The words that have redefined me after my death...

It’s one of those books that is dense with information — not hard to comprehend but contains so much that every page has you thinking, has you marking up the margins and folding corners to the point that each page looks the same. I can see why it’s on every list of books that business leaders must read; I had seen it many times myself but only just picked it up a while back —I can’t help but wonder if this is one of those books that finds you. I was halfway into the book when I figuratively crashed into three sentences that had me re-reading the words, highlighting them with even more stars, and setting them to memory.

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what is left and live it properly.”

As I look back on my life I feel no regret, and although many things could have been done differently, I have to say everything worked out quite nicely. I will miss myself but like everyone else I will move on — I still have things to do after all.

A couple of days after my timely death I shared my experience and the profound impact of the quote with a confidant. After much enthusiasm on my part, I ended the conversation with, “I’m not sure what live it properly means” — the words just hung there. It did force the realization that a comparison was needed between this new life and one before I died. If I wasn’t going to move forward doing things differently (or properly) why did I go through the hassle of being dead in the first place? A reasonable question in my mind and one I suspect the author intended when he wrote it.

It’s a bold endeavour to set down on paper how to live a life properly but with the time I have left I’m embracing the opportunity to do just that — this is what I have come up with:

Approach everything with a critical eye for understanding — Understanding determines action; the better you understand a situation the better your decisions will be. Good critical understanding forces different points of view, inclusion of different voices and different ways of thinking (The author discusses this a lot, and it’s one of the reasons many circles classify it as a business book).

Attempt to control only yourself — The only thing you have any control over is how you react to the world; believing you can control anything else is an illusion. Control yourself with courage and face everything that comes your way with integrity, determination and kindness. Leave everything else to the logic of the universe.

Simple is better than complex — For no other reason than simple is less exhausting, and unlike many things that are over engineered, simple doesn’t break down as much.

Strive to be extremely healthy — I’m talking physically health here (I believe the above with look after mind and soul). Exercise much more, sit much less, move much more, eat much less and wander into nature much more. This is how you “take what is left” and get the most out of it — for as long as possible.

Do what you enjoy — maybe worth re-evaluating once in a while.

I think this defines a life lived properly quite nicely and will be a big help as I make my way for the second time.

iamgpe

PS — Sure I could have mentioned the book and the author but as I say, I think this is a book that finds you. Plus there is always the internet.

PPS — Boop if you happen to read this, send me an address and a copy will find you.

Entering the post COVID world ...

In my part of the world the COVID-19 pandemic has become manageable and the normality of working alongside the virus is settling into the public psyche. What I just said may be a little contentious for some, but it’s safe to say we’d all agree managing through the last eighteen plus months has left its mark and will definitely echo through the next couple of years. I’d like to suggest many of us have become a little feral because of our isolation and our coping mechanisms — you can see it in personal styling, how people figuratively bare their teeth more, and how we’re all a little hesitant to venture outside. Many are still quite content to stay in the little nest they created to weather the storm.

For me I am trying to get back to some sense of normality in the post COVID world but admittedly still keep everything rather small and routine. I will get there. I had a craving for Italian the other day and found the whole concept of a menu foreign but eventually worked through it. All this had me reflecting on myself, what’s important, and how I can live a satisfying life. I’m a big believer in having a plan, reviewing that plan periodically and course correcting to move forward — it was an obvious time for me to to revisit what I’m doing and what guiding principles resonate with me as I continue my way.

I kept coming back to three ideas that have been rattling around in my head for some time, and if the internet is to be trusted, have been around for quite a while. As I venture into this post COVID world I believe these will serve me well.

gnōthi seauton Know thyself.

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam I shall either find a way or make one.

Memento mori Remember that you die.

Each has big meaning and an interpretation that I suspect has been debated over the centuries, and for that reason alone I like them. I was then reminded of my last post COVID consideration which came when a book* was recommended to me and I was introduced to this quote:

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ― Etienne de Grellet

esto benignus Be Kind

On my web site I position myself as “an accomplished Sales and Marketing Leader with a reputation for effective strategy, creative problem solving and execution; highly experienced in sales and marketing management with a number of awards. Brings a wealth of cross-functional skill sets in product, price and marketing management as well as sales management and development” or as “a simple journeyman of life interested in the human condition and the stratagems along the way”. I think COVID has shown me that I am that “simple journeyman”, which I am content with because all the other stuff is all part of it anyway. Definitely the journey is going to be more interesting with my new signposts.

We will see where it takes me.

iamgpe

* The book is by Robin Sharma called “The Everyday Hero Manifesto”. If you are leader, or fashion yourself as one, his books are a must read, particularly “The Leader Who Had No Title”.

A leadership requirement...

Let’s just put it out there right away so there is no need to read any further unless you want to. In a Harvard Business Review article by John Coleman entitled For Those Of You Who Want To Lead, Read he writes:

But deep, broad reading habits are often a defining characteristic of our greatest leaders and can catalyze insight, innovation, empathy, and personal effectiveness.

So there you have it; for anyone who fancies themselves a leader it may be worth counting the books on your night table — at the very least it’s some quantitative data you can work with.

And if you need further proof, in the book STILLNESS IS THE KEY (which I’m reading for the second time) Ryan Holiday offers a perspective on the subject:

Tolstoy expressed his exasperation at people who didn’t read deeply and regularly. “I cannot understand,” he said, “how some people can live without communicating with the wisest people who ever lived on the earth.” There is another line, now cliché, that is even more cutting. People who don’t read have no advantage over those who cannot read.


I hated to read until two things happened; I started wearing glasses and had an inspirational grade eight teacher. I’m not a particularly fast reader, I like to savour every word, and over the years, I’ve collected my fair share of books — sometimes I would have two or three books on the go so ownership became less costly than borrowing from the local library. As I read and collected there was a point where I got it in my head it was nicer to have my books stacked then on a shelf; be it stacked on my night table or stacked on the floor. It was my very own literary art. Most of the books I’ve read (if only just in part), and for those I haven’t started yet, the book is on the go — I ‘m just on page one.

I can’t say my eclectic stacks of books make me a good leader, but rather, something I am working on.

iamgpe

PS — As for this stack of books I can only say I’m not sure why I got it in my head to take a course on Statistical Techniques; The SILK ROADS: A NEW HISTORY OF THE WORLD offers a fresh perspective on how we got to where we are; although 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is still on the go, I definitely need to check to see if there is any insights into dealing with pandemics. And it goes without saying that Dilbert is simply a must.