Two Stonemasons
Consider the story of two stonemasons. you walk up to the first stonemason and ask, ‘Do you like your job?’ He looks up at you and replies, ‘I’ve been building this wall for as long as I can remember. The work is monotonous. I work in the scorching hot sun all day. The stones are heavy and lifting them day after day can be backbreaking. I’m not even sure if this project will be completed in my lifetime. But it’s a job. It pays the bills.’ You thank him for his time and walk on.
About thirty feet away, you walk up to a second stonemason. you ask him the same question, ‘Do you like your job?’ He looks up and replies, ‘I love my job. I’m building a cathedral. Sure, I’ve been working on this wall for as long as I can remember, and yes the work is sometimes monotonous. I work in the scorching hot sun all day. The stones are heavy and lifting them day after day can be backbreaking. I’m not even sure if this project will be completed in my lifetime. But I’m building a cathedral.’
What these two stonemasons are doing is exactly the same; the difference is, one has a sense of purpose. He feels like he belongs. He comes to work to be a part of something bigger than the job he’s doing. Simply having a sense of 'WHY?' changes his entire view of the job.
Excerpted from his book, Start with Why.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the stories of the two stonemasons? Can you share a personal story of a time you had a sense of purpose for your hard work? What helps you find and connect with a sense of purpose in your work?