How Long Before Your Saw Needs Sharpening?
by Ryan McKeen
Me on Facebook: Writing brief (4 am).
CT Attorney Friend: You need a vacation.
Me on Facebook: Dreaming about getting chewed out by judges for having a red cover to my appellee brief.
CT Attorney Friend: You need a vacation.
My oustanding friend is giving me outstanding advice and not billing me for it.
About 10 years ago, I read 7 Habits of Highly Successful People because it was one of those staff recommendedations at Barnes and Noble. Anyhow, it had a chapter on “sharpening the saw”. The basic premise being that if you keep using a saw its blade will dull and you’ll no longer be able to effectively cut whatever it is you are cutting. You see, attorneys are saws.
I find that if I go more than 4 months without a break then I begin to dull. It becomes harder to answer the phone, to respond to the email, or write the brief. There’s no doubt about it, the practice of law is a grind.
I’ve been giving this subject a lot of thought recently. I’m back in the running groove and am presently training for a few upcoming races. I’ve run races before but I’ve always trained simply by running. No real plan, just get out and run. Inevitably, I’d hurt something and stop running for months.
That changed a few months ago when I downloaded an iPod app to help me train for a 5k. The app mixes running with walking to build endurance over a period of time. The progression from less walking to more running is slow and steady. I’m nearly done with the program and I feel better than ever when I run.
I’ve also started training for longer races using the Galloway method which incorporates walking and running. The point is that you can be a lot better runner if you simply take the time to walk on occasion. In essence, walking helps you sharpen the saw. This produces faster times and fewer injuries.
I’m not sure that a lawyer can effectively practice law without at least 2 weeks off in a calendar year. I’ll bet there are lawyers who have never taken a week off for years at a clip. I’ll also bet some part of their lives has suffered as a result.
My qustion to you is: How long before your saw starts to dull?
July 17th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think the answer is about 6 months. At that point in time, the saw starts to dull and I have to take steps to sharpen the saw again.
One thing that I have tried and have found highly effective for myself, is to look at the calendar at the beginning of the month, and pick one Friday where come hell, high water, or little green people, I'm going to leave the office by 12:30 in the afternoon and take the rest of the afternoon off and get away from the office. It seems silly when you consider that I'm only taking about 5-6 hours off, but it makes a world of difference. A way for me to quickly sharpen the saw. Doesn't replace taking a week off, but helps to keep the saw sharp here and there.
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Ryan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I usually wind up taking a week every 7 to 9 months. The problem as I see it is that the weeks that bookend a vacation are terribly busy.
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July 17th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Definitely a big problem with the weeks that bookend a vacation, and one to which there is no easy solution. That is one of the reasons why I ultimately have difficulty taking a week, but rather end up sneaking in 4 day weekends here and there. Not an ideal situation, but one that to this point has worked for me. From what I have seen to this point, it appears that the week between Christmas and New Year's is about the ideal time for me to take a week as business tends to be slower that week. Anyways, I hope that all is well and hope that you have an enjoyable weekend!
P.S.: From your microblog, if Marbury v. Madison were written today, I'm taking the over on a 500 page decision, probably the over on a 600 page decision even.
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July 21st, 2009 at 5:28 am
I have always tried to take a 5-day weekend whenever a holiday conveniently falls on a Monday. I take the Friday and Tuesday off for traveling and leave myself time to enjoy the 3-day holiday weekend. It's not a long stretch of time and with the holiday following the weekend, it's not as stressful in terms of what will be waiting for me at the office when the mini-vacation is over. For the summer months, I have decided to close the office on Fridays. While that often translates to me going into the office an hour or so later on Friday mornings to play uninterrupted catch up, it serves a useful purpose. I sleep in a bit and when I get to the office, I don't feel pressured … I leave the office early and start my weekend feeling less stressed. It's a nice indulgence and the weather is at least enjoyable (if you don't count all the rain we've been having). On those Fridays when I actually take the day off, well, that's pure decadence. When my saw needs serious sharpening, I take a week off (once or twice a year) and pray that I don't come back to a nightmare (which I inevitably do) … And yes, those bookends do qualify as a nightmare. Still, the time off is worth it. I cherish my sanity!
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July 21st, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Took your advice and went up to Newport for the weekend with the wife. Toured the Vanderbilt mansions, had lobster, even ran into actor Martin Short strolling the streets of downtown Newport. It was all great until we hit the beach. As I lay on the sand the sun was suddenly covered. I look up at this manmade eclipse only to hear the words "Hey counselor, what are you doing here? How's my case?"
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Irene Olszewski Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 am
Yikes! Next time, perhaps you should wear dark sunglasses!
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