Lessons Learned From Chop Wood, Carry Water

It is said that "Greatness isn't for the chosen few, it is for the few who choose."

In today's Mindset Monday class we began delving into the process of becoming great (at anything). We did so by reviewing the first few chapters of "Chop Wood, Carry Water" written and recorded by Joshua Medcalf.

At its heart, this book teaches us that mastery can only come through a process. A process that will no doubt include many failures. Success, in short, is dirty, hard work.

In order to succeed, you must be willing to go through the pain and monotony that is required in order to build the foundational habits required of a successful endeavor. And, you can never ignore the little things. In the end, they are the ones that cost us the most.

To illustrate this, he told us the story of a Japanese master home builder by the name of Kota. For, 30 years, he built custom homes for his company that were universally considered throughout Japan to be of the utmost quality. His services were in high demand by the elite of this Pacific nation.

The time came for him to consider retirement. And, as is the custom in his country, he went to his employer to ask permission to do so. Which was granted on one condition, that he build one last home for the company's most important customer.

Despite the fact that he would have to cancel travel plans for he and his wife, he acquiesced. The project took 4 months to complete. And, because his heart was no longer in it, he ignored the small details and design touches that were his personal signature.

While the house was up to code, he knew that his last home did not meet the standards that his clients had come to expect. But, he was done.

Resolutely, he went to his employer and once again asked for permission to retire. And, once again, his boss said yes. But first, we have one more piece of business to attend to. At which, Kota could not help but feel the resentment build inside him.

But instead of asking him to build one more home as Kota anticipated, his boss reached into the desk and pulled out a small box holding a set of keys and handed Kota the keys to his new home. Their most important client was Kota.



Teaching us that no matter what it is that we choose to do, we are all building our own home. And, if we fail to meet the standards that others expect of us. And, that we set for ourselves, it is we who pay the price

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Frank Spencer:

FSpencer10@gmail.com or call 951-741-7901

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