3rd July 2025
When I was a kid, my father once asked me to tidy up a few bookshelves in his room.
I rushed through the task, sloppily stacking the books so I could get back to playing.
When I told him I was done, he looked at the bookshelves, smiled, and told me to sit down.
He shared a story I’ll never forget…
An old carpenter told his boss that he planned to retire. The boss was sad to lose the carpenter, but understood.
He asked if he’d stick around for one last job—to build one final house.
The carpenter reluctantly agreed, figuring he could get it done quickly. He cut corners, used cheap materials, and rushed through the work.
When the house was done, his boss arrived for the final inspection. But instead of walking the house, he reached into his pocket, and handed the carpenter the keys.
“This is your house,” his boss smiled, “My retirement gift to you.”
The carpenter was stunned. If he’d known he was building his own house, he would have done it differently. Now he’d have to live in a house he had built none too well.
The lesson, my dad, said was, ‘You’re always building your own house.’
Every single day, the way you choose to show up in the world determines the quality of that house.
If you choose to cut corners, use cheap materials, and rush the work, you’ll live with it.
If you choose to go into the details, invest in quality materials, and take pride in the work, you’ll live with it.
He went on to say, “Son, Live your life with an owner’s mentality.
If you knew you had to live with the results of this action forever, would you still do it this way?
If you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you may not use a piece of plywood on the back, because it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it.
But, you’ll know it’s there, so use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.”
Sound piece of advice indeed & I try & follow it every time I do a task.
Ask yourself continously,
What small daily actions are you overlooking that are actually laying the foundation of your future?
What cracks are you creating today that could become major problems tomorrow?
An owner always takes pride in the small, because he knows that, how you do that one thing is how you will do everything.”
Live life with an Owner’s Mindset & stay blessed forever.