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Chop Wood, Carry Water
242 Plays2 years ago
This week we're discussing the book "Chop Wood, Carry Water" by Joshua Metcalf, which teaches valuable lessons about finding joy in the journey and embracing the process of achieving one's goals. We'll cover key themes in the book including the importance of patience, discipline, and focusing on the present moment. We also discuss the significance of having a strong identity outside of one's work and the value of being a good listener.
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Transcript
Introduction to Uncommon Wealth Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Everyone dreams of living an uncommon life and the best asset you have to achieve your dreams is you. Welcome to the Uncommon Wealth Podcast. We're going to introduce you to people who are living uncommonly. We're also going to give you some tools and strategies for building wealth and for pursuing an uncommon path that is uniquely right for you.
00:00:26
Speaker
Hello, everybody. You're listening to an episode of the Uncommon Wealth Podcast, where I'm your host, Philip Ramsey. And I'm Aaron Kramer. Just Aaron and I today. Get us. Which is pretty much your guys' favorite listening. Right? I think so. I hope so. It's into my head. Honestly, we can do a way better job of analytics on this thing. But I'm sure millions of people are listening by now. Oh, yeah, because we're super. Or just my mom and dad. I don't know.
00:00:48
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know. Okay. My daughter listens to it. There we go. And she does. She does. Like, well, I hear like she'll be in her room and
Discussion on 'Chop Wood, Carry Water'
00:00:56
Speaker
has a little eco or whatever the thing it's called. I had it going. Shout out to your daughter. Yeah. Good job, Elena. Well, today we're going to talk about something that's I'm fricking hyped up on Mountain Dew chip. Um, and it's a book that you have told me to read for at least a year and a half. It's been a little while cause I love the book so much as well.
00:01:16
Speaker
And so I finally, I got to be honest with you, you actually just bought it for me and you bought it in the audio form because you and I are more audio book kind of guys. Okay. Uh, but today we're just talking about it because it was that impactful. I loved it. It is like the perfect book for uncommon wealth. In fact, if anybody's going to jump off the proverbial bridge, like we talk about, you should be reading
00:01:35
Speaker
Chop wood, carry water. You sure should. Bye. Joshua Metcalf. Yes. Amazing book. Because what would you say the synopsis in your head is?
Lessons from the Story of John and the Samurai Archer
00:01:45
Speaker
And I'll give you a mind. I mean, basically it's going to teach you how to just tackle life and see how you need to be seeing it. And in today's world, it's going to be the exact opposite because you feel like you get clips
00:02:01
Speaker
just of success all the time from other people. But this is, the book tells you and it goes through it in a perfect way. And we'll get into it, but like, and it's like a story.
00:02:11
Speaker
of like how to just prepare to just to love the journey. Yep. Yep. Finding joy in the journey, find joy in the process and finding that the, the little things that you do great add up to be something even bigger, but it's not about the end goal of getting on top of the mountain. It's about the small incremental things that finding joy in that. Yeah.
00:02:32
Speaker
Okay, so that's the story. That's the premise and it's, we're going to call it a parable if you will. Yeah. Um, I think that's not really the exact word of it, but the premise of it is there's an individual who's always wanted to be a samurai Archer. Him and his brother, his brother gets in a car accident and that part of it was like kind of weird for me because it's a parable. So I didn't know how much was like true and not, but yeah. So the, the, the standpoint is like him and his brother both getting a car accident.
00:03:02
Speaker
But like his brother ends up getting paralyzed, weighs down. And so, and I remember the doctors telling him, you know, you know what it's like for a marathon runner to run a race. That's like this individuals every day. That's like your brother's every day. So like just the normal like living is kind of like him running a marathon. Yeah. So it takes a lot of time.
00:03:26
Speaker
So anyway, his name is John that is actually healed from the accident, goes over to Japan, and goes to the samurai school to become a samurai archer. Hold on, you gotta back up, because we just talked about this before we got on air. My point, okay, that's gonna tell you how geeky I am, because of the kind of movies I like. But the hook point for these two brothers, why he wanted to be a samurai, was because of Jackie Chan.
