Choose the end.

What business decisions and behaviours would you choose from the perspective of the last day of your life?

I do not want to push anyone in sadness or nostalgia. I ask this question to give us another perspective of looking at the world, thanks to which we will get more distance to everyday life. 

For many years, which I have spent in corporations, being too serious, constant tensions and endless fight for the result tired me the most.
And what if we can do it differently?

Honest look at our own life from the perspective of the last day is a bold experience. What do we want to leave behind, what memories we will cultivate, who really had meaning for us, how do we want to be remembered? 

Personal life is probably the most important aspect of this considerations, but professional work is such an important part of our lives that it is difficult to ignore it while reflecting about the essence of your own life and fulfilment.

Febby Intan in my first interview also refers to this. This surprised me because we did not talk about it earlier. It gave me courage to write this article. Febby said: “As you will not be an important CEO, neither any other important in the company, will people care about you? Will you still matter for them?”

This perspective for the empathic leader is of a great importance. We can quickly diagnose ourselves. Have we lost our empathy and kindness to people, have we dehumanised our professional relationship? Do we only see the destination or can we also see the journey itself?  

If we are only interested in our own legacy in the form of a completed project, financial results, fulfilment of commitments to shareholders (the latter is a frequent excuse to escape in despotism and arrogance), it’s time to wake up.

The parameters of happiness are more, I know this, but the quality of relationship between humans are the foundation of cheerful and fulfilled life.

So do your own test, what do you want to happen in your thoughts and memories on the last day of your life. Have fun and select the answer.
Here is my personal list of 10 Power Statements. Of course, in the context of working life. For private purposes, you can also do such a quiz.

What do you choose:
a. Thanks to work, I met great people.
b. Thanks to the work, I finished with a financial success many projects.
 
a. I was close to people whenever they need me.
b. I was president, director, I had high positions.
 
a. I gave people certainty that everything will be fine, even in the most difficult moments.
b. I was afraid, most of the crises burned me out.
 
a. Every day I greeted people with a smile, cheerful word, even in the most difficult days.
b. I quickly passed by the office, I did not want anyone to see me, unfortunately I had bad mood quite often.
 
a. I was not afraid to show my weakness that I do not know something.
b. I was afraid, I did not know what to tell people in difficult times.
 
a. My employees, colleagues were like a family for me.
b. People were needed to deliver what was expected from me / us.
 
a. I did not have technical knowledge, but I could involve people and create a great team.
b. I knew everything, no one could undermine my technical knowledge.
 
a. After retirement many of my coworkers have been visiting me or calling me.
b. After retirement I did not have any contact with anyone from work, I was not interested in what happened to them, I guess they did not care too about me.
 
a. We have created beautiful projects, thanks to our work our world, our planet is better.
b. I doubled shares, I fulfilled the expectations.
 
a. I left behind great successors, I am glad that I could develop so many wonderful young people.
b. Young people were not good enough, everything I know goes away with me.
 

And do you have a lot of “a”? I wish you this cordially. Life quickly passes and is a great adventure. Never forget this perspective. Live mindfully, turn on the smile and empathy. We can all do it, only sometimes we forget!

Good luck. With Love,

Joanna

Portal to inspire and share knowledge to create wellbeing at work with empathetic, self-aware leaders, who can sucessfully cope with our changing world. 
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