In memory of....thoughts on legacy
Thank you all so very much for the public and private reflections on the life and times of Matthew....
What struck me most was the number of people who remembered him for his smile, kindness, mentoring and any number of other similar interactions....it is clear that he has left a meaningful legacy which is a wonderful thing for anyone to have and which should inspire us to be better people which means it will continue to echo....
It started me thinking about the nature of legacy. All that striving for position, recognition and reward is essentially personal and has very little impact beyond the span of our working life. So also with the endless politics in service of this personal agenda. No, what makes a difference is the way we impact on the people we work with....this is why Matthew is remembered so fondly by so many, he always had time and made effort with people....
How is your legacy looking today? I thought a lot about mine and overall I am reasonably happy with it. I could have done better and I will try to do better today and tomorrow.
My call to arms....do one thing every day for somebody else....not for a politically expedient purpose and without expecting any pay-back and see how it makes you and the other feel....
A purely personal (and self serving) footnote, there is no necessary correlation between doing something for someone and being nice. Right-minded tough love is a perfectly acceptable option even if the person in question might not see it at the time. Some of the best lessons I was given, I resented for many years but now realise how important they were. Don't avoid being honest because it's not nice.....
Director - Business Strategy, Public Advice and Guidance, Office of Chief Tax Counsel
5 年A lovely perspective. I continue to be surprised (and not surprised) at how many people Matthew touched. Only yesterday I met another person who had worked with Matthew and felt his loss strongly. He leaves behind a beautiful legacy that we can hope to follow. I will always remember the way he made me felt - like the only the person in the room. To paraphrase; it is not what we say or do that is remembered, it is the way we make someone feel, and Matthew certainly made people feel special.
Accounting policy / advice | Major transactions | Data, controls and governance | Financial and regulatory reporting
5 年Having been on a long term overseas secondment in 2015, I was devastated to hear this sad news for the first time in your recent article. I worked closely with Matthew on a significant project some years ago, and was struck by his approachability and cheerfulness on top of his incisive knowledge. Thanks for sharing these important messages.
Be kind, considerate, passionate and true to yourself and those around you. This is how I try to live each day. It takes very little effort to be kind.