When Sanjay and I started the company in 2002 we were a different business. Our services revolved around process optimization or process improvement. What does that mean and how does it relate to people and improving themselves?
Wikipedia defines it as “an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes.” Process improvement is not one and done—it is an ongoing effort.
How does this relate to us? It is the same. We need to constantly improve to become our best selves. Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, calls this “Sharpen the Saw.” It is his 7th habit. He says that sharpening the saw “means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have – you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual.”
This is about being the best you possible.
So how do you do become your best self? You improve all four areas constantly. Sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly.
| Physical We all know that we need to exercise and be careful about nutrition. The stress of life gets to everyone. Exercising and eating right are so important. I need to do that. |
| Mental There are so many ways to stay ‘sharp’ mentally. I meditate and journal. I feel that helps me clear the cobwebs in my head. |
| Spiritual This is a very personal area. It can mean many different things. To me it means what fuels my soul. What fuels my soul is helping others. I do that as often as I can. |
| Relationships Building a relationship takes time and hard work. There are plenty of ways to do this. Spend time with other people, listen to them, see how you can help them. |
Building a relationship takes time and hard work. There are plenty of ways to do this. Spend time with other people, listen to them, see how you can help them.
What are you going to do to “Sharpen Your Saw”?
Have a great weekend.
—Vijay
About Friday Food for Thought (FFfT)
I frequently attend conferences and retreats on entrepreneurship and leadership and while I am away, the J2 team picks up the slack, allowing me to learn to be better at what I do. I wanted to share what I was learning with my team, so I created the weekly FFfT emails in November of 2015 and have been writing them ever since.
Before long, the J2 staff began sharing the FFfT emails with their friends and family and now other leaders have asked to be included, which led to the creation of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy.