Lincoln said, “If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.” He was talking about preparation for a job and the reality that tools and skills get dull over time.

Stephen Covey was talking about the same thing when he listed "Sharpen the Saw" as one of his seven habits for success. In both examples, it isn’t something you do just once. How do you know if your ax or saw is dull, and is that enough?

If you're seeking opportunities, we can conclude you're ambitious, and in that case, it would be wise to sharpen your skills before you find them. If you're willing to prepare in advance, then you don’t have a problem with having your performance stand out. Your work won’t speak for itself if you don’t do some planning. The same thing is true for your career; if you want to succeed and stand out, you must do something different if you want a different result.

There are many ways to sharpen your skills and prepare for future opportunities.

Take On-line course

Attend trade shows, conferences, and seminars

Seek feedback on your work

Read about your industry

Seek certification for your skills

Learn a new skill

Expand your network

If Lincoln was willing to spend four hours sharpening his ax and then two more hours chopping down a tree, was he being paid by the hour? It seems doubtful that he would be, but would you expect a person you hired to do that job to arrive at work with his ax already sharp? Of course, you would. It takes personal preparation to be counted as the best.