WOOD CUTTER STORY

WOOD CUTTER STORY

Jo John, a woodcutter, worked for a company for five years but never got a raise. The

company hired Bill and within a year he got a raise. This caused resentment in John and

he 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 a 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. "Maybe there

is something Bill knows that you and l don't." John asked Bill how he managed to cut

more trees. Bill answered, "After every tree l cut, l take a break for two minutes and

sharpen my axe. When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" This question hit

home like a bullet and John got his answer.