What Are You Building?
The combination of action, intention, and vision is a powerful recipe for success. While going through the motions is better than staying still, real results come when these actions are paired with a vision for the future.
This allegory might be simple, but there is a deep message that can make a difference in the way you are approaching your life and career:
In an age gone by, a traveler was making his way across the countryside. About mid-day he came upon a roadside quarry and decided it was a good place to rest. He watched three men working and decided to engage each one of them with a simple question, “What are you doing?”
The first man said gruffly, “I’m breaking rocks. What does it look like?!”
The second man, surprised by the question said, “I’m making bricks.”
The third man beamed: “I’m building a cathedral.”
Evaluating Your Daily Work
What are you doing each day? As you are moving through the workday, have you considered how you are relating to the activities? How about your team or people that you are working with – do they share the same vision and intention?
The steps that you are taking today are more than breaking rocks. You can be building bricks that lead to future opportunities. Better yet, these bricks can be formed into a cathedral that leaves a legacy.
Sometimes, it might feel like you are breaking rocks, especially when you are overloaded with tasks and it feels like there is no end in sight. At the same time, there are always “cathedral” opportunities that bring fulfillment and accomplishment – not only for you, but also for the whole team that you are working with.
The Ripple Effect of Success
Success isn’t only about you. These cathedrals make a difference to your family, your team members, and the community as a whole.
If you want to do more than “breaking rocks” every day, then it’s essential to hold tight to the vision for the future. Be clear about what you want and what you are building. This mindset makes all the difference to help you build bigger and better things down the road.
It can be helpful to have a coach guide you through the mindset and action steps so that you can build your cathedral. Reach out to Effective Action Consulting to learn more about the ways that coaching can supercharge your business and personal goals.