The Sensei's Guide to "Chop Wood Carry Water" Guided practice for applying the teachings of Akira Sensei

Introduction

The first time I read Joshua Medcalf’s “Chop Wood Carry Water” I was blown away. Every chapter was short, but so rich in the content. After reading, I believed in the many “principles" laid out, but I didn’t feel I had worked them into my “practice” at all. So here is my best attempt at guiding your reading of the book so that you do not just adapt the belief or principle, but you can start to form the practice and habits necessary to fall in love with the process of becoming great.

Many people are not committed to reading daily with the intent to grow as a person. However, here you are with a book and an opportunity to build a habit. They say habits are built after doing something for at least 21 days, even if it is only for 5 minutes it can help build the habit. Well this book is 28 chapters long with 3 “extra chapters” at the end. Read one chapter a day every morning or evening to start building the habit of reading.

The purpose of this companion is to help you purposefully reflect on the reading and start to build another habit critical to the process of becoming great. So purchase yourself a notebook that you can then commit to completing the daily writing and reflection tasks.

Reading daily and journaling are both valuable commitments that can help you grow as a person. I recommend you build the habit as it has transformed my life.

Also, I recommend if possible that you do the following tasks with others. It would be an amazing experience for a parent to do with their child to help support their child’s dream. The experience of doing many similar journaling activities with my basketball team and English classes was awesome and it is what inspired me to create this text. I know if a business leader were to do this with their team it would be transformational.

I have horrible handwriting and typically type everything, but I think it is important to sometimes go to the traditional pen and paper. I recommend getting a nice journal and pen. However, throughout the day you may need to have a specified notepad in your phone to record various thoughts. Good luck and do not hesitate to reach out to me before you start out on your journey!

@jpnerbun (twitter and instagram)

jpnerbun@gmail.com

Guided Practice

Chapter 1: Chop Wood, Carry Water

• John has a dream to become a Samurai Archer

• Akira gives John his first task in training: chop wood and carry water

Reflect

What dreams and aspirations did you have growing up? List as many dreams as you can possibly remember. What are your dreams and aspirations in life today?

Think

How are you expected to "chop wood, carry water” in your role? Essentially, what are the menial and unexciting tasks you are expected to perform daily?

Assignment

Ask friends and family who have known you during your lifetime what aspirations and dreams you had growing up? Throughout the day think of all the simple things you must do to be successful in your job? Add these to your journal.

Chapter 2: Building Your Own House

• Kota views building the last house as an obligation INSTEAD of an opportunity

• Kota is looking ahead to NEXT instead of focusing on the PRESENT

Reflect

What are some of your best school days, practices, projects, or jobs? What made those so great and special?

Think

How are you building your house and your legacy?

Assignment

Be conscious of how you are building your house throughout the day. In what ways are you doing your very best? Where are you cutting corners? Add this to your journal.

Chapter 3: Faithful in the Small Things

• “Be faithful in the small things, for it is in them that your strength lies.” -Mother Theresa

• Everyone wants to become the next _____, but few are willing to faithfully chop wood, carry water.

• “The problem with small is that it isn’t sexy, and it’s often repetitively boring.”

• “Some things can only be experienced to be fully learned.”

Reflect

Who is a role model of yours, that person you want to become the next of? Maybe they are somebody you know. Maybe they are someone famous. Call them or google them if you do not know their whole story. Research and write down the setbacks they had in life along their journey. What were the small things they did every day in their process to become great?

Think

What are some the things you enjoy the least about your role? Write them down.

Assignment

Seek further understanding about a role model by reading their biography or writing down their story to share with others.

Chapter 4: One Eye for the Journey

• John has limited archery time, but is required to attend weekly workshops on life skills.

• “No matter whether you are winning or losing, the point is to focus on the process and neither get too high or too low, but instead to control the controllables."

Reflect

How did you “chop wood, carry water” throughout your day today?

Think

What are the controllables to reaching your greatest potential in your role? Some of these you already do, but add the ones you should be doing daily. i.e. reading this book everyday, making 50 shots after practice, checking over your homework, etc..

Assignment

No doubt people have given you advice over the years that you may or may not have heeded. Throughout the day try to remember the things coaches, leaders, parents, or bosses have imparted to you. You might want to consider adding these to your list of controllables.

Chapter 5: Nothing is a Test

• John becomes to focused on proving himself as he has been conditioned to play with a chip on his shoulder.