00:03:51
Speaker
I love that. I didn't, I just kind of glossed over that. Okay. That one got me hooked. Like right off the bat, it's going to be a great book no matter what. I love this thing. All right. So he goes over and goes into this village, the samurai village. And then there's this, what do they call him? Like the master, the sensei, the sensei master. Yes.
00:04:10
Speaker
Um, and immediately let's just pretend the sensei masters, like the best mentor you ever had. Yeah. Okay. And John shows up. He's like, I'm ready to shoot arrows. And, uh, the sensei masters, like in time you'll shoot arrows. Right now you need to chop wood and carry water because as we have all the amenities that you ever want, but we don't have water and we don't have heat. And so the way we do that is we chop wood and we carry water.
00:04:37
Speaker
And John's like, I came here to be a samurai archer. And the master's kinda like, that's not how we're gonna do it. We're gonna start with the smallest things and to kind of groom you to become something that you've always wanted to be. But it's not gonna be a quick process, right? And so at this point I'm like, okay, I feel like
00:05:03
Speaker
this, this is me. I feel like I'm John and sometimes I want to try to circumvent or try to cut corners just to try to get something as quick as I
Focusing on the Journey vs. the Goal
00:05:11
Speaker
can. Yeah. Okay. So let's just start because early on in John's kind of time there, the, um, what's the guy's called? What's the sensei? The sensei. Thank you. I should just write down sensei. Um,
00:05:26
Speaker
Sensei says to John like, hey, do you know how a bamboo is grown? And John's like, no, I don't know. And the Sensei ends up telling him that many people don't ever get to the point where they can see the bamboo grow.
00:05:41
Speaker
because they just lose heart, they don't want to do it. Because what happens is roots underneath the ground need to grow before the bamboo goes up. But once the roots do grow, it ends up growing about 90 feet in six weeks. So pretty quickly, but it takes about five years in order for them to see the bamboo grow. And many people don't get to the five years because they're like, it's broken, it's done, it's not working, done.
00:06:08
Speaker
And I'm like, Oh man, like this is my book. I needed to hear this. Um, and, and so I just think that's a great lesson because you need to be disciplined in the things, even when you're not seeing progress, keep watering because you know, it's producing something that you can't even maybe see, but the byproduct is pretty sweet. So I was telling this somebody, because like I said, I'm pretty excited about this book. And somebody's like, have you heard about the Hawaii bamboo?
00:06:36
Speaker
Oh, I haven't. Well, many of you may know, Hawaii had a huge fire and there was some special like famous bamboo there in Hawaii that got smoked by the fire. Okay. Guess what's still standing today? The bamboo. Yes. Why? Because the infrastructure of roots that's created before
00:06:58
Speaker
has withstand even the fire. So I was like, this
Finding Identity Beyond Achievements
00:07:02
Speaker
is awesome. So that was one part, but there's a lot of stories in this. And like every chapter is kind of its own little lesson. And every chapter is like, I'm telling you guys, it was like, I needed to hear this. I needed to hear this, I needed to hear that. So what's one chapter that you wrote or one lesson? Yeah, so it's the lessons, because it's been a little while since I've read it, but I've written it.
00:07:22
Speaker
So I like this book so much. I listen to it twice and guys if I read a book, it's a big deal So I don't know if you guys know and I'm just gonna share with everybody when I'm dyslexic So if I want to sit down to read a book, it's big. Yeah, so I've read it. So I've gone through it three times, but it's been a little while So I don't know what chapter but the first one that hit me
00:07:45
Speaker
was the ice climbing, ice climber. And I feel like a lot of people are here, or maybe it's just me, it's okay if it's just me. But we all just look at the top of the mountain where we want to be. We're going on this journey of whatever you're taking off on. So ours is growing the business.
00:08:04
Speaker
I just sit there and daydream, I just can't wait to be at the top of the mountain where you're successful, you got your full book of business, everything's going great. Not only just think about those days, but in the way that the sensei explains it, he goes, oh, it's like an ice climber.
