A least once a year, I meet with a CEO or other executive who is in a major professional or personal slump; normally, these people are overachievers. Sometimes I can see these slumps coming because I meet with them each month; other times, this seems to come out of nowhere.
Even when the slump comes out of nowhere, it generally has been brewing for a long time. It’s like if you hit a large stone over and over with a sledgehammer and it suddenly cracks. We know it wasn’t the last hit but that combination of all the hits that finally caused the rock to break.
When I see one of these overachievers experience a decline in business, relationships, revenue, what have you, the first question I ask them is: “When was your last vacation?” I can’t tell you the number of times they respond with, “I can’t remember” or “a very long time ago.” If they did go on vacation recently, I ask for details, and I’ll learn that the “vacation” was actually just a few days tacked onto a work-related conference. Or maybe the vacation itself was stressful because it included extended or quarrelsome family.
What I typically find is that their “battery” is drained. They have no more strength or capacity left to deal with work or personal issues—whatever they are struggling with.
Sometimes the slow erosion of our vitality and effectiveness—in both personal and professional spheres—mirrors what happens to an overused edger blade in yard work—something I’ve called “The Edger Principle.”
I discovered this principle firsthand when I decided to return to yard work after a hiatus.
My edger usually created a perfect 2½-inch-deep, 1-inch-wide gap between the grass and the concrete, so I was stumped when my trusted edger failed to make its mark. It was only upon comparing the worn blade with a new one that the reality struck me: Inch by inch, the blade had diminished, its effectiveness eroded by time and use. Because this happened bit by bit over time, it went unnoticed over the months I was using it.
The same thing happens to our internal batteries. Over time, without us knowing it, our efficiency, enthusiasm, and even our joy in work and life can be whittled away by the relentless grind of responsibilities and pressures. The symptoms of living under The Edger Principle are not always easy to see. They creep up silently. Perhaps it’s the constant tiredness that coffee no longer remedies, the mounting dread for tasks that once excited you, or the pervasive feeling of being overwhelmed despite your competence and capacity.
Addressing The Edger Principle demands intentional action:
- Recharge Through Real Rest: Just as a blade needs sharpening, our minds and bodies need true rest. A vacation that’s not a thinly veiled work trip, but a genuine break from all work-related activities can do wonders.
- Regular Maintenance Checks: Periodic self-assessment helps identify when our edges are getting dull. Are we still as effective as we once were, or are we merely going through the motions?
- Rediscover Joy Away from Work: Engaging in hobbies and activities completely detached from our professional lives can help reset our perspectives and rejuvenate our spirits, much like how I found solace and satisfaction in yard work.
- Seek and Heed External Perspectives: Sometimes, we’re too close to our own situation to recognize the signs. Feedback from friends, family, business coaches, counselors, or mentors can help us see when our blade is getting dull and guide us toward sharpening it.
- Faith. Sometimes you have to let go and let God. If you are at an impasse or if you feel overwhelmed, turn the situation or problem over to your higher power. Stop struggling and show yourself some grace. Then ask for help. Remember, you are never really alone.
When I returned to doing my own yard work, the act of replacing the old edger blade not only restored the edger’s functionality but also provided a profound lesson in self-care and effectiveness. The Edger Principle serves as a reminder that gradual wear and tear in our lives, if left unchecked, can render us as ineffective as a blunted blade—capable of motion but not progress.
I challenge you to regularly check and “sharpen your own blades.” Self-awareness (and self-care) is how to remain effective, fulfilled, and joyfully engaged in all aspects of our lives. Through intentional action and self-awareness, we can counteract The Edger Principle, reclaiming our effectiveness and joy.
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