"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend 4 hours sharpening the axe."
-Abraham Lincoln
A few weeks ago I received a memo from the Chelan County Public Utility District that the arborists were scheduled to trim my cedar tree away from the power lines. I was happy to see this memo because the tree did need a haircut and many branches were overlapping the power lines and growing into the transformers.
They arrived this morning and I was fascinated at the skill used to weave that man bucket through the power lines to access the top of the tree. Fortunately, the arborist had a chain saw and didn't need to use an axe or manual saw like good 'ol Abe would have had to do.
It didn't take him more than 10 minutes to get the job done. What was most interesting, though, is the crew spent more time studying the tree and making a plan on how to do the job than actually doing it. Isn't this the way most things in businesses and life are? You spend time planning and the execution itself takes very little time. Isn't that what Abe Lincoln was referring to when he said he would spend most of his time sharpening the axe, preparing for the job?
Just a random thought for the day.
Remember:
Information Is FREE. Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless!
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Grant Schneider ,
Yes, poor performance is definitely a consequence of improper planning.
Jun 20, 2018 12:10 PM
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Lauren Williams, CPO
Woodinville, WA
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD ,
The tree does seem to be happy with it's new trim. I know I am. 
Jun 20, 2018 12:11 PM
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Lauren Williams, CPO
Woodinville, WA
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376
I hear ya sister carol sometimes I see the most interesting cuts around trees
Jun 20, 2018 01:19 PM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Lauren Williams, CPO
Woodinville, WA
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133
Good evening Carol. I love watching my tree guy and his men work. It is like fine wine, full and satisfying.
Jun 20, 2018 03:02 PM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Lauren Williams, CPO
Woodinville, WA
Casual Uncluttering LLC - Woodinville, WA
Professional Organizer: Puget Sound homes
Carol Williams What a well-woven tale. Thank you!!!!
Jun 20, 2018 04:57 PM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign
Carol- there's been a lot of tree trimming here readying the area for hurricane season.
When Larry had his neurosurgery last year, the surgeon said that they would take more than half the surgical time mapping out the brain and where they planned to cut. Well that works for me...measure twice, cut once!
Jun 20, 2018 06:14 PM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!
Tis the season! I happened to be watching are Public Utilities District trim the trees back from the power lines just last week and they did such a neat precise job. The county on the other hand brought a machine in and drove down the road and cut back the other side of the road with this monster which shredded and through sticks and branches all over the place. I prefer the utility districts work over the counties big Green Monster Carol...
Jun 20, 2018 08:57 PM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
Yep, those trees are getting a haircut. Here in California, PG&E was just found guilty as a cause of at least one major wildfire, because overgrown trees had decided to hookup with powerlines. It can be very dangerous to allow them to do so.
Jun 21, 2018 12:49 AM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR
Morning Carol.
Good point, a lot of agents just go about the day with no plan and no backup plan should things go south. Great talking point at our next meeting
Jun 21, 2018 01:46 AM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi sista Hannah Williams ,
It's amazing how quickly they get their work done. My Mom's side of the family were loggers. They didn't have today's chainsaws to make short work of it.
Jun 21, 2018 06:39 AM
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Hannah Williams
Philadelphia, PA
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Sheila Anderson ,
They are amazing to watch aren't they? And, I love how they cleaned up.
Jun 21, 2018 06:41 AM
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Sheila Anderson
East Brunswick, NJ
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Lauren Williams, CPO ,
Thanklyou for the kind words. Have an amazing day!
Jun 21, 2018 06:41 AM
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Exactly, Kathy Streib ... measure twice, cut once. I hope Larry's surgery went well.
Jun 21, 2018 06:42 AM
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®,CRS,
Yes, they were very neat about it! I loved that!
Jun 21, 2018 06:43 AM
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Myrl Jeffcoat ,
Yes, I've been thinking for a while that needed to be done. Glad it finally was.
Jun 21, 2018 06:44 AM
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi James Dray
Without a plan, you're planning to fail, right?
Jun 21, 2018 06:44 AM
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James Dray
Bentonville, AR
Yes ma'am
Jun 21, 2018 07:14 AM
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality
Glad the job was studied and planned, so the outcome was successful. "Measure twice, saw once" is another way of reminding us of the importance of planning.
Jun 25, 2018 02:04 AM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root
Proper planning can make any job more successful! We had a tree company come to remove a tree a while ago and it was definitely interesting to watch the process.
Jun 25, 2018 03:51 AM
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
Hi Kat Palmiotti ,
It's interesting to see how a bit of careful planning can make a job so much quicker and easier... and reduce the chance for error and regret.
Jun 26, 2018 12:42 PM
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA
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