The Eulogy. If my life were described honestly, what would I want it to stand for?

Around 15 years ago, I read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

One part of the book stopped me in my tracks.

Covey invites us to imagine that one day we will die, and someone will stand up and speak about us in a eulogy. He then asks a confronting question: What would you want people to say about you when you’re gone?

Last week, I was asked if I could help shape a eulogy for a parent who had passed away. I said yes, and I approached it in exactly the same way I craft a keynote.

The first question I asked was:
What do you want people to leave with?

Whenever you speak into a microphone, the most important thing to consider is what the people listening will leave with.

And it reminds me how similar this is to life. Everything we do and how we treat people are expressions of who we are.

When we die, what do we want people to say about us? How do we want to be remembered?
What do we want to have left behind in the hearts and minds of others?

I think that question is one of the most powerful tools we have for decision-making, alignment, and living with intention.

Because when you’re clear on the eulogy you’d want written, it becomes much easier to choose how to live today.