• “If you look at something as a test, then you will focus only on passing the test instead of maximizing your growth through the experience.”

Reflect

What are you seeing as a test in your role? Simply ask: Am I trying to prove myself or am I trying to improve myself. If it is about proving than you see it as a test.

Think

Write out how those tests can be opportunities to lean and grow.

Assignment

As you go throughout the day, be self aware of the things you view as tests. If you have feelings of pride or disappointment based on how you are doing write down the opportunity it has provided for you to grow.

Chapter 6: Where Do You Find Your Identity?

• “My value comes from who I am. Not what I do.”

• I am a human being, not a human doing.

• You are more than a ________ (i.e. basketball player, salesman, actor).

• Your value is constant, it is priceless, and it never truly goes up or down based upon results or performance.

• “When your identity gets wrapped up in what you do, it clouds every decision you make."

Reflect and Think

Answer Akira’s question, “Who would you be if everything you do was taken away from you.”

Assignment

At the top of EVERY journal entry from here on out start by writing the following “My value comes from who I am, not what I do. Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Chapter 7: Guzzling Salt Water

• “Like thirsty people guzzling salt water, achievement only creates a greater desire for accomplishing more, dehydrating us of true satisfaction and fulfillment.”

• “The scorecard society judges us by is tragically flawed, and pursuing it will leave you completely unfulfilled."

At the top of the page write your "Value Statement" and "Growth Mindset Statement": My value comes from who I am, not what I do. Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.

Reflect

Think of the people you truly admire. Write out their best characteristics that you would like to be known for. Select the top 4 characteristics.

Think

Grade yourself on these characteristics.

Assignment

Along with writing out the value statement and growth mindset statement write down the 4 characteristics at the top of each page of your entry everyday from here on out. Grade yourself at mid-day by writing it in your journal or at least recording in your phone. Set a reminder in your phone for mid-day every day. At the end of the day grade yourself.

Chapter 8: Evil's Best Weapon

• Discouragement is one of the most powerful tools of evil

• Discouragement has many different forms; voice inside your head, giving your very best and not succeeding, and from other places you are unaware of in your life.

• Fuel your heart: with what you watch, read, and listen to, who you surround yourself with, how you talk to yourself, and what you visualize.

Write Your Value Statement and Growth Mindset Statement

Life Scorecard Grade Yourself

Reflect

List the many ways you become discouraged in life.

Think

How can you fuel your heart? Come up with 1 way for each of the following:

1. What you watch?

2. What you read?

3. What you listen to?

4. Who you surround yourself with?

5. How you talk to yourself?

6. What you visualize?

Assignment

Fuel your heart tomorrow! Follow through on 1 way for each of the 6 sources of heart fuel.

Chapter 9: What Went Well?

SIDE NOTE: The time commitment required in your journaling is about to go up. It will not be easy every day and you will be able to find reasons or excuses on why to not keep up with your reading and journaling. However, if you want to be great you are going to have to be willing to do what those that are really good are unwilling to do.

Some things need to be experienced to be understood. The “what went well journal” is going to seem tedious and unnecessary many days. It is going to feel like “chopping wood and carrying water” at times, but it is a powerful, simple habit that I can attest to from personal experience.

“It is much easier for your brain to focus on the negatives, even if they are totally outweighed by the positives! Many people’s confidence suffers, because they are more concerned with appearing to be humble, so they have been conditioned to tell really negative stories about themselves and their performance.” -Joshua Medcalf

• “Negativity and a 'nothing I can do is good enough' attitude is NOT humility”

• Your memories are created through the stories you tell yourself and others of your experiences.

• "People undermine all the hard work they are putting in by telling really negative stories and blocking out all the growth that is happening.”

• Most people have ignored the good things for so long they have to RETRAIN the brain to focus on the positives

Reflect & Think

Life Scorecard Grade Yourself

Value Statement

Growth Statement

What Went Well Minimum of 15

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Assignment

Going through the day tomorrow write down the things that what went well! It may be important in making sure you get more than yesterday.

Chapter 10: Insta-everything

• “Talent without character is like an expensive, fast car with no gas. It is useless without the fuel that drives it.” -Jon Gordon

• “Your potential is much greater than you realize, but it will take incredible dedication and purposeful training to unlock it. “

• “Things like instagram and youtube only show the most edited, photoshopped version of people’s lives. It feels like they wake up like that, but really everything is staged, they took fifty pictures, and highly edited the very best one.”

