“If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.” – Ecclesiastes 10:10

I’ve spent this month in a series of business consulting meetings with clients, noticing a troubling pattern for them in the workplace – strive for success by working harder rather than smarter. That’s not to say they aren’t smart people. They are very intelligent, yet they are often conditioned by their work environments to “succeed at any cost” for projects they are told will be “make or break.” Wisdom tells us something different. It often points to the path of slower but more sustainable progress; to the consequences of rash versus reasoned choices; to the importance of context in the midst of pressure and pain. Are you being wise enough to “sharpen your ax” at work?