Lincoln's Axe and 3 Feet from Gold
There are a couple of common "quotes" you’ll hear in the business setting, particularly in those annual, inspirational type meetings. They are:
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” - Abraham Lincoln
"They were just three feet from gold when they stopped digging. Never give up." - Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich story, as it is often summed up
I think many of us have worked in situations where we we've seen the good and bad of both. And while seemingly at opposite ends of the spectrum, once some context is brought into view, you'll quickly see that they are more meaningful and helpful than may be apparent. So, let’s examine their context and point of origin.
Four Hours of Sharpening?
Let's start with Lincoln's statement. And ask yourself, "Have I ever been in a project or effort that the whole thing was stuck on one step?" Did anyone utter the quote about sharpening an axe? And, how did its utterance make you feel?
It was probably more meaningful when stated, as it was stated. Lincoln likely had some experience with chopping down a tree. He likely also had a good idea of how long it would take to cut down a tree. And he knew it would go faster with a well maintained and sharpened axe. There’s a good chance that a large part of his audience had this knowledge too.
Most of us that hear this phrase today do not have that experience. We cut trees down with chainsaws not axes. So few of us have likely had to sharpen an axe, particularly by hand. We have machines to speed and perfect sharpening of tools. We have tools that make us perform the task more quickly. Modern tools and technology shorten that four hours a lot. So, let's take it a step further.
If we have to cut down a tree now, we'll use a chainsaw. A chain saw too needs to be sharpened, tuned and have fresh gas. So, if we restate Lincoln's axiom for today, it may read something like this:
If I have six hours to cut down a tree, I'll spend two hours tuning, sharpening, and getting gas for the chainsaw. Then I'll use my extra time to trim the tree down.
And let's be honest, if you're smart, that chain saw gets cleaned, sharpened and put away ready for its next use immediately after this tree. We still prepare moderately.
Just Keep Digging?
Let's talk about how the three feet from gold is missing some significant context as it is normally presented. Ask yourself, have you ever been in a position where they value the hours you put in more than the amount you output or stuck near the end of a project for months on end? Did someone give a rah rah speech and mention the three feet from gold? How’d you feel after that?
If yes, you'll like the actual story in Think and Grow Rich. There was a prospector digging for gold who gave up and sold his equipment, after months of digging with little success. The part that is left out and overlooked is that he sold that equipment to some engineers. They did measurements, performed analysis, and then changed the direction of digging. Then, they hit gold in three feet.
The original prospector could have dug for gold forever. He may well have occasionally found some gold. The success touted, however, in this story is analysis, not necessarily blind perseverance.
Now What?
Both stories are actually saying similar things and neither is about working harder.
Lincoln argues for tool maintenance (Process).
Hill argues for expert analysis and research (Data/Strategy).
Lincoln could have bludgeoned a tree down with a blunt axe, maybe. But he would have been wiped out at the end. He prepared appropriately for the tools and task he had. The new prospectors did the same thing. If you prepare properly, it makes the task easier.
Today, we have an impressive amount of tools at our disposal. Analytic tools, data visualizations, collaboration tools, and AI are all there to lighten your load. You just now have to ask yourself, do you want to keep bludgeoning the tree or digging the wrong direction.
If you want help honing your tools, processes or reorienting your resources, we'd be happy to help. Just give us a shout.
