Pound The Stone - The Stonecutter's Credo
Pound The Stone
The stonecutter knows something most people don’t know, and it could be the mindset that takes you to the next level.
Once upon a time, there was a stonecutter and he had a large stone to break.
He hits it 10 times, 20 times, 30 times.
Nothing.
40 times, 50 times, 60 times.
Nothing.
80 times, 90 times, 100 times!
Nothing.
Finally, on the 101st swing, the stone breaks.
Now, all the passersby congratulate him, “Oh, good job! Success!”
They believe that since he broke it on the 101st hit, that it was the 101st hit that brought him success.
The Secret of The Stonecutter
But the stonecutter knows something most people don’t know. He knows that it wasn’t the 101st hit that brought him success, but the 100 before it. The stonecutter knows that success is hidden in the process!
In training for an ultramarathon, a runner will run HUNDREDS of miles before they attempt their ultra.
In training for the world series, baseball players will take hundreds of thousands of swings before they ever get up in the 9th inning with the tying run on second. In fact, when Derek Jeter was in high school, right when he would get home from school, he would go take 1000 swings before he did anything.
In training for the NBA championship, basketball players will take thousands upon thousands of shots before they hit the buzzer beater.
Success is Hidden in The Process
Without the process, the person that you look up to most would never have made it.
It all goes back to the system that you put into place. If you want to get to the top of the staircase and crush that big goal, then it all starts with the next step. Trusting that you’re taking the right step and that it will eventually lead you to where you need to go.
I get asked all the time, “How long will it take?”
My answer, “It takes as long as it takes. Just keep putting in the work, focus on what you have to do right now, and success/achievement/mastery will take care of itself.”
