A traveler once approached three stonecutters working on a construction site and asked each of them what they were doing.

The first builder said, “I’m cutting stone.”

The second replied, “I’m building a wall.”

But the third smiled proudly and said, “I’m building a cathedral.”

It’s the same work — but a completely different story.

The story you tell yourself about your daily actions has the power to shape the reality of your experience. The first stonecutter sees monotony. The second sees contribution. The third sees purpose. The task itself doesn’t change — but the meaning does.

And as we all know, meaning changes everything. It fuels energy, focus, and resilience. It transforms repetition into purpose and effort into legacy. This is the Stonecutter Principle — the idea that how you choose to perceive the process determines the quality of your outcomes.‍

‍

Most of life is lived in the grind — the small, repetitive, often thankless tasks that make up the journey. The work that no one sees. On those days, it can feel like your effort disappears into the noise of something bigger, especially when you’re one piece in a much larger system.

But this is exactly where perspective becomes power. Few people are able to connect the small task in front of them to the bigger story it belongs to — and that connection is everything. When you see your work as part of something meaningful, you show up differently. You find purpose where others find fatigue.
‍

I once read a story about President John F. Kennedy visiting NASA during the space race. Walking through the halls, he noticed a janitor cleaning the floor and asked, “What do you do for NASA?

The janitor replied, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.”

True or not, that’s the Stonecutter Principle in action — the ability to link daily effort to a larger vision. To see the mop as part of the mission.

You won’t always love every task. Some days will feel dull or heavy. But you always have the power to choose the story you tell about your work.

You can see yourself cutting stone — or building a cathedral.

You can see yourself cleaning the floor — or helping launch humanity to the moon.

You can see yourself verifying one order — or saving a patient’s life.

When you choose the bigger story, you elevate not just yourself, but everyone around you. Purpose is contagious. Vision spreads. Energy multiplies.

So next time you find yourself deep in the grind, pause and ask:

What am I really building here?

Because the story you choose is the life you live.

Key Takeaway: You can’t always control the work in front of you — but you can always control the meaning behind it. The story you tell shapes the way you show up, the energy you bring, and ultimately, the life you build.

‍