The Stonecutter's Persistence

Estimated read time: 6 minutes

Hey Fam!

Before we get started, a little life update—Madison and I are expecting our second baby any day now! We’re beyond excited…and maybe also bracing for the return of those legendary newborn sleep schedules 😅.

A few people have asked if we have a baby registry, so we went ahead and put one together. Absolutely no pressure, but if you feel called to contribute, here’s the link: Baby Registry Here. More than anything, we appreciate all the love and encouragement from this community—it truly means the world to us.

Now, onto today’s topic—one that’s been hitting home for me lately.

Ever feel like you’re putting in endless effort with little to show for it? That’s where I’ve been lately—grinding, creating, and pushing forward, even when growth seems stagnant. But then I came across the stonecutter’s story, and it hit me hard.

A stonecutter swings his hammer at a rock 100 times without a crack. Nothing. Not a single visible change. Then, on the 101st strike, the rock splits in two.

Was it the final strike that did it? Nope. It was the relentless effort—the 100 unseen, unrewarded blows before it—that made the difference.

This story isn’t just about stonecutting. It’s about everything—content creation, fitness, business, studying, personal growth. The real work happens in the moments when progress feels invisible.

The Hidden Power of Persistence

History is full of stonecutters who kept swinging:

• Thomas Edison tested 10,000 prototypes before inventing the light bulb. When asked about his failures, he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

• J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon.

• James Dyson built 5,126 failed prototypes before creating the vacuum that made him a billionaire.

What separates these people from the rest? They kept striking the rock.

(p.s. let me know if you want any of these stories to be the topic of future issues. They're awesome!)

My Personal Struggle With This

I see the stonecutter’s lesson playing out in one particular area of my life right now:

Content Creation. Then there’s the creative side of my life. I pour everything into making the highest-quality content I can—content I know has value. But some days, it feels like I’m just throwing work into the void. Growth can be slow, and it’s easy to wonder, “Is this even making an impact?” What keeps me going is this: it only takes one piece of content to change everything. One video, one post, one idea that resonates at the right time. Just because I don’t see the cracks forming yet doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

I have to remind myself that the stonecutter doesn’t know which strike will break the rock. He just keeps hitting it.

How to Keep Going When Progress Feels Invisible

1. Detach From Immediate Results. Progress isn’t always obvious. Keep your eyes on the process, not just the outcome.

2. Track Small Wins. Every step forward—even the tiniest one—matters. Keep a journal of daily wins.

3. Create a “Proof List.” When doubt creeps in, remind yourself of moments when persistence paid off. (I keep a list of content wins to look back on when I feel stuck.)

4. Surround Yourself With Evidence of Success. Read biographies, listen to stories, and study people who kept going. Let their persistence fuel yours.

5. Remember the 101st Strike. The effort you’re putting in today is compounding. Just because you don’t see cracks yet doesn’t mean they aren’t forming beneath the surface.

Quote to Carry With You

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein

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Your Turn

What’s your “stonecutter moment”? What’s something you’ve been working on that feels stuck—but you know will eventually break through? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear about it.

See you next week and Keep swinging 🚀

JR