• “You do not shine under the bright lights; the bright lights only reveal your work in the dark.” Anson Dorrance

Reflect

List the various areas in your life or people you know who have had less natural ability and have had to overcome this with hard work.

Assignment

Fuel your Heart- Start your day with a motivational video, reading, or listening to a story. Around midday take the time to fuel up again!

Life Scorecard Grade Yourself

Value Statement

Growth Statement

What Went Well +1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Chapter 11: Wandering Eyes

• “Comparison is the thief of all joy”

• "The grass isn’t greener on the other side, the grass is greener where you water it.”

Reflect

List all the people you often compare yourself to in life.

Think

List 10 things you are thankful for in your life.

Assignment

Maintaining a healthy perspective in life can be difficult, but images sometimes speak much louder than words. Put a picture in your journal that will be a constant reminder of what you do have in your life. The picture could be of your family, a special place, or just any image that reminds you of how blessed you are in life. Everyday as you journal move the picture along as a bookmark.

Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

Value Statement

Growth Statement

What Went Well-+1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Chapter 12: Rough Side of the Mountain

• “When you don’t give up and you don’t give in, the rough side of the mountain actually molds you and shapes you into a person who can travel much further in life.”

• “Most people that win the lottery are worse off financially five years down the road then they were before winning the lottery.”

• “The setbacks of today can quickly become the forging blades of greatness for tomorrow.”

• “Hardship often prepares ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

Reflect

List the many setbacks you have faced in your life.

Think

How have these setbacks shaped you into the person you are today?

Assignment

Write out your growth statement and value statement on a notecard. Carry it in your pocket or tape it to your phone so you see it throughout the day.

Journal

Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

What Went Well-+1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Chapter 13: Harnessing Power

• “Words are everywhere. We use them every day to talk to others, but most importantly, we use them to talk to ourselves. And just like the wind, their power can either destroy, or create.”

• “You may not have control over how other people talk to you, but you do have control over how you talk to yourself.”

• Worrying is a form of negative visualization, that helps create the scenario you see happening in your mind.

Reflect

When are the moments that your negative self talk, worry, and doubt are strongest in your role? List them.

Think

Write Down 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self Talk Statements

i.e. “Next Play” “Focus on the Controllable” “Everything is an opportunity to learn and grow”

Assignment

Write the 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self Talk Statements down on a notecard and read them at the start of your day and reread them anytime you sense yourself talking to yourself negatively, worrying, or doubting.

Journal

Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

What Went Well-+1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

Chapter 14: Diet Coke

• “Mental training is not magic. It is deliberate, intentional, and extremely hard training.”

Reflect

Write down moments or examples of negative talk throughout your day. Did you use any beneficial & constructive self-talk?

Think

When are some moments of extreme confidence or peak performance in your role or other times in your life?

Assignment

Choose 1 extreme confident moment or peak performance moment to add to your notecard.

Journal

Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

What Went Well-+1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 15: The Path to Mastery

Reflect and Think

Note the times in your life you have worked hard only to feel you were moving backwards.

Assignment

Purchase the book or audiobook “Unbroken” by Lauren Hillenbrand- Make this one of your next reads after “Chop Wood, Carry Water.”

Journal

Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

What Went Well-+1 More

Areas for Growth- 2

Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 16: I Aim with Everything

Reflect

Go back to chapter 4 and write down the controllables you listed there. How have you been doing on these?

Think

Choose the top 4 controllables for you to be successful in your role.

Assignment

Add the 4 controllables for success to the note card.

Journal

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• Areas for Growth- 2

• Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• Peak Performance Moment

• 4 Controllables

Chapter 17: Bamboo

• “Not forgiving people is like swallowing a deadly drug and hoping the person who wronged you dies from it.”

• The story of bamboo- takes 5 years of watering the bamboo for it to sprout up! And then in just 6 weeks it can get to over 90 feet tall.

Reflect & Think

Did you follow through on your controllables?

Assignment

Keep chopping wood and carrying water.

Journal

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• Areas for Growth- 2

• Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• Peak Performance Moment

• 4 Controllables

Chapter 18: Road Signs on the Path to Mastery

• “Have I told you lately that I love to watch you shoot, and that I am very proud of you?” -Leader Statement (No strings attached)

• Follow the Road Sign on Path to Mastery

◦ Mile Markers: “This is Hard” & “I don’t feel like doing ____ today.”