00:08:21
Speaker
They cannot look at the top of the mountain because if they look at the top of the mountain, they're dead. They have to be so focused on their next step. Yep. One step after the next. Yep. They can't focus on the top or else they're going to fall off. Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, Oh my gosh.
00:08:37
Speaker
It's like, that's the importance of just focusing on what's in front of you and being there in the presence, like of the right now. Right. So that was my, what about, what was the one? Yeah. So there's a couple of things. So one thing that he goes to the sensei and says is like, Hey, listen, sensei, what if
00:08:57
Speaker
Like, I continue on your program here. Like, how long does it take me to be a samurai archer and be the best? And the guy's like 10 years. He's like, okay, fine. Although longer than I thought. But, okay, what if I stopped chopping wood and carrying water? Like, let's just, let's stop the chores. Let's move on to just shooting arrows. And the samurai goes,
00:09:24
Speaker
20 years. And he's like, I don't think you understood me. He freaks out. Yes. And he's like, so what if I just focus solely on the archery? And Samura is like, yeah, probably 30 years. Yeah. And he's like, okay, and just freaks out. And the thing that I thought was really cool was when just the demeanor that the writer was talking about the sensei, like he was gracious with him.
00:09:48
Speaker
I understand, but there is something about just the repetition of doing something that you haven't even what it loved to do will get your mind in the right place to be able to do the things you want to do. Well, guess what John doesn't do? He does what Philip would have done and not listened
Mastery Through Practice in Challenges
00:10:05
Speaker
to. So he goes out to the archer and always just keep shooting, keep shooting, keep shooting.
00:10:10
Speaker
and he hurts his arm. Yup. Because he's been shooting too much. And so the sensei goes to see John and he's like, Hey, how are you? And you know, John's upset, depressed, frustrated. Can't shoot for a long time. Can't shoot for a long time. And the sensei's like advice was amazing. And this one I was like, Oh man. He's, do you remember what he said? No, I don't. He says, listen, I want you to have an identity that's outside of just being an archer.
00:10:39
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I want you, you're like a child of God. You're not just an archer. Like, that's what you do. But that's not who you are. Like, who are you? And you know, this is who you are, and you're not this. And I thought, how many people, even in this uncommon journey, feel like their identity is caught up in what they're doing? Yes. Not who they are. And so, oh, I was like, come on now. Because one, I saw myself a lot in John. But really good lesson. Yeah. And I love just the,
00:11:08
Speaker
Okay, I'll let you talk because I have one more thing. Okay, I know like so another one in there because that was that was the other big one I hit so you just said that one but I'm glad I thought about that this other one is John was out there he's shooting arrows or so he's doing it's getting dark or something and
00:11:28
Speaker
basically tested his sensei, like, well. No, so he, this, cause I just read it. He was like, the sensei was trying to like pour into John. Yeah. And finally John was like, you're just old and washed up. Yes. This was it. Yes. And, and so the sensei graciously was like, Hey, come back at 10 o'clock tonight. Yes. And so John does comes back at 10 o'clock and he thought he was going to get beat or like sent away. Cause he was like, I should never have talked to him like that. And the respect there, like I, yeah,
00:11:56
Speaker
The Sensei comes with two arrows. Go ahead. So, okay. Did John have to shoot one? No. No. Okay. So like, it's pitch black though. It's pitch black. They couldn't even see the trick. I want to shoot like, you can't shoot the, like you don't, you can't even see the target. Right. Well, he comes with two arrows and John's like, why is he bringing arrows? Like, what are we doing here?
00:12:15
Speaker
Yeah, but I just remember like this is that he shoots him like far the farthest target away he goes and Johnson it's not gonna hit it all they can do is he does is here's a thunk it hit the target swap yeah, and so he's just like what yeah, and he goes into explaining like
00:12:36
Speaker
how this repetition over time and taking your time and following the process and creates this like just unbearable amount of ability to do these crazy things, even at his age, but he's been at it forever.
