Hey Leader! 🙌
Every Monday evening, I have a standing call with my sponsor, Nate.
He’s been sober since 2007, stoic, grounded, and full of the kind of wisdom you don’t get from books.
Last week on our call, I shared some frustrations about business, life, and the relentless weight of vision.
Nate didn’t flinch. He leaned back, calm as ever, and said,
“Bryce, you’re trying to sprint through a season that requires steady hands. Right now, you need to slow down. Your focus is to chop the wood, carry the water.”
At first, I didn’t get it.
Here I am, leading an international brand, casting vision, thinking strategy.
Chop wood? Carry water?
It felt small, off mission, almost insulting.
But as we unpacked the conversation, it landed.
Nate wasn’t minimizing the mission.
He was reminding me of my role.
Because leadership isn’t built in hype or headlines. It’s built in the mundane, repeating the core things with discipline and intention.
These are the basics.
For me, that’s casting vision, communicating clearly, and driving accountability.
That’s my version of chop wood and carry water.
Yours might look different.
It depends on your role, skillset, and growth edge.
But here’s the message:
If you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or spinning your wheels, chances are you’ve drifted from your core. You’re reacting to outcomes instead of mastering your inputs.
And as a leader, your power lies in consistency with the basics, not the complexity.
So this week’s challenge:
Stop chasing what’s flashy.
Get back to what’s fundamental.
Chop wood.
Carry water.
Because when the core is strong, everything else follows.
Bryce Henson
CEO, Fit Body
The 5 Immutable Rules of Leadership
- Take Extreme Ownership: Everything is your responsibility—even when it’s not your fault.
- Put Your Oxygen Mask On First: Lead yourself before leading others.
- Wield Influence Through Moral Authority: People follow who you are, not what you say.
- It’s Not About You—Never Was, Never Will Be: Elevate others, build legacy.
- Turn Adversity Into Advantage: Pain is your power—use it.
