The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All

Chapter 6Design Your Masterpiece

The doorbell rang the next morning shortly after Sarah and the kids left for school. Michael opened the door and the carpenter was standing there with a big smile and dressed in the same blue jeans, sandals, and white t-shirt.

He gave Michael a big hug, something Michael figured he would have to get use to if he wanted his entertainment center built. “How are you feeling?” the carpenter asked.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” answered Michael. “Thanks for asking. So where are your tools and stuff?”

“Oh, I don’t need them. I won’t be building anything today. Before you build a masterpiece you must design it. It’s the same way with life, you know. Too many people go through life living by chance, but when you live by design and know the life you want to create, you are able to create a masterpiece instead of a piece of junk.”

Michael couldn’t help but think about what his life looked like. Was he living by chance or by design? Was he creating a masterpiece? Or, was he causing his body to burn out and fail?

“So tell me what you had in mind,” said the carpenter as they walked into the house and toward the family room.

Michael picked up a home design magazine from the table and showed J. the page that Sarah had earmarked for him. “My wife absolutely loves the look of this. Can you build something like this?”

“Of course. I can build anything. Now that I see it, I can design it. Do you have a piece of paper and a pencil?”

Michael reached into the “everything ...