There’s a well-known story—often linked to Stephen R. Covey and his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People—about a lumberjack that perfectly captures a problem we see daily in business.
A young lumberjack lands a new job and is determined to perform.
On his first day, he cuts down a significant number of trees. His boss is impressed.
The next day, he works harder—yet cuts fewer trees.
The day after, he pushes even more—but his performance drops again.
This continues for days. More effort. Worse results.
Frustrated and exhausted, he keeps going, convinced that the answer lies in working harder.
One day, an old man passing by asks him:
“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?”
The lumberjack replies:
“I don’t have time to sharpen my axe—I’m too busy cutting trees.”
The Real Issue: A Blunt Axe
In business terms, a “blunt axe” looks like:
- Repeated non-conformities
-
Recurring customer complaints
-
Failed audits
-
Inefficient workflows
- Increased waste and rework
In many cases, teams respond to problems by:
-
Adding more hours
-
Increasing pressure
- Staff blaming
-
Tightening supervision
The issue is not lack of effort, but how the work is being done.
What “Sharpen the Axe” Means in Business
I see this across multiple sectors—restaurants, manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
“Sharpening the axe” is not theory. It is practical and measurable.
It means:
- Reviewing processes before they break down
-
Identifying root causes rather than applying temporary fixes
-
Implementing systems that actually work (not just paperwork)
But unless the root cause is addressed, the issue will return.
That’s not a performance problem, that’s a blunt axe.
Why Most Businesses Avoid It
Because sharpening the axe requires something uncomfortable:
Stopping.
And stopping feels like lost time.
In fast-paced environments, especially in the food industry, stepping back to review systems or train staff can feel like a luxury.
But the reality is the opposite.
Not stopping is what creates:
-
Rework
-
Audit failures
-
Staff frustration
-
Increased costs
Working Hard vs Working Right
One of the biggest misconceptions in business is that more effort equals better results, but it doesn’t.
Better results come from:
-
Clear systems
-
Proper training
-
Structured thinking
This is exactly why industries like aviation focus heavily on learning from failure, while others repeat the same mistakes.
The Q Squared Consult Approach
At Q Squared Consult, the focus has always been the same:
Get it right the first time.
This doesn’t happen through more effort—it happens through:
-
Understanding the “why” behind problems
-
Fixing root causes
-
Building systems that prevent recurrence
Because once the axe is sharp, the work becomes easier, faster, and more consistent.
Final Thought
If you find yourself or your team:
-
Working harder
-
Getting slower to no results
-
Facing the same problems repeatedly
Ask one question:
When was the last time you sharpened the axe?
Because sometimes, the most productive decision you can make…is to stop and think.
Need assistance?
Get in touch with Jean Pierre Sant
Further reading
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
