Joshua Medcalf has written an inspiring book, Chop Wood Carry Water, that enriches us with life lessons on how to become great. Medcalf builds on an age-old theme – that you must work very hard to achieve the things you want in life. The main character in the book, John, wants to become a samurai archer and thinks that he can accomplish this lofty goal in a short period of time. A sensei named Akira advises him that becoming a samurai archer entails chopping wood and carrying water every day for ten years. It’s based on Akira’s philosophy that “Every little thing we do, no matter how mundane, matters greatly when it is multiplied by the number of times we do it. Over time, even the smallest habit or choice can change our lives immensely.”

Medcalf states that the key to greatness is perseverance, even in the face of failure. “A growth mindset is believing that anything that happens to me is in my best interest and is an opportunity to learn and grow.” Medcalf refers to many famous people who “became famous after persevering through many continuous failures”:

  • “Theodore Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) first book hit the market after being rejected twenty-six times by different publishers.”

 

  • ” Einstein’s teachers labelled him ‘mentally slow.’”

 

  • “Ben Carson (the first neurosurgeon to separate Siamese twins attached at the skull) was told he was stupid by his teachers.”

 

  • “Oprah was fired and told she was ‘unfit for television.’”

 

  • “David Sanders’ (KFC) famous chicken recipes were rejected by over 1,000 different restaurants.”

 

  • Young engineer Soichiro didn’t get a job at Toyota, “so he left and started a brand using his last name: Honda.”

 

  • “Henry had multiple businesses fail under his leadership, but eventually he created a little company called Ford.”

 

  • “Walt Disney was fired from a local Kansas City newspaper for ‘lacking creativity’ and ‘having no original ideas.’”

 

  • “At thirty years old, Steve Jobs was fired from the company he created.”

 

  • “Tom Edison was told he was ‘too stupid to learn anything.’”

 

  • “The Beatles were told they ‘Have no future in show business.’”

 

  • “Steve Jobs was rejected from the University of California three times and eventually dropped out of another college.”

 

  • “Bono’s (and his band U2) sample tape was continuously rejected by record labels.”

 

  • “After many years of barely keeping the lights on, Sony found their niche.”

 

  • “Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade and was beaten in every election he partook in.”

 

  • “Abraham Lincoln failed at seemingly everything he put his hand to (including multiple businesses and runs at office).”

 

  • “Jerry Seinfeld’s television show ‘about nothing’ was laughed at and ridiculed.”

 

  • “Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime and was a true starving artist.”

 

  • “Elvis Presley was fired from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and told to ‘go back to driving a truck.’”

 

  • “NIKE was on the brink of bankruptcy for over a decade before they really took off.”

 

  • “Ludwig Beethoven was completely deaf, which made playing the violin and composing pretty difficult.”

 

Medcalf writes, “your failures, shortcomings and challenges can either end up as your excuse or your story.” Everyone who aspires to achieve greatness in life MUST read Chop Wood Carry Water.