◦ Instructional Signs: “Talk to yourself instead of listening” & “Live by principles instead of feelings”

◦ Warning Signs “Your choice creates your challenge” & “You are building your own house”

Reflect and Think

List Different Signs: Mile Markers? Thoughts and feelings you have experienced on the journey. Instructional Signs? Lessons you have learned along the way. Warning Signs? Advice passed down to you over the years.

Assignment

Add to this list as the day goes on. You will know more than you can remember off the top of your head.

Journal

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• Areas for Growth- 2

• Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• Peak Performance Moment

• 4 Controllables

Chapter 19: Be Where Your Feet Are

• “Only one thing you have to do in life, and that is die. You are always doing what you want to do, because there is always a choice.”

• “When you tell yourself that you have to do something, it creates a negative internal energy.”

Reflect

Write down 5 things you do daily that you often feel like you “have” to do.

Think

Rewrite these things: I choose to __________ because/ so ___________.

Journal

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• Areas for Growth- 2

• Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• Peak Performance Moment

• 4 Controllables

Chapter 20: Goal vs Mission

• People love goals because they let them off the hook.

• Nobody can stop you from living out a mission

• “Our parents and coaches do all sorts of things to shelter kids from the consequences of their choices, and rarely inspire them with a mission.”

• Mission acts as a navigational system- easy to lose perspective on what truly matters without a mission.

• No one on their death bed is worried about how they did in a game, on a test, or how much money they made. They care about their relationships, and who they have become as a person.

• Often, failure is the greatest teaching tool.

Reflect

Write what you want your obituary or eulogy to be when you die. How do you want to be remembered?

Think

Write out a mission statement that will be your navigational guide to the person you want to be remembered for.

Assignment

Add the mission statement to the top of your notecard!

Journal- Write value and growth statement at top of journal.

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• Areas for Growth- 2

• Things Learned- 2

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 21: Surrender

• “As soon as your goal was to win the tournament last week, I knew you had allowed your focus to shift away from the process and onto the uncontrollables. You cannot play present if you are focused on winning or the outcome.”

• 2 minute gratefulness walk for times when we are frustrated

• It’s not just what you do, but it is the heart posture you have while doing it.

• “When you operate with a heart posture of gratefulness, you free yourself up to be at your best and slip into the zone. And you are a much greater joy to be around”

Reflect and Think

Take the 2 minute gratefulness walk. After, write down all the things you are grateful for in your life.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 22: Famous Failures

Reflect

List times you have failed in life.

Think

Where would you be today if I had given up?

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 23: The Illusion of Partially Controllable Goods

• “Things like winning, rebounding, sales, or beating your opponent’s records can distract us from what is more important: the person we become on the journey.”

• “You can go chase a dream, but then sometimes you look back and there’s a trail of tears behind you. And the tears are usually your wife and kids.” –Mark Richt

Reflect and Grade Yourself

Attitude

Effort

Respecting Others

Gratefulness

Assignment

The above is a good scorecard for life! Grade yourself today and work to do better tomorrow by grading yourself throughout the day.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 24: The Fight

• Live by principles instead of feelings

• At every crossroads there are at least two choices: to view your circumstance as a calamity, or to view it as an incredible opportunity.

Reflect

What are some opportunities you have in your life?

Think

Choose one of the scary opportunities. Maybe you have half heartedly committed to it. Are you ready to fully commit? Make a list of controllables that you can choose to follow through on to chase that lion!

Assignment

Start chasing your lion. Choose to follow through on at least one controllable.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

Chapter 25: Principles Instead of Feeling

• “When you make the choice to live by a certain set of principles, it will not only protect you from your feelings, it will allow you to step into your greatest potential.”

• “At the end of principles there is life, freedom, hope, joy, and peace. But at the end of feelings is destruction.”

Reflect and Think

Write down various principles you have learned from CWCW and throughout your life.

Assignment

Add your top two principles to your daily notecard.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

Chapter 26: Warrior Dial

• Optimal performance is warrior dial at a 4-5

• Turn up with motivational videos, quotes, music

• Turn down with deep breathing exercises, certain music, slowing your movements

Reflect

What motivates you? What calms you?

Think

When are times you have performed with a high warrior dial and a low warrior dial? What was the result? What is your peak performance number AKA warrior dial?

