How to sharpen a pencil

What's the best way to sharpen a pencil?

Don't bother thinking about it too much. It's a trick question, because I've intentionally left out a ton of important detail.

For example:

• Do you just need to scribble some notes, or are you creating a fine work of art?

• Are you sharpening one pencil every 6 months, or 100,000 pencils every day?

• Do you even need to sharpen a pencil? What about mechanical pencils? What about pens?

Truth is, there are probably a thousand different ways to get this done.

And none of them is "right."

Because the method itself doesn't matter.

What matters is the result, and (sometimes) the efficiency.

Here’s the thing:

Sharpening a pencil, or even 100,000 pencils, is a relatively simple matter compared to managing your CRM systems.

But the principles of "prioritize the outcomes" and "no perfect solutions" apply to both.

More important than asking, "What's the best way to X," is to ask:

• Why would I want X in the first place?

• What would that outcome be worth?

• What's any reasonable way to move toward that outcome without spending more time / effort / money / good will than it's worth?

Because a sharp pencil will just make marks on paper.

And chances are, that's not all you're really hoping to achieve.

All the best,
A.