MM#426--Building Your Own House

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What if the house you're building each day isn't for someone else, but for you? 

The Theory to Action podcast's latest Mojo Minute unveils a powerful Japanese parable that might forever change how you approach your daily efforts. We meet Koda, a renowned architect whose magnificent homes became world-famous through his relentless dedication to excellence. When he decides to retire, he agrees to build one final house—approaching it as an obligation rather than an opportunity. Cutting corners and delegating responsibilities, he creates a house that lacks his signature brilliance. Only after completion does he learn the devastating truth: this mediocre house was intended as a gift for him all along.

The episode weaves together two essential principles for a flourishing life. First, embrace lifelong learning as a divine gift that honors our intellect, body, and soul. Whether through books, courses, or experiences, we should never cease being students after formal education ends. Second, recognize that everything we do forms the foundation of our character and future. The only truly significant aspect of any day is who you become in the process.

Are you building your house wisely? Using your finest materials? Overseeing the important details? Or are you rushing through life's construction project, unaware that you'll eventually live with the consequences of each shortcut? Listen now and discover how to approach life's work with renewed purpose, intentionality, and excellence. 

Key Points from the Episode:

• The importance of lifelong learning as a gift that enhances mind, body, and soul
• Being a student doesn't end after formal education—we are always learning
• Story of Koda, the renowned Japanese architect who built magnificent houses
• How Koda's attitude changed when building his "final" house before retirement
• The revelation that Koda had unknowingly been building his own house
• The profound lesson: "Each of us are building our own house" in everything we do
• Two key wisdom nuggets: always be a lifelong learner and build your house wisely

Always keep fighting the good fight and Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Theory to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:07

Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now here's your host, david Kaiser.

Speaker 2: 0:25

Hello, I am David and welcome back to another Mojo Minute. As always, let's begin with our opening quote. The next day was hot and muggy. John sweated as he drove his axe through log after log. His shoulders ached as he hauled bucket after bucket of water from the well into the house and his hands began to blister from the friction of the axe handle. It was frustrating watching men old enough to be in retirement homes chop wood and carry water so effortlessly. But he kept working, remembering Akira's words that the shooting will come soon enough. Finally, after the day's work had finished, akira took John aside. He handed him a cup of cool water and told him a story. He told John that in Japan they have a deep love of architecture and there was once a man named Koda who built some of the finest houses in all of Tokyo. His work became world famous due to his dedication to the process, his willingness to beat on his craft and his relentless devotion to keep learning even late into his career.

Speaker 2: 1:49

To be a lifelong learner is really a gift from God. If you don't have it, please ask our Lord for the gift and a change of heart To pursue learning and improve your mind, your body and your soul through all the available means is a good thing. Why? Because our lives are gifts. Our Lord has blessed us with an intellect, with a body and with an immortal soul, and we should respect his gift. We should pursue and make all of these the very best things they can be. Certainly you shouldn't run yourself down and become unhealthy from these pursuits, like working out for 20 hours a day with no rest, but that wouldn't be virtuous. But we could get some exercise in each and every day. That would be using your body wisely and appreciating the gift given to us, as, as we are stewards in this whole thing called life, just so, with our minds, whether as a hobby or desiring excellence in your profession, we should always be learning. Learning is flourishing. Always be picking up a book, perhaps even an academy review or a mojo book brief More to come on those or even something like the digital online courses we see all over the place, especially those at Hillsdale College or Christendom College. The point is, once you are out of formal schooling, you should never think that you are no longer a student. We are always students, we are always learning. Again, one of our nuggets of wisdom today is we are always students, we are always learning. Let's pick back up the story.

Speaker 2: 3:38

Eventually, though, coda grew tired of building homes for other people and he was ready to retire. He had been building homes for over 30 years and he was ready to move on. He wanted to travel, spend lots of time with his grandkids. One day, coda approached his boss and turned in his two-week notice. His boss said Koda, we are forever indebted to you for your magnificent work you have done for our company and we are so grateful you have worked for us for so long. We do have one favor to ask of you, though. Could you please build one more house? It is a very important house for a very important client, and everyone in the company agreed it needs your magic touch.

Speaker 2: 4:27

Coda was frustrated. He would have to cancel two trips and postpone his new life all for this one house. He told his boss that he needed a day to think about it, and, after talking it over with his wife, he gave in and decided it would be just one more house, and he decided to build that house. He told his boss, but this is the very last one, and here is where the story begins to take shape. I'm really liking this book. Now I understand why the football Buckeyes are reading it Back to the book.

Speaker 2: 5:08

But while Coda had agreed with his head to build this last house, his heart was no longer in it. He had always been very hands-on through the entire building process. He had always been very hands-on through the entire building process, always selecting the finest materials by hand and making sure every detail was diligently tended to. But this house was different. He viewed it as more of an obligation than an opportunity. He delegated much of the work and consequently, a lot of things started slipping through the cracks. The house would be up to code, but as it started to come together, it was obvious that it lacked the wow factor that Coda's other homes were known for. Coda knew in his heart that this was far from his best work, but he was over it. He was ready to move on with the new phase of his, the next phase of his life.

Speaker 2: 6:08

The next phase was much more appealing and more important to him than the present phase, and after four months had passed, coda had finally finally finished the house. Oh, wow, all right, we all finally have a finished house. This is exciting. Wonder what his next phase in life will be. We heard about the trips and we heard about the grandkids. Fun times await for sure. Let's go back and see how Coda is doing. He went back to his boss telling him I did. You asked now I'm asking one last time for your blessing to retire. His boss responded thank you, coda. We just have one more thing now.

Speaker 2: 6:54

Coda was beginning to get really upset because he thought they were going to ask him to build yet another house. His boss reached into his desk and pulled out a very small black box with a red ribbon tied around it. He handed the box to Coda and said we are so grateful for you, coda. This gift is a token of our appreciation. Coda pulled the ribbon, opening the box to discover a set of shiny new keys. His boss smiled the house is yours. You deserve it. Immediately his heart sank.

Speaker 2: 7:33

Unbeknownst to coda, the whole time he had building had been building his own house. If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have cared so much more. He would have only used the finest materials. He would have overseen almost every detail and given it his all, like he had always done. But now it was too late.

Speaker 2: 7:59

Akira looked at John and said the only thing that is truly significant about today, or any other day, is who you become in the process. Each of us are building our own house. Sometimes you might think you're building it for your school, your family, your company or your team, but you are always building your own house. I hope you build it wisely. The story hit home for John and he really started to think deeply about his own life. He sat in silent contemplation while wondering if he had been building his house wisely, if he had been building his house wisely. So in today's Mojo Minute, just two nuggets of wisdom to remember Always be a lifelong learner and be wise in building your own house and, most especially, always keep fighting the good fight.

Speaker 2: 9:23

Thank you for joining us. Always keep fighting the good fight as well as other great resources.

Speaker 1: 9:33

Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.