I went to a memorial service this morning for a guy that was instrumental to my success early in my professional career. Died at the age of 62 from leukemia. He was a brilliant and principled man but he was also outspoken, curt and rough around the edges. “Prickly” is the best way to describe him.
So I was curious as to what they’d say about him at the service. Would they say, “despite his hard shell, John was a lovable guy”? Or would they be real. Turns out, it was somewhere in between.
But it got me thinking about myself and what people might say if my day came tomorrow? And then I started thinking “what do I want people to say about me when I’m gone?” First and foremost, I want people to say, he was best damn father any kid could ever ask for. He loved his children more than life itself and he taught them how to be productive members of society.” And if that’s all anyone could say, I could live with that (err, die with that). But I came to the realization that I do care what people say about me when I’m gone. Obviously not for me but for my loved ones that I leave behind. I want them to enjoy hearing good things about me. They loved me. They should get the reward of hearing why others did too.
What do you want people to say about you when you’re gone?
So I was curious as to what they’d say about him at the service. Would they say, “despite his hard shell, John was a lovable guy”? Or would they be real. Turns out, it was somewhere in between.
But it got me thinking about myself and what people might say if my day came tomorrow? And then I started thinking “what do I want people to say about me when I’m gone?” First and foremost, I want people to say, he was best damn father any kid could ever ask for. He loved his children more than life itself and he taught them how to be productive members of society.” And if that’s all anyone could say, I could live with that (err, die with that). But I came to the realization that I do care what people say about me when I’m gone. Obviously not for me but for my loved ones that I leave behind. I want them to enjoy hearing good things about me. They loved me. They should get the reward of hearing why others did too.
What do you want people to say about you when you’re gone?