Mindset affects just about everything–including your attitude. Your attitude is based upon your beliefs. Beliefs affect your decisions. Decisions affect your behavior, behavior affect your actions, actions affect your results.
After the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the medieval city of London in 1666, Sir Christopher Wren designed new churches and supervised the reconstruction of some of London’s most important buildings. His name is synonymous with London architecture.
He produced ambitious plans for rebuilding the whole area but they were rejected, partly because property owners insisted on keeping the sites of their destroyed buildings.
Wren did design fifty-one (51) new city churches, as well as the new St Paul’s Cathedral. In 1669, he was appointed surveyor of the royal works which effectively gave him control of all government building in the country. He was knighted in 1673.
Story of Three Bricklayers
We see things as we are; not as they are
The story of three bricklayers is a true story. After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral.
One day in 1671, Sir Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast.
- To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I am cutting this stone to a certain size and shape.” He was just doing a task
- The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” He was just earning a living
- But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build St. Paul’s Cathedral for The Almighty.” He was doing his small part of building a great cathedral.
The lessons from the story of three bricklayers:
- Big Picture Thinking – Being able to see the end result and how your work contributes to that end.
- Attitude – A positive attitude and pride in what you are doing will show up in your work and your motivation.
- Connection to the Organization’s Mission – Employees who are rightly connected to the organization’s mission, vision, values, and goals are happier, more engaged, and more productive employees.
The Power of Purpose and Calling
The story of the three bricklayers is also a metaphor on the power of purpose, where the “cathedral builder,” demonstrates a personal expression of purpose that transforms his attitude and gives a higher meaning to his work. Another term for purpose is “calling.” For the first bricklayer, building the wall was a job. For the second bricklayer it was an occupation. For the third bricklayer, it was a calling.
A calling reflects our universal need to matter, to influence, and make a difference in the world around us. Victor Frankel made this clear in his book, The Meaning of Life. He wrote about how some people survived the holocaust, but so many didn’t. One of the things he identified was those who had a purpose or reason to continue to live that was beyond themselves tended to survive, while those who were focused primarily on themselves did not. Those who survived found some meaning in their painful circumstances. The meaning they found was in caring for and helping others in this horrible experience.
References:
- https://www.thoughtco.com/sir-christopher-wren-rebuilder-of-london-177429
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wren_christopher.shtml
- https://sacredstructures.org/mission/the-story-of-three-bricklayers-a-parable-about-the-power-of-purpose