Am I Living a Life of Impact?

July 2017, I found my dad at Mercy Hospital in a room where no one had been with him for 72 hours. Hugging him tightly, I asked why no one had called the family. The nurse told me they tried to reach someone, but Dad couldn’t remember my first name and told them I was the President of Mercy Hospital. Smiling, I always loved how much my dad believed in me but not sure anyone else found the same humor in that statement.?

Within a few days, I learned that Dad had stage four metastatic cancer that had spread to his brain.?Knowing he had very little time to live, I spent the next few months asking every question I would ever want to know. I wondered if Dad was happy with his life when he looked back on his 65 years.?

I reflected on something his pappy always said, "There are two things you carry with you in life - your name and your reputation." I?wondered had Dad built the reputation by what he wanted to be remembered??More importantly, had I??

Did I even know what I wanted my reputation to be??

I spent the next few days reflecting what was important to me. I thought a lot about impact. Who am I impacting? Is it enough??

Leading as an executive for the company, I thought about the goals and objectives we set every year. We align those to our company mission statement. Knowing I successfully achieved goals in my area of business that supported our mission statement, I decided to use that same approach in my personal life. I started by creating my own personal mission statement — a statement that would help me prioritize and be consistent in building a reputation that was important to me.?

I became so passionate about my personal mission statement that I started speaking to groups about how to live a life of intention. How to build the reputation you want.?

I will create an eternal impact in leadership by serving people, loving others and being of good witness which integrating my faith, family, work and community.

That's my life's mission.?

Maybe you're looking for your North Star. Here are the simple tips on how I built my statement:

1. Write down three words that describe your gifts or talents. What three words would your family or loved ones say about you? (ex: leadership, serving, loving and being of good witness)
2. List who you want to impact. (ex: family, work and community)
3. Write how you will you do it. (ex: integrating, my faith, thinking eternal)

Complete this exercise in 5-10 minutes. Now start your mission statement with a declarative statement: "I will" or “I want.” Finish your statement by using all three areas you wrote down. Transfer your statement to a note card. Carry it with you so that you continually reflect on it. It took me a few days imprint in my mind.

Now that my mission is established, I set my personal goals each year. Those goals support my mission. That's my checklist of items I can complete throughout the year that allows me to stay focused on my intention.?

A reputation takes several years to build.? How will I determine if I'm successful??

One day, those closest to me will do what I had to do for my father — they will write my obituary, recall memories or even speak at my funeral. It will be the words they use and emotions they feel that will determine my impact.?

That's what motivates me for the next 5, 20 … 45 years to live my life more intentional, more purposeful, and with even more impact than I did the first half of my life.

It is what motivates me, every single day, to be more excited about my future than my past.

To me, that is success.