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.

Passion is the driving force in life

When life doesn't offer what we want in life, what are we gonna do? Are we gonna just obey and lead a life as it takes? or mold it in a way we want it ? How many of us just say that " this is all i have got in life and nothing can be changed " and live a compromised life? Not many i guess right?!! because life is such a precious thing given by god and it will be a shame if we just waste life without achieving something and lead it without enjoying it!

Then what is main factor which really provides us hope and helps in achieving what we want in life. Yes, its the Passion a person has in him/her which is the driving force in achieving what we want in life. By Passion i mean: Zeal , enthusiasm. Passion is the one which ignites fire in person. Its the fuel which drives them forward in life. It makes anyone achieve what they want in life and it surpasses pain they experience in the process. Without passion we don't live the life, rather we just exist ! passion adds Spice to the life.

With passion comes meaning to life, with passion comes hope, with passion comes determination, with passion comes pain, with passion comes success, with passion comes satisfaction.

Some people will be lucky to have their passion as their career. But not everyone is lucky enough!! But that doesn’t stop them in achieving what they want in life. Its only possible because of their passion. Passion has such a magical power , it makes the impossible a possibility. It brings the non-existing into existence.


Different people are passionate about different things. To say few examples:
The goddess of compassion Mother Teresa is the best example of people who has Passion to help others, and passion to serve the poor and needy. The king of search engine Google is the result of few passionate engineers. Lord of the Rings, Troy, Gladiator etc. are few examples of a passionate movie Technicians. The 7 wonders of the world are the result of the Passionate people.


In essence, Passion is the driving force in life. Realize your Passion in life and march ahead.