In an extended parable that plays out throughout most of the book, John is an American man eager to become a samurai archer. Archery is the art of making an arrow hit exactly where the shooter intended through the manipulation of a bow. In Chop Wood Carry Water, the archery motif represents success.

The concentric circles around the bullseye demonstrate that mastery comes in degrees. There is an outer ring on the target and inner rings that all embrace the coveted bullseye, which is the center of the target. This is success clearly defined and visually displayed. Success in archery is an arrow through the center of a very specific spot on a target. Success in many other sports is not as clear because, as the book explains, there are always new milestones to reach. In team sports, there are too many variables to clearly define success, while in archery, one person has complete control of the outcome.

Medcalf is careful in his use of archery as the athletic undertaking at the heart of his extended parable. John fails during the archery tournament precisely because success does not always mean winning but rather focusing on the mastery of one’s craft and living a mission-driven life.