We accumulate a lot of things during our lives. We collect, save, hoard, cherish, love, and even loathe some of these things. There’s a good reason companies call us “consumers.” We consume a LOT—and then, all of a sudden, one day…BOOM… just like that, we’re gone—and none of it goes with us. Death is undefeated, and our clocks are all tickin’. Just because we don’t see the seconds hand spinning doesn’t mean our time isn’t dwindling.
Last week, I drove to Cleveland for a funeral. My business partner of 15 years passed away. He was one of my few. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but if I had, I would have thanked him for the difference he made and for all the tangible and intangible things he left behind that changed my life.
We have no control over when our time is up or the fact that we can’t take anything with us, so doesn’t it make sense to be more intentional now, while we still have time, and decide what we want to leave behind? What would your spouse, kids, friends, or family say you left behind if your clock just stopped today?
If you’re normal, you probably don’t want to think about it, but if you’re becoming Built to Lead, you should, because what you choose to do and who you aim to be will define what you leave behind and become your legacy.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Build your core now, author an OPUS with urgency, and be a little bit more like Van Gogh— and leave something really cool behind that others will know.
Thanks “Day 39” for the reminder…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Brother Chad – – –
I FEEL your loss. I FEEL the loss of your friend – and the loss his family feels. I appreciate so much you sharing this with the Band – and now with the world.
There are no guarantees. We are all hanging by a thread, as it were.
It is a gift from God that we all aren’t running around freaked the *^$# out by this fact.
Losing someone we love is one of the hardest things we will all have to deal with at some point or another (see day 6)…but can you imagine a world where we didn’t feel pain and sadness over losing a loved one? Hell, nah – I can’t. If we will really love – really love – the loss of someone does leave a ‘hole’ – but a ‘hole’ that can become ‘whole’ when we know the ‘end is written’ and that we loved them with all of our hearts and that we lived – BE WITH – with them.
One of the main reasons I am a part of this ‘sacred band’ is that two of my builders lost people unexpectedly…a spouse and a child – and to know them now…it is AS IF – they took this and didn’t just survive BUT thrived. I looked at them and said, “Damnit. I MUST find strength and courage like that…”
Done so.
I love you, brother. You have made the band – better and stronger.
Thank you for building into me…I will see you in a few for a “gym practice”.
Your brother, friend and fellow-builder – in this life and the next,
Jim
1COR13:13