00:12:52
Speaker
Yeah, the confidence that he had to just go bring two arrows, and not just one, because that could be lucky, but two. Oh, yes. Okay. And he puts one right in the other one, kind of like the old, what's the Robin Hood, where he splits the arrow. Yeah. Basically that happens. Because do they walk down and see it, right? No, John sprints to the target. Yeah. Because he was like, nah, this didn't just happen.
00:13:14
Speaker
but i do think there is some some things like i would say in my life just like scuba diving if you train enough like something happens under water you just react yeah that's kind of what the sensei was showing him it's like hey i've trained my body and my muscles this whole time
00:13:30
Speaker
Another thing that I think was neat was, uh, John, when they finally did start shooting arrows, it was like seven yards away or seven meters away, which isn't very far. And John's like, come on now. And he's feeling confident. Like, okay. First the sense is like, we're going to focus on your standing. And John's like, I've been standing my whole life. I'm good. Thank you. He's like, no, we're going to focus on that. So always this patience buddy, patience, grasshopper.
00:13:54
Speaker
Yeah. But, and then at one point he was like, okay, I've gotten this target. Let's go to the big dog. And the sensei moves his like elbow, even a half an inch and it misses the target. Yeah. And his point is like you moving just barely here shoots this off completely off target. Yes. So what a perfect example. And I think our own life to this uncommon journey, it doesn't take much to get off kilter.
00:14:24
Speaker
And I would say 95% if not 100% is gonna get off kilter at some point. So who do you have in your life to be able to point you back in, regroup, redirect you in your own path. Anyway, so I love that part. Okay.
00:14:39
Speaker
I have one more that I loved.
The Art of Listening and Sharing Wisdom
00:14:41
Speaker
Okay. Um, and again, I'm really highly suggesting every one of our clients, every person that wants to go down this on common path to listen to it, because it does get daunting. The second path gets daunting. And at times I needed to hear this and it's funny because we've done a podcast about my family and I walking and hiking up a mountain for this and how I was like,
00:15:04
Speaker
maybe a quarter way up the mountain I was like I can't wait to get to the top and like not even being present and all of a sudden God like kind of remind me like Philip focus on right now yeah don't worry about the top of the mountain focus on now so I feel like God's done a really good job of being super patient with me but I this book is helpful yeah okay so my last thing that the sensei after 10 years of John being at this place
00:15:28
Speaker
The Sensei says, hey, I want to let you know that you have a lot of wisdom, wisdom that you didn't have before and now you have it now. And I want to make sure that you're always a guest to people and not a pest. John was like, what's that? And so the Sensei's description of this was,
00:15:47
Speaker
90% of the people that you'd go talk to just wants to be seen and heard. That's all they want. They don't want your wisdom. Yeah. And so don't give them the wisdom if they don't want it. It's being a pest if you're doing that. Yeah. Just pestering people because they're not going to listen and they're not ready to it. They just want you to be seen. They just want to be seen and heard basically like appreciated and loved. Yep. Fine.
00:16:10
Speaker
But for the people, the 10% that ask you your advice, then you can give them your wisdom. And then he said something that I think is even more, he's like, I've been pouring into you and giving you wisdom because of the circumstances you came here to learn from, to be. So that was my reason of always pouring into you and giving you my wisdom. But I want you when you go out to be a guest to people, not a pest. I thought that was super good.
00:16:37
Speaker
This is so good. Yeah. Cause we just, I just finished the book up. It was over a long time. I've been listening to it with my daughter cause I wanted her to listen to it. But that, I remember that hits me so much harder now because people are like, come to you and they like, they have a problem. Yep. And with us, I mean, just me and you at nature, like we want to help people. So it's like, well, Hey, let me start ripping off things that they could be doing to help.
00:17:02
Speaker
They don't want it. They don't want that. They just want you to listen. They just want to vent, get it out. Which is therapeutic. Yes. So it's like, oh my gosh, I just need to shut up and listen. People don't care what I have to say. It's such good advice. The one other thing I thought was really good in that book was when it was really cold out.
