How often do you sharpen your Axe

Recently i have read this book by name "You Can Win" by Shiv Khera. Even though its not usual type of books i read, i just took the book from my friend and started reading just for the heck of reading. As i started reading the book i must admit, i fell in love with the book.Its one of the excellent books i have read.

The book is driven by very well thoughts of the author and he has put them in a very simple manner. The book has many significant,powerful,simple analogies which will make you wear your thinking hat and make you realize your positives, negatives,dreams.It will help in focusing on your goals and makes you determinant in achieving them by devising a recipe for yourself.

This book has many useful and interesting stories, out of which i felt the below one is very apt for IT professionals.

John, a woodcutter, worked for a company for five years but never got any raise. the company hired Bill and within a year he got a raise.Then John resented Bill's getting a raise after only a year and went to his boss to talk about it. The boss said, "You are still cutting the same number of trees you were cutting five years ago. We are result oriented company and would be happy to give you a raise if your productivity goes up". John went back, started hitting harder and putting in longer hours but he still wasn't able to cut more trees. he went back to his boss and told him his dilemma. The boss told John to go talk to Bill. "May be there is something Bill knows that you and I don't". John asked Bill how he managed to cut more trees. Bill answered, "After every tree i cut, i take a break for two minutes and sharpen my axe. When was the last time you sharpened your axe?"

When was the last time you sharpened your axe? Past glory and education don't count for much. we have to continuously sharpen the axe.

As IT field is very vulnerable, one has to keep updating their skills regularly. Because the Technology of today May become Trash of tomorrow.So In this competitive world,to keep yourself in the race you have to keep updating the knowledge. You have to keep sharpening your axe regularly. Time and again you have to ask this question for yourself, and then take necessary steps.