Chop Wood and Carry Water: Business Success 101

Successful Business Practice: Chop Wood and Carry Water Daily to Boost Personal and Professional ROI

Before Enlightenment … Chop Wood And Carry Water.

After Enlightenment … Chop Wood And Carry Water.

The central focus of most of my professional career has been at the apex of health, wellness and sustainability.

When I work with young entrepreneurs in the industry, one of the first questions they all seem to ask is how I got started.

The answer is always the same: take some measurable action toward your goal or objective every day.

And when you work with a group of trusted people, you can enhance your momentum.

This has been my process for over 20 years now, and most recently, I was involved in the rollout of Wild Oats affordable organics as well as Pet Promise, a natural pet food business, and a recycling business, all of which were successful business ventures.

That success, however, is based on more than just profits; it’s an excellent business model for how individuals, without industry specific experience, can build a new business that is gratifying.

To maximize abundance and productivity, I remember to be present in the moment and do two things.

First, take some action towards your personal business or life goal; make this action meaningful and purposeful.

Second, do something kind for someone else.

Doing these two actions everyday will help you accomplish your goals, and will ensure you have a network of people who support you and will yield an inspirational return on investment (ROI).

This logic is embodied in the 1,000 year old Zen proverb:

“Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.”

I believe these are two things that we should be doing every day, and in fact, the only things we should be doing every day to advance and enhance our career and personal life.

This proverb has served me well, and now, I want to share it with like-minded entrepreneurs as a motivation tool.

Here’s a little personal insight: for me, chopping wood is much easier than carrying water every day, but carrying water is the part that is most rewarding and makes you feel good.

Even if it’s something as simple as going into your favorite coffee shop and brightening everybody’s day with a big smile, or a genuine “good morning, all of you wonderful and awesome people.”

I started practicing carrying water because I believed I had chopping wood down pact.

Now, carrying water has become the favorite part of my day.

But to do it, I have to remove all negative distractions and focus on staying positive and upbeat at work, operating at a high vibration all the time.

With that said, it’s no easy task in the world we live.

I think that ultimately if you have a purpose and a goal, and think about that purpose and goal every day, and then take action daily to support your purpose and goal, you will gain momentum.

If you start doing kind things for other people consistently, and consciously, you will be lighter, happier and loving life.

This is a critical point I missed early in my career.

I wrote the book, “2Steps2YourBest — Chop Wood and Carry Water” as a free success guide for those seeking success and happiness.

This is the key insight that I missed as an entrepreneur building businesses versus building an army of people with the tools to not only get things done, but to be light, happy and purposeful.

Because if you are light and happy you would never pollute or hurt another individual, plant or animal.

This is what I believe is total health.

Here are a few key components to consider when working toward “2Steps2YourBest – Chop Wood and Carry Water”:

1. Be Purposeful: have a personal goal and a heartfelt reason for accomplishing it.

Find what your soul wants to do, or what you think you want to do, and start chopping wood tomorrow and see where it takes you.

Be prepared that you will be uncomfortable, but start building that woodpile.

No matter if it is absolutely right or not, just start and write the goal or accomplishment down on a piece of paper or in your digital notes and start chopping; don’t question, just go with where it takes you, and enjoy the process.

2. Make sure you are mindful about “carrying water” and doing something for someone else.

Be mindful that everyday you are going to help.

It could be as simple as making the barista smile or telling your friend or significant other how awesome they are and surprise them with flowers, chocolates, nice words or even eyes that look at them and say without a word, “you are beautiful.”

3. Be mindful of what you eat since you will need stamina.

The energy it takes to chop wood every day requires a clean diet of whole nutritious foods heavy in vegetables and clean proteins like grass-fed beef, grass-fed milk or goat milk products.

Vegetables should be abundant in every meal.

And, whenever possible, always eat organic because the pesticides in the food will slow you down.

Your body requires extra energy to fight off toxins and pesticides.

4. Daily exercise is crucial.

Needless to say, you are going to have to be in good shape to chop wood every day so proper stretching and exercise is a must.

These exercises can be random — in fact it’s actually better if they are!

Try not to get in the trap that I get in, which is doing the same routine everyday.

Try and mix it up with some yoga, some stretching or some weight training.

5. Rest and relaxation.

The other most under-utilized key to giving you the energy to chop wood is rest, sleep and restoration.

Sleep is so important as it is the time when all the cells of the body are healing and recharging. Make it a goal to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.

6. Be proud of you.

Do you know how awesome you are for taking this challenge on and chopping wood and carrying water?

7. Smile.

Do this always, and to everyone, because you are changing the world.

Download a free copy of “2Steps2YourBest” at: https://anthonyzolezzi.com/blog/.