I often hear people say: I will call that potential client tomorrow. I’m planning on visiting my parents soon. I will learn to ski/play golf/speak another language. Many of us think that we are immortal, and that there will forever be a tomorrow. Like Annie sang in the Broadway play with her name: tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, you’re always a day away. Part of the takeaway is that life is full of hope. And we can always look forward to changing something to make it better tomorrow.
But the reality is: life is short. Time is money. We can waste it, save it, or spend it. And how we value time, and what we do with our time, over time, you will excuse the pun, results in our legacy. Not being morbid. Just being realistic. When we are 20, 30 and 40, life seems to have endless possibilities. When we reach 50, we start to think, hey, maybe I AM on the back nine. For real. And with that comes the the reality of how our decisions over the course of time panned out. Whether you’re a Millennial or a Baby Boomer, taking stock every so often to evaluate where you are, what goals you have achieved, and what you want the future to look like, is an important part of having a legacy that will stand for who you are.
So with that in mind, write your obituary. I know you think I am crazy, but it will bring into focus the need to seize every day and live everyday with purpose.
Ask your self today, what have I accomplished? Not every accomplishment has to be bottom-line driven. Maybe you coached your kids all through high school, maybe you had numerous charities that you supported and volunteered for, maybe you were Teacher of the Year, a great golfer or bowler, or maybe you won every award on the planet for your business.
Doesn’t matter. What matters is leaving a meaningful legacy, making every day count and living a life of purpose. Now go on, write down your legacy. If you like it. Wonderful. If there are things missing, get your ask in gear.
Once upon a time someone said: there are three kinds of people: the ones who make things happen. The ones who watch things happen. And the ones who say: what the heck just happened?
What will your legacy be?