Sharpen Your Axe Before You Swing It

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

— Often attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Whether Abraham Lincoln actually said those exact words has been debated, but the lesson has stood the test of time.

Too many insurance agents wake up every morning and immediately start swinging the axe.

Dial.

Quote.

Present.

Follow up.

Repeat.

Then they wonder why they’re exhausted, frustrated, and not seeing the results they hoped for.

The problem isn’t always effort.

Sometimes it’s the axe.

The Best Agents Never Stop Learning

One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed between average agents and top producers isn’t talent.

It’s preparation.

The best agents are constantly sharpening their skills. They’re students of their profession. They know that every book they read, every podcast they listen to, every mentor they learn from, and every conversation they have makes them just a little bit better.

That 1% improvement every day compounds over time.

Where Should You Sharpen Your Axe?

Here are a few places every agent should be investing their time:

Read Great Books

Success leaves clues.

Read books on sales, leadership, communication, negotiation, business, and personal growth. You don’t have to read a book every week. Just commit to learning something consistently.

Learn From Credible Mentors

Social media is full of “gurus.”

Choose carefully.

Find people who are actually protecting families, serving clients well, building ethical businesses, and producing consistent results—not just posting flashy lifestyles.

Join Communities That Challenge You

Facebook groups, training communities, masterminds, coaching programs, and team calls can all be valuable.

Don’t just scroll.

Ask questions.

Share wins.

Learn from others’ mistakes.

Growth happens when you’re surrounded by people who challenge you to become better.

Listen While You Drive

Turn your windshield into a classroom.

Instead of filling every commute with music, spend some of that time listening to podcasts, audiobooks, interviews, or leadership lessons.

Those minutes add up faster than you think.

But Above Everything Else…

Sharpen your spirit.

As Christians, we have access to the greatest source of wisdom ever given.

The Book of Proverbs is filled with practical principles on integrity, leadership, diligence, humility, discipline, relationships,

communication, money, and decision-making.

God isn’t just interested in making you a better insurance agent.

He’s interested in making you a better man or woman.

A better spouse.

A better parent.

A better leader.

When your character grows, your business often follows.

You’re Not Just Selling Insurance

At Exodus Benefits, we believe we’re called to protect families.

That requires more than product knowledge.

It requires wisdom.

Patience.

Compassion.

Integrity.

The better you become as a person, the more people will trust you with one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make.

So before you spend eight hours swinging the axe today…

Spend time sharpening it.

Your future clients—and your future self—will thank you.

Commit to becoming 1% better today. The results will take care of themselves.