The door that will unlock in your thinking if you ponder what I share here long enough could save you years of frustration.

The accumulated moments of unnecessary effort in our daily routines can add up over time and become years of our life. These unchallenged chief robbers of time are the small foxes that spoil the vine. They appear unimpressive and minimal close up, but multiply their destructive consequences and you’ll find time spilling out in all directions.

It begins with the false premise that more effort is equal to bigger or better results.

We seek better outcomes and wonder why they are not forthcoming, and simply jump on the bike and pedal harder. The problem is, some of our cycles have square wheels!

Your habits and processes are the bicycles that you ride in life and business. We flow with the familiar without giving consideration to whether the way we are doing the work is the best and most efficient use of time and energy.

Solomon pointed this out so clearly it is not a modern affliction.

“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.” Ecclesiastes 10:10

Both the dull and the sharpened ax accomplish the same outcome. Both trees will fall, eventually. But the poor fellow wielding the dull axe will take twice as long, put in three times as much effort, and be less likely to continue his tree chopping escapade for the long haul.

Abraham Lincoln said the same in his famous quote:

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Every habit in your life is an ax. Can it be sharpened? Can it be streamlined? Can it be rounded in a way that makes the wheels turn with ease?

Instead of focussing on how much (or little), you are doing, and how you might work harder to accomplish more, consider how you can do less and still see the same results or better.

Baking streamlined, sharpened habits into your routines, especially ones you repeat over and again, will save you far more time than it takes to think through, plan and implement them, than if you simply continue running in old, familiar ruts.

Even if it means pulling the wheels off for a while to do it, it is worth it in the long run.

Sharpen that ax, sister.

Fix that bike, bro.

You’ll thank me later.