"Death Be Not Proud": Make an Impact Every Day
John Burns
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This post is part of a series in which Influencers describe the books that changed them. Follow the channel to see the full list.
Nonfiction books, particularly business books backed by facts, have had a huge impact on my business life. Jim Collins’s books are the best, and Bob Shiller, Howard Marks, Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, and Ram Charan have also been greatly influential on me. Last year, we gave Jim Collins’s "Great by Choice" to about 200 clients, and this year we are giving out Howard Marks’s "The Most Important Thing Illuminated."
But of all the authors whose books influence me the most, there's a completely different — and perhaps surprising — book that has had the most impact on me.
Passing Along the Knowledge
When reading, I take notes and then share them with the appropriate coworkers. Last summer, I had an intern consolidate and organize the notes into a 100+ page document that I still don’t know what I am going to do with. The intern got an MBA education in one summer. Most of these books were written by seasoned veterans who learned from their mistakes. I use what I like and don’t like about each of them to shape my thinking regarding running and growing a business and advising my clients.
However, the book that has had the most profound impact on me is one I read as a young teenager. I think about it more than any other book. It probably was the first book I read that made me think about why I was put here on earth. It also taught me the importance of:
- having a positive attitude,
- persevering in any circumstance, and
- focusing on family.
The fact that it’s the first book I read that was a true story with a horrendous ending is probably why it has had the biggest impact on me. "Death Be Not Proud" by John Gunther is the story of his teenage son’s unsuccessful battle with cancer. I thought the book was obscure until I read many of the 152 reviews on Amazon.
I really admire Gunther, who lived every day as if it were his last. I likewise want to make a positive impact every day.
My favorite quote actually comes from my son who, at the age of 5, summed it up perfectly: “If you do your best, you are the best.” I love that. I try to do my best—and always with a positive attitude, as if it will be my last day.
Photo: kerolic/Flickr
Trend & Culture spotter, forecaster, and brand strategist for building strong brands, Canvas8 contributor & Time Out Writer.
11 年Good article.
I did not the read (I will try to search, at last the review) however I share your perspective on doing the best as if it were our last day. In most of my motivational sessions in organizations have worked for, I observe this is the most powerful reminder to motivate people to change. I even invite people to count their remaining time based on life expectancy statistics just to remind us how little time we have to live our life fullest with positive energy and save our best to do good things. And as an HR leader in the organization I spend a lot of time to talk to people and inspire them about bigger thing than a job or a position we are holding......this serves as a constant reminder for myself too. Life is good, I love my job!
RN, Health & Nutrition Specialist, Early Education & Care, Inc.
11 年I too read "Death Be Not Proud" when I was in school. It was profoundly moving and sad. The death of a child.....a life unfinished is saddest for those who have to endure life without that child. I will have to read it again. My favorite book happens to be a children's book, "I Love You Forever", by Robert Munsch. My three sons are 39, 24, & 19. and every time I read it, and the end nears (I have read it many times after buying it for my middle son when he was a toddler), and the son carries his aged mother tenderly in his arms, it always makes me cry. “I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be.” His words describe exactly how I feel about about my sons. If you haven't read it, you should.
Customer Care Specialist Extrodinaire
11 年Mine was Brian's Song - never give up even after your last breath. Another I read as a child, but prefer the spoken word recording by Sir Richard Harris - Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Just as relevant to the youth of today as it was when it came out.
Educator, Consultant, Researcher
11 年I was only about 6 or so when I swiped this book from my big brother's library, and read it - it made a huge impression that I remember to this day. Although there have been major advances in brain tumors and malignancies since Johny died at age 17, the struggle to find meaning remains the same. Life is precious. Whether we live to 17 or 90, our time is too short. Give your loved ones another squeeze today.