Assignment

Add your peak performance number to your notecard from here on out.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• Peak Performance Number (Warrior Dial)

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

Chapter 27: "They"

When you become great they will just say you are talented. Because it is so much more comfortable to believe greatness is reserved for the chosen few than it is to work your ever-loving butt off to become the best you are capable of being.”

• One crab can crawl out of a bucket, multiple crabs pull each other down in a bucket and we live in a society of crabs.

• John Wooden, Nelson Mandella, ESPN, Steve Jobs were all called CRAZY

• “Most people just want to be heard and loved, they don’t want your wisdom, and this is OK!”

• Before imparting advice ask, “Would you like my opinion or do you just need to be heard and want me to listen?”

Reflect

Who have been some of the biggest doubters in your life? Have you had anybody criticize or make fun of your commitment to the process?

Think

Have you thought about someone you could mentor? If you feel you are in a position to help others, seek them out, ask questions and listen to them.

Assignment

Step up and mentor someone in what will seem like the smallest way: Check in regularly with them and ask them about how things are going. Don’t try to provide any advice in their life unless they ask you. Focus on eye contact and being an engaged listener.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• Peak Performance Number (Warrior Dial)

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

Chapter 28: A New Name

• Excellence is within your reach. It is accomplished through deliberate actions, ordinary in themselves, performed consistently and carefully, made into habits, compounded together and added up over time.

Reflect

Write down all the names you have been called throughout your lifetime.

Think

What name best represents the strongest, kindest, and most authentic version of you?

Assignment

Go by the strongest version of your name.

Final Thoughts

Instead of trying to be the best, just try to love the people in your life.

• You matter. You are a human being, not just a human doing.

• Be bold and courageous, chase lions, but never forget where your true value comes from. God.

Reflect

Think back on your journey over the last 29 days. How have you changed as a person?

Think

How might you use your learnings and experience to help others? Consider chasing some lions that allow you to further impact others.

Assignment

Chose one person a day in which you will be committed to making their day great!

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• Peak Performance Number (Warrior Dial)

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

• One person who you will be committed to making their day better!

What do you do with your time?

• Time is the only resource that is the same for everyone regardless of how much money you make, your race, or where you live. We only get 86,400 seconds per day

• “The softest pillow is a clear conscience” -John Wooden

• “When you are climbing out of a bucket full of crabs, there will be many people who try to pull you back down to their level.”

• You choose how to spend your time and who to spend it with

• If your positivity ratio is around 1 to 1= clinical depression, 2 to 1 forecasts suffering in life, 3 to 1 forecasts flourishing

• “Everyone wants to be great, until its time to do what greatness requires.”

“Your choice creates your challenge”

Reflect

How did you spend your time today? Look back over the last 30 days of your journal and it should also give you an idea of the various things you have been up to and who you have been around.

Think

What do you need to spend more or less time doing? Who do you need to spend more time with and who do you need to spend less time with?

Assignment

Upgrade your circle or your daily routine.

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• Peak Performance Number (Warrior Dial)

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

• One person who you will be committed to making their day better!

Drowning Without a Mission

• Our youth today are floundering around chasing all the wrong things because they are bored with goals. They need a compelling mission.

• Your mission acts as your internal GPS system

Reflect

What are you really passionate about?

What would I do if money didn’t matter?

What makes me really mad?

What makes me really sad?

What do I wish I would have known or had to better equip me for my journey?

Rewrite your mission!

Journal

• Value Statement “My value comes from who I am not what I do.”

• Growth Statement “Anything that happens to me today is in my best interest and it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.”

• Life Scorecard- Grade Yourself

• What Went Well-+1 More

• 2 Areas for Growth

• 2 Things Learned

Daily Notecard

• Mission Statement

• 4 Beneficial & Constructive Self-Talk Statements

• 4 Controllables

• Peak Performance Moment

• Peak Performance Number (Warrior Dial)

• 2 Principles Guiding Your Life

• One person who you will be committed to making their day better!

Closing

Hopefully have built the habit of reading and writing over the last month. My advice to you would be three things

1. Continue the journaling activities and notecard!

2. Start the reading challenge. It has been transformational in my life.

3. Seek mentorship beyond your books.

Please reach out to me and let me know what you thought of the activities I have laid out and if you have any questions. I would love to discuss your experience!

Twitter @jpnerbun

Email: jpnerbun@gmail.com

Credits:

Created with images by markusspiske - "axe wood hack"

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