A Zen Koan says, “Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water…After enlightenment chop wood, carry water.”
I first read this when I was learning yoga from Doug Swenson’s Ashtanga book in 2009. It has stuck with me ever since.
Another phrase that has stuck with me for years is, “If your job is to sweep floors, then see to it that you give your all and do your best while sweeping.“
At first, I didn’t take either of these directives literally. I applied them at work though and found them to be quite helpful.
I had taken a new job as a sales rep for a large corporation. I was one of 10 new employees. I was 10-15 years older than everyone on the team and had at least 10 more years of experience. I had been a rep, a manager, a director and a VP already. This was a major step backward in my career progression, but I had just bought a house and then was lost my job 2 weeks later, so I needed a job.
I admired and trusted my new manager. He was high energy, seemed honest, was intelligent and experienced. He told me he’d make me a manager as soon as possible and that together we would grow the team from 12 employees to hundreds.
But first, we had to sell (a lot of) the new product our company had just launched after acquiring a startup firm.
Well, I knew how to do that:
- I made lists of leads in my territory.
- I contacted every “reseller” in my region and offered to call their leads.
- I created a “pitch” – a 2 minute pitch, a 15 minute pitch and a one hour presentation
Most importantly, I started making calls to leads.
I called 80-100 leads a day. I sent follow up emails. I created a “cold call” routine that included multiple calls, email follow ups, and scheduled revisits to ensure I reached out to every potential buyer 8 times in 4 weeks.
Every night, I was hoarse from talking on the phone so much and my dialing finger ached.
It was basic sales grinding.
I was giving my best to sweep the floor.
I did this every day for 6 months. My sales engineer and I got really good at giving presentations. Our partners started to close some deals. We closed many more directly and handed them off to partners.
I practices my pitch on weekends. I refined my sales deck until I knew it was the best in the company. This was confirmed for me when I saw our CEO use “my deck” when he presented during our annual conference. Someone must have shown it to him and he adopted it.
After 6 months, I was promoted to manager. Over the next 5 years, I made more money and was promoted more often than any other time in my career.
With each new position, I focused on chopping wood and carrying water.
Now that I’m retired, I have a much slower paced, relaxed life. Chopping wood and carrying water is part of my daily routine.
- Mow the lawn
- Wash and fold laundry
- Vacuum
- Clean the toilet
- Wipe down the kitchen
- Wash dishes
- Do routine maintenance and home repairs
You might think I’m bored but nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is, I derive great satisfaction today from doing routine chores.
(Although I don’t love mowing the lawn, I love when it is done and get a small thrill for several days until the next time it needs cut.)
I’m not saying I’ve reached enlightenment. I don’t even ponder such things. What I have reached is a place where I find fulfillment in the small joys and routines of everyday life.
Perhaps, that is enlightenment.