00:17:26
Speaker
Oh, yes. Rainy. Yeah. He's like, I already trained in this. Like, yes. I can't shoot. Yeah. And like he was having a hard time.
Training for Real Challenges
00:17:33
Speaker
John couldn't hit the target and all these things or something like that. Yeah. And he kind of was wondering about it in the sense that he's like, look, if you want to be a samurai, like you got to be trained in all. Right. Conditions. Right. You got to be like your fingers. You can't wear these big warm gloves and pull back the arrow. Like you got to be able to do it. Right.
00:17:50
Speaker
no matter when yeah his point in that that i took out of it was listen you would rather be under scrutiny here right now in bad conditions than under the spotlight when you finally have to do it yeah and so your training falls to your what did he say something about like your
00:18:10
Speaker
your lowest performance falls to your highest training or something like that. So like we need to train to the worst because when you pull back, you want it to go to the highest of your training versus like, I want to peak performance and I really want to do awesome. And then, but you haven't trained. And so you can only maybe do that for so long and then your training lacks. And so it falls down. Oh man, it's, it's good. There's so many principles on there that I feel like
00:18:40
Speaker
are just really good. Yeah. Really good for life, really good for character. And like, this would be a book that I would, I'm going to put on when we're driving someplace. Cause it's only three hours long. Yeah, it's not long. I should mention that. And so when we're driving, like with my family and just having a good conversation, because like you said, this is kind of an uncommon path to this world that we live in today. Yeah. Falling victim to things and, um, just one of the things right away.
00:19:07
Speaker
Yes. You know, like, and not understand, like, there's a lot of things that need to be done that you don't want to do. Like John did not want to chop wood and carry water. Do any of it, really. He wanted to do the one thing he loved and that was the, he wanted to shoot arrows. Yep. You know? And so, but by the end.
00:19:24
Speaker
He learned to love it. He respected it, right? Yeah. And like, that's the thing that at the end of the day, like I want to be just very happy in watering the bamboo. Yeah. And let, let God sort out the rest. Yeah. And, and can I take joy in the smallest of things, knowing that those little things, although be great in an, that might not be great in and of itself, but over time, those things add up to something that's way bigger than I could ever create. And so,
00:19:51
Speaker
There you go. I got to tell you this because I think the listeners will think it's funny, but so I remember there was a podcast we were doing a while back and we're talking about, um, that's a game day or maybe it was a podcast. We were just talking and I think I had just like finished the book again, like at some point, or was like the, the follow-up to this book because the guy, this author has a few of them. Yep.
00:20:14
Speaker
And I'm like, this is why me and Phil worked so well. I was like, because Phil, you love game day. Oh, man. Game day, you are pumped. You're ready to go, but practice. It's like, I don't need to practice. Let's game day. But me, on the other hand, I'm like, let's practice. Let's fine tune our skills. Let's practice. And then I will put off game day.
00:20:38
Speaker
way too long. And it's like, so we like even each other out so well in that standpoint.
Balancing Practice and Action in Partnership
00:20:43
Speaker
So, cause we both do everything we're supposed to do, but like us together, it's like, like you get me like, Aaron, take a fricking step, shoot the arrow, you know? Cause I'd just be firing myself. I'm talking to you. You gotta go shoot the arrow. And it's like, okay, there's a balance. There's a balance. So it's fun. Like I do think that it hit me. I'm like, man, that, this is how like we really just like mesh, like you lead well, like, and help me do all that. So
00:21:08
Speaker
Yeah, cuz I will say that you can only go so far in and of yourself and then that takes a community around you to be like Oh, wow, like you're way different than I am. I didn't even know that could be that way Yeah, you can just shoot the arrow and just see what happens. Yeah. No, man. So thanks for listening You've been listening to uncommon wealth podcast. I mean your host Philip Ramsey and I'm Aaron Kramer until next time go chop some wood Yeah
00:21:34
Speaker
That's all for this episode, brought to you by Uncommon Wealth Partners. Be sure to visit uncommonwealth.com to learn more about our services. Don't miss an episode as we introduce you to inspiring people who are actively pursuing an uncommon life.