Day 52 of The 100 Day Project: Chop Wood Carry Water and the Power of Process

Discover timeless lessons on discipline, mindset, and mastery from Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf.

In Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great, Joshua Medcalf delivers an inspiring parable about what it truly takes to become exceptional. Not through flashy wins or overnight success, but by committing to the daily grind, staying grounded in a mission, and embracing the long road of mastery.

The story follows John, a young man with dreams of becoming a Samurai archer. Inspired by his childhood travels in Asia, John commits fully to the Samurai way by traveling to Japan and enrolling as an apprentice in a remote, traditional community. There, under the mentorship of Sensei Akira, John begins a journey that is less about archery and more about discipline, identity, and transformation through simple, repeated actions.

The Lesson in Repetition

When John arrives, eager to learn the art of archery, he’s instead instructed to do what seems like menial labor: chop wood and carry water. The connection between this routine and the skill of archery isn’t obvious at first, and that’s the point. John’s initial frustration mirrors our own tendency to want immediate results, skipping the unglamorous steps that form the bedrock of mastery.

This recalls the famous Karate Kid moment where Mr. Miyagi trains Daniel through repetitive movements like "wax on, wax off." What appears mundane or even pointless is a form of deep, foundational learning.

Building Wisely, Living Intentionally

One of the most moving metaphors in the book is the idea that each day we are building our own house. As Akira tells John, “What you do for someone else, you’re doing for yourself.” This principle reminds us that our daily actions, especially the unseen ones, shape our character. Whether you’re writing, leading, teaching, or training, you’re either building wisely or taking shortcuts.

John reflects on this message and asks himself: Am I building my house wisely? It’s a powerful question that goes beyond the book and echoes in your life. Are you approaching each day with care, or are you waiting for something “important” to give your best effort?

Focus on What You Can Control

As the story unfolds, John learns that the path to becoming great isn’t in obsessing over outcomes like winning a tournament. It’s about focusing on what you can control, your preparation, your attitude, your response to failure.

This is the beating heart of Chop Wood Carry Water. Greatness comes from discipline in the small things. As Akira explains, everyone wants to be a great warrior, but few want to chop wood and carry water. The same is true in modern leadership. Many want recognition, but few want to embrace the unseen, repetitive work it takes to earn it.

Dream Big. Start Small. Stay Faithful.

One of the most resonant phrases from the book is this: “Dream big. Start small. Be ridiculously faithful.” It speaks to the power of mission over goals. Goals are important, but they can become fragile. They can make us impatient. When things don’t happen as expected, we abandon the effort.

A mission‌ is deeper. It’s the reason behind the effort. It grounds you. When you’re connected to a mission, you can persist through failure, monotony, and doubt.

Redefining Success and Self-Worth

John struggles with discouragement, especially when comparing himself to others or reporting back to his family. He feels like he has little to show for his time, still chopping wood, still carrying water. But with encouragement from both his father and Sensei Akira, he detaches his identity from outcomes. His value, they remind him, comes from who he is, not from what he achieves.

This reframing is essential for leaders, creatives, and learners alike. When your worth is tied to external metrics, such as money, awards, promotion, you’re constantly at the mercy of things you can’t control. But when your worth is grounded in who you are and the integrity of your effort, you gain stability, confidence, and peace.

Lessons to Live By

Chop Wood Carry Water offers several lessons for anyone pursuing personal growth or leadership:

Focus on the process, not the prize.
Commit to daily habits, even when they feel mundane.
Play in the present. Let go of past regrets and future anxieties.
When discouragement strikes (and it will), recognize it and keep moving.
Speak kindly to yourself. Your inner dialogue shapes your outer performance.
Build a strong foundation before expecting results.

One particularly powerful reminder: most people never realize their potential because they quit when things get hard. They see struggle as failure rather than a necessary step in the path to growth.

Fuel Your Heart. Fuel Your Mission.

The book ends with a simple but impactful checklist for what fuels your heart—and ultimately your mission:

What you watch.
What you read.
What you listen to.
Who you surround yourself with.
How you talk to yourself.
What you visualize.

These choices shape your mindset and energy. When aligned with your mission, they create momentum. When misaligned, they create confusion and fatigue.

Final Reflection

Chop Wood Carry Water reminds you that the path to greatness is simple, but not easy. It’s about doing the small things with care, repeatedly. Leadership isn’t about chasing glory. It’s about embracing discipline, nurturing self-awareness, and staying faithful to your mission, even when results are slow.

Whatever your version of chopping wood and carrying water is, do it with intention. Build wisely. Grow steadily. And trust that, in time, it will all add up to something great.

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Categories: : Leadership development, Process-driven learning