What do you want on your tombstone?

It takes a stonemason to chisel words on a tombstone. But, it’s up to each of us to ensure our life merits a report.

You can lead courageously and leave the world better than you found it, not copping out, cutting corners or failing to live up to your potential – but such a life doesn’t just happen.

Today’s blog is adapted from an original article by my dear friend Timothy Pascoe.  Tim is an internationally renowned, wise elder in the Australian business community. His website and weekly blogs are aimed at increasing “leadership action and traction”, but this article applies just as much to anyone wanting to live a purposeful, meaningful life...

I spent many hours at university in a lecture theatre that carried a plaque commemorating a famous professor of engineering.  The Latin tag was "ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos" – by their fruits ye shall know them.  It’s what we do that counts both in life and as leaders.  Here are seven elements to consider and act on if your desire is to leave the world a better place.

1.  Vision… not just goals.  Most of us have goals – for the current week, month or year.  But, the change-agent has a vision too: to develop a cure for cancer or to make their city more liveable.  Or, in business perhaps, to make their service the market leader.  What’s your vision or purpose?

2.  Benefits… not just costs.  Everything we do consumes energy and resources.  And, these need careful allocation.  However, the key is the payoff – to justify the cost and hard work of making things different.  What could your vision deliver for you, your family, friends, community or even wider?  Do you want to be ‘used up’ when you die – or weighed down with ‘if onlys’?

3.  Generosity… not just profits.  Most things worth doing have a wider, non-commercial or public dividend as well.  Your product may change an industry.  So, be willing to share some of the fruits – perhaps making your IP public.  Or offer your service free to not-for-profits or to help the next generation pick up your baton.

4.  Plans… not just responses.  Being proactive is central to full life.  It’s necessary (but not enough) to react and adjust.  You have to define for yourself what you’ll do with whom and how you’ll monitor progress – yes, even in relationships.  And, update or make new life plans as needed.

5.  Decisions… not just fudges.  Moving your organisation (or your life) to a new place takes tough action: dumping well-understood practices and changing people’s roles and expectations.  Do this fairly and compassionately; but do it!  The future has to supplant the past.

6.  Investment… not just expenditure.  New endeavours and outcomes require incremental improvement, day to day and week to week.  But, they also need upfront commitments for different equipment, better training and closer leadership.  It’s about capital as well as costs.  A full life requires financial responsibility as well.

7.  Self-development… not just default behaviour.  We have to model the change – in ourselves and how we lead.  New activities or circumstances demand new leadership styles.  Unless people see us make the effort, why should they?  We must lead from the front – inspiring and not just instructing.  What do you embody in your living that others might model?

When a great person dies, it’s hard to find sufficient space on their tombstone to capture what they’ve done.  This is as true for an outstanding business builder as it is for a renowned politician, scientist or community leader.  For you and me, the tombstone may not need to be all that large.  But, each and every day, we need to be mindful that we’re writing our story that the stonemason will one day abridge in a few well-chiselled words.  What will it be?  I’d like to think mine might read something like this: in his own small way, he left the world better than he found it.  

Please, share your own desired epitaph...

Your own VitallyMe Report may well help you get clear on what you want that epitaph to be.  Read more...