend a marriage workshop with our husband or wife, we are sharpening our axe. When we are in school or vocational training, we are sharpening our axe. The key point is that we are to make sure to spend more time in preparation ahead whatever objectives or projects we are taking on.
- TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT YOUR OBJECTIVE IS. This includes anticipating what the other side or those who have to work or negotiate with might say, their objectives might be, what situations you wish to avoid, what concessions you could make, and what items are at the top of your wish list as to what you want out of the meeting, negotiation or objective.
- PLANNING VERSES PREPARATION: Before we leave the office or begin the day, effective people always plan out what they want to do an accomplish that day. This is simple organization and goal setting. This will include a “To Do List” and a review of calls and people you will be speaking with or want to speak with.
- SHARPENING YOUR AXE: Once you are done “Planning” it’s time to “sharpen your axe”. Planning is good and essential as it lays out a map of where and when to go at each turn of the day. That being said, planning is only the first step in that it lays the ground work for “PREPARATION” or “sharpening your axe”. Preparation is where you get ready to actually do the work. Abraham Lincoln said “…if I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six hours sharpening my axe”. What he was saying is that we should all spend more time in preparation for the things that matter in life.
- FAIL TO PREPARE IS TO PREPARE TO FAIL: Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Sadly, most people don’t prepare adequately and roll through their day way less effective than they could be. Being unprepared leads only to lost opportunities, less productivity and the loss of key moments that can turn into larger opportunities. Taking the time to prepare can be tedious at times and it’s not always a joy to execute this discipline. Preparation though is one of the most valuable skills that you can master in light of avoiding bottle-neck build up of work as well as decreasing stress and anxiety as deadlines approach if not prepared.
- People who play sports prepare. If you are going to go backpacking, you have to make sure that you have all of your gear and that all of your gear is ready to go. The same is true of athletes such as football, soccer and baseball players. They spend time daily preparing for the game. The same is true for the business person who has a sales, project or negotiation meeting Preparation is key. The best in all categories prepare and prepare well.
- A LEARNED SKILL AND DISCIPLINE: The great news is that “Preparation” is a skill that can be learned over time with discipline”; for those who want it. For those who don’t want to success that badly, they will cease to prepare at all or prepare very little. For them, the outcome is deserved as in life, not everyone gets a prize.
- FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE: FIRST: Research and know who you will be working with. SECOND: Determine some very clear goals and objectives you want to accomplish. THIRD: Create an “Agenda” and try to stick with it as much as possible. FORTH: Plan for the expected. In life, things change. People are not perfect and time waits for nobody so you must be flexible. Always keep a Plan B in your back pocket should a major change occur. FIFTH: When you are done with the meeting, write down all of the follow-up actions you need to do to assure the best possible outcome of your invested time.
IN CLOSING: Let’s remember the words of Abraham Lincoln who said “…if I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six hours sharpening my axe”.
Then let’s remember that King Solomon said “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). He is speaking about the timeless wisdom regarding “preparation”. Looking at the two prior verses (8-9), Solomon says:
8 “He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed” (Ecclesiastes 10:8-10).
By considering the potential risk involved in anything we do, we are much more likely if we take the time to PREPARE. Let’s keep in mind that wisdom and preparation (despite how wise and prepared you may be) cannot prevent every accident or failure such as the one’s Solomon mentions in verses 8-9, but preparation certainly limits the number and extent such things. In the end, wisdom can prevent many difficulties in life, so sharpening one’s “axe” will save a lot of work (v.10). Remember that the wise person will sharpen their ax BEFORE they start their day, meeting, talk, sermon, etc. And a person of limited training will have to work harder, as though with a dull ax, than someone wiser whose tools are in order. And this is the importance of your sharpening your axe-preparing for your day.
