Sharpen the Saw

If you haven’t read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by the brilliant Stephen R. Covey, I highly recommend it. Although it was published over 25 years ago, and yet the paradigms are as applicable today as they were then.

It’s the end of the year, and what a year it has been!

Professionally, the organization that I support has grown 300% since I joined just 18 months ago. I’ve had the esteemed privilege of building a powerhouse team, and we have completely overhauled the HR department and processes so that we would be staged for this rapid growth. So, if you have been wondering why I haven’t published much lately, that’s part of it. I’m very thankful to be spending this week between Christmas and New Year’s with my children on PTO.

Personally, I’m readjusting to life as a single parent. I’m being super intentional with my time – ensuring that the time with my children is quality time, making time for the amazing friends that I have been blessed to have in my life, and spending time with those I love.

Also personally, I’ve been working on my Masters degree. Who needs free time? Me. I’m pretty sure that after I finish this program, I’ll start my 12 step program to stop being such a masochist with my schedule. Step 1 – I admit I have a problem.

Back to Covey: the 7th Habit is Sharpen the Saw: the habit of renewal. My mantra in my life and my work is continuous improvement and increasing effectiveness in all areas. What better time than the new year when we’re all working on our resolutions to commit to renewing our body, heart, mind and soul?

What are you going to do today to renew yourself?

Do you have an accountability partner — or two?

My dear friend Corin is my workout buddy and my accountability partner to make sure that I’m not just making a monthly donation to Planet Fitness – I’m actually using it. My children are my accountability partner for my heart as they keep me grounded and remind me that people and the experiences are more important than the stuff and things. My team reminds me that together we can do anything. We had some seemingly insurmountable challenges this year, and my team exceeded my expectations with their ability to work together and take care of the organization and the talented, hardworking people we support.