Three Questions
I’d like to tell you who the speaker was in the video, but nowhere in the module for this week was his name listed. But I do know he was from the Acton School of Business, and he worked in the oil and gas industry. I also know that his speech was awfully familiar – as if I had read part of it somewhere since school began this semester. That leads me to think his name is Jeff Sandefer because I have scoured precious modules looking for his speech, but if it isn’t I would love to be corrected.
He teaches at Acton School and in his presentation asked three questions that will guide me as an entrepreneur:
Have I contributed something meaningful?
Was I a good person?
And who did I love, and who loved me?
The wonderful thing about hearing these questions asked by someone with business and teaching experience is that, in his own words he says: “I’ve been where you want to go.” Here is a man who has been there, done that, and is willing and ready to share his experiences – the ones that brought him the most success and the ones that brought the most heartache or steep learning curve.
Right there, he can easily answer yes to was he a good person. At least in part. Being willing to share what you know and help others along the way – the reaching down from your own ladder to success to help another person climb – is a gift that should be freely given. It also answers the first question. By helping others, he is contributing. If he were to teach my generation or the rising generation, his wisdom would live on for a very long time. And that is a big contribution. As to the third question, for him, I can’t say. I imagine he has loved and has been loved by many people, but that is something only he will be able to accurately measure as he reflects on his life.
These three questions give me pause as I look at my life. I have loved and have been loved, I am not sure what I have contributed, and I feel comfortable saying I am a good person.
He said: “I wondered, ‘do I really have what it takes to succeed?’ and even deeper I worried that if I was successful, that I might lose my soul in the process.” I am just like him. I have wondered time and again if I have what it takes to succeed. Not always in business, but anything I put my hand to. I’m a skilled artist, a decent gardener, and competent in so many other facets of my life from photography to yoga. But is my life a success because I can do these things? I think they add to my happiness, but my happiness isn’t dependant on them. No, I think the happiness comes from what I can share, who I share it with, and the relationships that I foster along the way.
I’m grateful for the reminder to focus on relationships and giving this week. I don’t want to ‘lose my soul’ in the process of trying to hard for the kind of success that can never satisfy and lose that which is most important to me along the way.