Ep. 44 Sharpening Your Saw

This Sunday is my birthday and I've given myself a great present. As you read this, I am at a retreat in Southern California to step back and recharge. I'm not taking my computer. I'm going to be offline as much as humanly possible. I'm going to do a lot of nothing.This is actually a hard thing for me to do. But time has shown, it's one of the biggest enablers of progress.As Founders, our inclination is to drive ever harder. To keep grinding to the next milestone.I'd like underscore the importance of taking some time off. This principle is often illustrated through the metaphor of "sharpening the saw."The analogy refers to an old parable where a woodcutter, driven by the need to cut more wood, works incessantly without ever stopping to sharpen his saw. Consequently, as the saw dulls, his productivity decreases. Eventually the saw breaks and he gets injured. If he had paused to sharpen his saw, he would have maintained his productivity and even increased it in the long run.Much like the saw, our minds and bodies are tools we use to create, innovate, and lead. However, the rigors of leading a startup can often lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and impaired decision-making, akin to the woodcutter's dull saw. This is why it's crucial to take time to "sharpen the saw," or in other words, to rest, rejuvenate, and recharge. This week's Rocket Ship Founder podcast episode is dedicated to sharpening your saw. I talk about: The 3 key benefits of stepping away 2 critical steps to set yourself up to sharpen your saw Breaking through the stigma of time off This 13-minute listen is one of the most important lessons I've learned in Founder life.To your success!Steve