I thought long and hard before including this one in the book. It’s a tad morbid. But as I shared it with people in my executive coaching sessions, I increasingly found this poster created a mind shift in those with whom I shared it.

I believe when we look around and we understand that if no one is going to get out of this life alive, it can change our priorities. It can change our perspectives. It can change what we believe are big things from what we believe are little things.

My dad would often tell stories about his work life. And according to my dad in his work life, he was always going up against his boss – saying what he thought to his boss – telling his boss off.

There was an incident that happened late in my dad’s life when we were at the care center in which he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. His boss came up the elevator (also an elderly man) and they passed each other and said, “Well, hi!” “Hi” as they passed each other in the hall.

And my brother who was with me at the time turned to me and said, “This is where it all ends up?” And we both said, “Yup! This is where it all ends up.” Looking down the road to where it all ends up is perspective to what’s currently going on. No one gets out of here alive and for the people that keep that in mind, I believe it makes a difference in the way they live.

Categories: Goal Orientation

Tags: goal orientation