It is all about the Meraki

Are there proven practices and timeless truths that help you lead a better life, enjoy more fulfilling work, and make more moments that matter?

There are.?And Jon Gordon reveals them in one of his books that I recently read during my holiday break in Venezuela -?The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All.

The Carpenter is an entertaining and enlightening story of Michael and a carpenter who changes Michael’s life.?Michael’s business is failing, and so is his health.?He’s in danger of losing everything he?has and everything he’s worked for.

What Michael learns from the carpenter is goes well beyond woodwork.?It’s?deep wisdom and some of the greatest strategies?to build a better life, a better career, and make each moment?his masterpiece.

With that in mind, here are few big ideas I would like to share from?The Carpenter?…

Life and Success are About What You Choose to Believe

It’s not what you believe when things are going well.?It’s what you truly believe when things are really going wrong.

Via?The Carpenter:

“You can! You can choose to see it!?Life and success are about what you choose to believe.?It’s easy to believe things will be great when everything is going well, but?the true test of your faith is what you believe when you are facing insurmountable challenges.??

The late and great Nelson Mandela said it best: ‘I am fundamentally an optimist.?Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say.??Part of being optimistic?is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward.?There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair.?That way lays defeat and death.'”

Serving Leads to True Success

When you serve others, you gain and grow in the process.

Via?The Carpenter:

“When you love, you serve, and when you serve, you sacrifice.?Service requires a sacrifice of something.?Whether it’s time, energy, money, love, effort, or focus,?serving others always costs you something, but with service and sacrifice, you gain so much more.

We admire those who serve and sacrifice for us and others admire us for our service and sacrifice.?There is nothing more powerful than sacrificial love.??Nothing says I love you more than letting someone know I am willing to serve and sacrifice for them.?When you love and serve other you will become great in their eyes.?They will know you love them and they will love you back.?They will respect and honor you.?They will trust you.?They will tell others about you.?Serving leads to true success.”

Caring is How You Stand Out

It’s not just people who make the world go round.?It’s people who care.?And caring is the difference that makes the difference.

Via?The Carpenter:

“When you care, you will inspire others to care.?It’s also important to make sure you surround yourself with people who care.?Find ways to extend yourself to others and serve them.?Write a note.?Make a call.?Go out of your way to serve someone.??Go beyond the expected.?People know you care when you go out of your way to show them they matter.?A smile, an encouraging word, an extra five minutes of time, solving a customer’s problem, listening to an employee, sacrificing for a friend, and helping a team member through a challenging time can make all the difference. Never underestimate the importance of making time to make someone feel special.”

There's a word I love and can help summarize this great book: ?Meraki.?It sounds like it's a Japanese word but it's actually a Greek word... and it means to do something with love, creativity and soul; to leave a piece of yourself in your work; to leave something behind.

Being a craftsman/craftswoman is all about Meraki.

In 2023, I will continue to put my love and soul into everything I do. I am planning to continue to leave a piece of myself in whatever it is I am building. I will continue my plan to create a masterpiece in everything I do that reflects the essence of my love, energy, effort and craft.

All the best to all of you for 2023, and remember... it all about the Meraki.

Ricardo