To One Day Say I Made a Difference
Published on December 07, 2011
I read a quote years ago that had a profound effect on how I looked at life. It said. "What you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever". Henry Van Dyke. When I read that it made me think, "Really? Everything I own immediately belongs to someone else?" True. That cold hard fact made me switch to thinking about the second part. "What you are will be yours forever". Death will take away your home and car and bank account and your collection of baseball hats but it will never take away your name. This aspect of life does not come from bank accounts and real estate. It comes from connection and character and clarity. Clarity to know that through it all, how we showed up is the mark we will leave. Before you start to think I'm asking you to cash it in and become a missionary, quite the contrary. I happen to believe we are all deserving of much more than the average guy or girl. With that said, maintaining a constant focus on the impact we are having on this spinning rock is a worthy pursuit. I was reminded of this on the drive back from a presentation today. After the presentation I met with a client and his son to talk about where his son wants to go and what he wants to do. Like too many young people today he's lost and has no idea what he wants to do with his life. Even with great parents and unlimited support, the iron fist grip of the world has him confused and following along the path of education, work, retire die screenplay that offers little in the way of an authentic life. I work with many of the country's largest corporations every week. I run a company and create programs and write books and speak all over the country but here's what I felt today. That maybe, just maybe because of a lunch with a young man and his dad I might have said something and helped him believe in himself enough to go off and find exactly what his heart beats for. When he does I know he will get to lead an extraordinary life. It is my great hope that this was one of those days that I get to take with me. This will never be subject to probate fees in a will. Here's what I know is the benchmark to looking after the second half of that quote. If it makes you feel "like this" then you are doing something right. Our goal then, I think, all mixed up with the stuff and trappings is to strive to do this. To one day say I made a difference. Have an excellent day.
