Sharpen the Saw

 

What does a person with passion look like?  They come in many shapes and sizes, but you can identify them by how they use their time.  A person with passion and drive will use their free time to create, to improve, to learn.  When that person is persistent, they achieve more.

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey teaches how we move from being dependent on others to become independent, and lastly interdependent where we become symbiotic in our relationships whether they be work or personal, creating a cohesive unit working together to create and preform.  Of these 7 habits, I find the final habit to sharpen the saw to be the most influential for me.  What does it mean to sharpen the saw?  It means taking time to practice, to gain additional tools, and to sharpen our abilities.  This is a person on the path to mastery. 

My days are full, often too full.  By day I am a mild-mannered project specialist for the homeschool program within our school district.  It is not especially exciting, but the days are full.  My evenings become a circus, juggling college classes, family, kids’ activities, church responsibilities, and running a home bakery.  Often in a free minute I just want to collapse and ignore the demands of the world.  We all need a break to recharge and avoid feeling burned out.  This is part of the idea of sharpen the saw.  Passion disappears in the presence of exhaustion.  Creativity and drive vanish. 

Occasionally that break looks like binge watching a new series on Netflix.  This happens more in the hour before bed when my body just can not move anymore.  However, more often than not, my break comes in the form of baking.  I look forward to this time toward the end of the week when everything else is done, and I can take the time to create.  When I can make a product to share with family and friends, I get to experiment on a new product or work to make a familiar product better.  Baking becomes therapeutic.  The rhythm of kneading dough, the feel of it under my hands, and the final shape as it comes out of the oven golden brown and beautiful.  The tired muscles may still be there, but my heart is content, and my love of baking is renewed.  Each weeks brings something new, and that can be exciting. 

Last weekend for Valentine’s Day I worked to perfect cream filled eclairs.  They were a huge hit.  They are still not perfect, not really where I want them to be, but they are getting there.  This week I am working on King Cake.  This traditional dessert served during Mardi Gras is a new one for me, and I have enjoyed the challenge.  After a couple of weeks of experimenting I finally have something ready to market for next week, and I am excited to see how the community responds to it.

I am in a season where I need to slow down to sharpen the saw.  Everything is busy, but I am gaining the tools that will benefit me in the future.  I am working on a business degree, while growing a thriving business and managing a busy family.  Life is good, and it always gets better when there is cake or cream puffs.