#1189 Short and Sweet

Short and Sweet

Today has nothing to do with business or selling. Last week, I sent a text to my friend Jimmy. It was the anniversary of the death of my father-in-law, Charlie.

Charlie was just 78 when he died.  When I was 35, 78 was very far away.  Now at 67, it’s just over the horizon. 

I don’t dwell on death or worry about how much time I have left, but it seemed appropriate to look at the timeline when remembering my father-in-law.  The text I sent to Jimmy, who is my age, was this:  “JC, this might be morbid, or you may receive it with the inspiration I intend. Today would have been my father-in-law’s 95th birthday, but he died when he was just 78. That means that when he was our age, he had no idea that he had only ten years left. This reminds me to double down on being present with my family and friends and the things that matter most.

I know you’re there with me appreciating your family, your freedom, and your friends, but a reminder is nice too.”

Keep this in mind, whether you’re in your twenties or, like Jimmy and me, your sixties. Pay attention to the things that matter most to you. Schedule yourself to be with the people who matter to you.  At the top of my planning page, it says, TIME AFFLUENCE. ANTICIPATE AND PROTECT.

That’s my way of reminding myself not to over-commit in the future, knowing that I will want to appreciate the present.

Own Your Sales Gene…