Do you have your own axe?
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
I didn’t have a chance to get to know my great-grandmother, Grammy, but I feel like I did. I inherited her love of knitting (as well as her knitting needles and crochet hooks!). There are stories about the lemons the size of tennis balls that grew in the yard of her little bungalow in Anaheim, and the incredible lemon meringue pies she whipped up from scratch every time my mother came home from college. Her artwork adorned the walls of my grandparent’s house. And her colorful expressions are still in use with my family today. This may be one of her most memorable.
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
If she was ever in a friend’s kitchen, helping prepare a meal, the expression would come out. She would be chopping something, or whisking, or whatever, and if it wasn’t going quite right, didn’t feel quite as familiar, the expression would come out.
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
Have you ever felt this way?
Even now, when I find myself in unfamiliar territory, wading into new waters, I think of this expression.
Trying to do something on someone else’s computer?
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
Working in someone else’s spreadsheet?
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
Joining an existing team, with existing norms and rituals?
I could do it better if I had my own axe.
We often find ourselves in situations that feel “a little bit off”, outside of our normal comfort zone. When we don’t quite have our bearings straight, or aren’t feeling completely comfortable with what we’re doing.
Maybe you’ve just started a new role or new job, and you’re feeling a bit unsettled. Perhaps you’re navigating a new relationship, after a long-term relationship has ended.
Or maybe you’re grieving, finding your way in a “new normal”. Or trying to figure out how to adjust your roadmap in light of new strategic direction, and decisions that once felt easy are now in doubt.
Whenever we find ourselves wishing we “had our own axe”, here are three things we can keep in mind:
Start with the end in mind
When we have clarity around where we’re headed, we can adjust based on our current circumstances, even when the path doesn’t feel as familiar.
Maybe your weekly team meeting isn’t feeling productive. What do you hope everyone will get out of the session? Perhaps your evening routine has gotten chaotic. What do you need to have accomplished to set yourself up for a great tomorrow?
Identify what’s familiar
Knowing what we can rely on, even in the midst of change or chaos, can help ground us as we find our way.
Perhaps a key system your business relies on has changed. Are your key points of contact for answering questions still the same? Maybe you’ve moved to a new city. Can you keep your bedtime routine the same to give your kids some consistency?
Intentionally adjust
Rather than reacting to the change, when we intentionally choose how we want to show up differently, we can guide the situation to achieve our desired outcomes.
Maybe you have a mandate to increase the utilization of AI with your team. What values and goals do you want to intentionally lift up as you make the transition? Perhaps a family member has a new dietary restriction. Do you want to try to keep as much of your family’s meals the same as possible, or use this as an opportunity to make some broader changes to the way you eat?
We all find ourselves in situations that don’t quite feel right, where we’re out of our element. When we start with the end in mind, identify what’s familiar that we can rely on, and intentionally adjust our approach to account for what’s different, we can achieve the outcomes we’re hoping for in the midst of change.
Where do you miss having your own axe?
How will you make your world feel more comfortable and familiar?
As you read this, what changes are you identifying that you need to make in your own life? Want help?
You’re here. You want to be there. I can help.
Let’s talk. Book time, and we’ll figure out how to get you unstuck and get going.
How will you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
May 29, 2025
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
