Your Last Day
Now, just imagine, standing over your own grave?
Then looking around to see, who showed up?
As you look around, count how many people are there?
Are you disappointed?
Do you see as many people as you hoped for?
I believe many of us would be disappointed if this truly was our last day. I know would be.
Most of us don’t want to leave this life and be forgotten forever or without making a bigger impact on the world.
Yet, each day goes by and it could be our last. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
And many of us go through life as if we have all the time in the world, never truly fulfilling or working towards all we have to offer it.
Follow Your Passions
I recently attended a conference in Las Vegas called Thrive.
One presenter made me think real hard about my own legacy.
The presenter started a conversation with a man in the audience.
The audience member wanted to start a music production company, to provide an amazing service for struggling musicians.
But he was afraid to give up his current income stream to do it.
He didn’t enjoy his current work, but still hesitated, and was fearful to take that leap …
As the presenter tried to persuade the man to follow his passions, he said …
“just imagine the lives of all the people you will not get to help, if you don’t start your music company”
That really hit home for me.
I left Thrive highly motivated to be different. To help others first, before myself.
I thought about what life would be like, if I didn’t act, if I didn’’t follow my passions, if I miss out on helping all the people who need my help in this world?
I woke up the next morning to find out my wife and I missed the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, by just 7 hours.
The shooting made me really question my legacy. What if that was me and my wife, caught in the line of fire?
What if we were still in Vegas when the shooting started?
It also made me think about the legacy of the shooter. I believe, even he wanted to be remembered.
While, this is the worst legacy I can imagine, Stephon Paddock will be remembered.
Will You Be Remembered?
So how will you be remembered?
Will you be remembered at all?
What will this world be like if you ignore your passions and your message?
So, how can we leave the legacy we desire?
I believe Benjamin Franklin said it best.
He said …
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing about.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Let’s look at each of these points …
Write something worth reading ...
Since the internet wasn’t readily available when Ben was alive, I believe writing applies to just about any type of media.
For example, videos on Youtube, a course on Skillshare, an audio Podcast, an e-book on Amazon, a Tedx presentation, blog posts, and so much more.
Look at all the amazing ways we can get share our message and help others.
Do something worth writing about ...
For whatever reason, I believe each of us sets goals, much smaller than our potential. We believe dreams are only possible relative to own experience or lack thereof.
I am guilty of this as well.
Let me encourage us all to think and dream BIG. Really BIG. Then take massive action to reach those dreams.
We live in an amazing time in history. I believe there has been no greater time than now, to help others.
There are limitless opportunities and problems to solve in this world. There are so many who struggle, who need our help, who can be so much more than they are if they just had a little bit of your love.
Discover Your Message and Leave Your Legacy
So, what is your message?
I believe each of us has one.
Let me ask you …
What are you most passionate about?
Do you have powerful life story?
What makes your story so important?
Ask yourself these questions and I believe you’ll discover your own life message.
Some of us already know what our message is, but are too scared to share it.
Or, we shove it deep down inside, ignore it, so we don’t have to face it.
What if, instead, we embraced our passions. We embrace our message.
What if we make it our mission to share our message with as many people as possible.
Why?
To LIVE BIG like we all should be.
To wake up excited about life, every morning.
To leave our mark on this world, a legacy we are proud of.
To be remembered as someone who truly made a difference in life and helped others.
So, don’t wait another moment. If you haven’t already, discover your message.
Then, once you have discovered it, take massive action, do something big, and share your message with the world.