Will You Like the View from Your Deathbed?

You’re laying in your deathbed. As you think about family and friends, those you’ve loved and lost, another thought creeps up – it’s about your career and the leadership your portrayed. As you think about this, you are:

A. Happy and content
B. Sad and full of regret

Well, which is it? What will you think of yourself and the leadership you portrayed, as you lay on your deathbed? You will be proud of how you helped others build themselves and their organizations? Or, will you regret the people you trampled on your climb to individual fame and fortune? If the latter, will it be worth it?

Here is a sobering thought for you: 99% of people reading this will be virtually forgotten for their individual achievements, 5 years after they are gone. What you are more likely to be remembered for is how you mentored others, how you served organizations and how you helped others become more than they would have been without you.

The best test, and the most difficult to administer, is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? – Robert K. Greenleaf

Make Yourself Happy on Your Deathbed

What will make you happiest on your deathbed? Will it be:

• That your name was once on a magazine cover?
• That you achieved a series of impressive sounding titles?
• That you made more money than your competition?

Or, will you be happier:

• That you helped mentor others to become better themselves?
• That you built an organization focused on serving a community?
• That you supported sustainable solutions that will provide income and resources for the future?

There will be a few individuals who, sadly, prefer the former group. While I feel sorry for them, this site and post is not for narcissistic and toxic leaders. That form of leadership is too easy to practice and achieve short-term results through. For the rest of us – those that want to be remembered for serving others – find the greatest happiness through servant leadership.

It’s Not Too Late – Go Serve!

Even if you chose “B” above and believe you would sad and full of regret, there is good news. If you are reading this, it’s not too late. Change your leadership practices and focus on servant leadership principles. Find someone to mentor, shift your focus to serve others first and serve all your stakeholders. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the Servant Leadership Manifesto and follow the call to action at the end.

Question: No need to answer this one publicly, but what will you think of your leadership as you reflect from your deathbed?