We all have desires to be better and do more. That desire has been labeled lots of things: initiative, ambition, inspiration, drive, even mojo. I once heard a story about a man that gave his protégé a switchblade as a gift. In the box, there was a card that read "remember to always keep your edge".
Having edge, and being edgy, are two very different concepts. Being edgy means you're anxious, tense and irritable. Having edge means having an advantage, confidence, a sense of adventure, and the desire to try new things. It can also mean rebellion and going against the grain. In essence, it's someone who likes to shake things up. In the corporate world, it's challenging the status quo... the way things have always been.
We all have an edge, but some people's edges are sharper than others. This isn't by happenstance or accident. It's very intentional. All knives will eventually get dull if you don't sharpen them. They can get so dull that they become useless. We, too, must work to keep our edge and stay sharp.
We're born with edge - God given abilities and talents. For most of us, these gifts emerged when we were children. Gifts are nurtured, encouraged and challenged by people in our lives. When our "edge" isn't sharpened, we lose it, and become dull. What we lose is our hopes, our desires, and our ability to dream.
Surround yourself with people that will sharpen your edge. This isn't just people that love and encourage you, it's also people that drive you nuts because they challenge you and create discomfort. It's during these tough interactions that we learn the most about ourselves,and our opportunities for improvement.
Just like a blade can't sharpen itself, you can't sharpen your edge on your own. In Proverbs 27:17, King Solomon reveals how to sharpen your edge: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
No comments:
Post a Comment