Sharpen The Saw - The 7th Habit!

When was the last time that you sharpened your saw?

Many years ago I read Steven R. Covey's book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." The last of the 7 habits dealt with sharpening your saw. The premise of the 7th habit is that you can cut though a log much deeper and more effectively if you take time out, and sharpen that saw first (your skill set)!

Hej Fran Marstrands Haveshotell Sverige! (Hello from Marstrand's Garden Spot in Sweden!)

Every other year since 2001, I have had both the honor and the privilege of attending the new products sales launch and conference hosted by Westermo in Sweden. This year is no different. I am sitting here writing this note at the end of a long day attending their technical training. June 1st through the 3rd will be for the sales conference.

Wow, it is so cool seeing the new releases and knowing what that will do for our sales productivity over the coming months and years. One big emphasis this year is on cyber security. There are a lot of bad guys out there. Another is productivity and throughput in industrial networks. And, of course, there are the additions to and completions of the product lines that make stuff happen. This is definitely a leading technology company.

No conference would be complete without the free and open exchange of ideas. There are more than 30 countries represented here. Everyone of us has a different set of ideas and a different set of experiences. Unfortunately, this conference was virtual during the pandemic. Now, it is a full engineer to engineer, person to person, shaking hands and kissing babies affair. Ideas are flowing in a way that only human contact will allow. A lot really does get done at the bar during the evening!

Of course, no conference would be complete without a phenomenal amount of local food specialties and a bit of touring in the local area. Breakfast this morning included multiple types of herring with my scrambled eggs and coffee. Dinner tonight included some Swedish caviar, which was small marinated fish eggs on top of some of the obligatory green stuff - salad. If you know me, you know I really enjoy my food. This trip has not been a disappointment at all.

We are on the west coast of Sweden looking out over the water. There is an island there with a ferry going back and forth every 20 minutes or so. The temperature during the day is in the low sixties. The sun sets around 10:20p, stays twilight for a couple of hours, briefly gets dark, has a couple of hours of dawn, and then the sun rises around 4a to a beautiful and sunny day, every day, since we have been here.

Why do this? At the end of the day, I will have learned more about the products I represent and distribute in the US. I will have met resources that will help out with applications as needed. I will be looked at as a resource for others with my experience since 2001 in selling these types of products. I will have met the people that make things happen, the very things that make us human. I will have made friends. Most importantly, I will have sharpened my saw, making me better at what I do!

When was the last time that you sharpened your saw? When was the last time you went and visited one of your suppliers, one of your principles, and updated your technical skills and networked in your industry. Most everyone will say that they last did something like this pre-pandemic. Well - it is time!

The benefit to you will be a renewed and sharpened saw.

Now, go cut that wood!