Price Pritchett, Ph.D



Reflecting On Our Impact

Have you changed anything in your life because of 9/11?

Immediately after those tragic events, most of us took the time to reflect more deeply about our lives. Many considered the meaning of life by attending religious services and/or focusing on the spiritual aspects of our lives. Some made a greater effort to connect with others.

Each day we make choices -- consciously or not -- to engage our lives. Are you happy with what you see? Are you a participant in your life or merely an observer? Are you clear about what really matters and the impact -- or lack of impact -- your life is having?

Every day our actions expose what really matters to us. Many individuals claim to espouse lofty and honorable values while their conduct portrays unethical, self-centered, selfish behavior.

Whether we like it or not, everything we do creates an impact. The influence of your decisions and actions falls into three categories: you leave a Positive, Negative, or Neutral impact on others and your environment.

Which one most applies to you?!

My travels have taken me across the globe to meet unique people from Cape Town to Mexico City to Sydney. The one individual who personified Positive Impact was a person I discovered in the Calgary Airport.

Business travelers are always in need of a shoeshine. Airport shoeshiners can be overzealous folks with a Sunbeam Mixmaster in hand but my man in Calgary was different. He always took the time to be pleasant and greet me with a smile. He could work quietly and let me read the paper or he could respond to any question I might have. Our conversations were relaxed and comfortable.

His pride of workmanship was unparalleled. He treated my shoes as if they were his last pair. I was so taken by his passion and quality of work, I would add unnecessary connecting flights into Calgary -- just to get my shoes shined.

It had been a few months since I had stopped in Calgary and I was anticipating the best shoeshine in North America. After picking up my luggage, I headed for his familiar stand.

I surmised that due to construction in the airport, they had temporarily moved him. When I asked the Information lady where I could find my guy Pat, she looked away. Haltingly, she said Pat was no longer there.

What? My shoeshine guy had quit? Now what was I going to do?

"Where did he go?"

"Sir, I don't think you understand; he's gone."

"What do you mean he's gone?"

"Sir, Pat was diagnosed with a brain tumor just over a month ago; he died last week."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "You're kidding, right?" I did not want to accept this news.

Pat, a shoeshine guy, had had a deeper, more positive and profound effect on the people he met than many corporate executives or individuals of presumed stature and authority that I have met.

Pat's magic went far beyond the shoeshine stand experience. He reached out to our hearts. In brief but vital moments, Pat always found a way to leave people feeling better about themselves and our fellow man.

Impact is not measured in time but in each single moment we live and breathe. My shoeshine guy confirmed that.

Pat was a giver -- and he was accepting and respectful toward others.

Is that true for you? What do others people say about you? What kind of impact will you leave? If you knew this was your last week on this earth, would you be, act, or conduct yourself in a different way?

What September 11th and Pat proved is that you never know when your opportunity to produce impact will end. Truth is, each of us -- during each second of every day -- has a choice to leave a Positive, Negative, or Neutral impact.

Action Steps

1. What kind of impact are you leaving -- Positive, Negative, or Neutral?

2. Are your satisfied with your answer? If not, what do you need to change?

3. Confirm your assumptions with colleagues by asking them question #1.

4. Make a choice to leave a Positive impact (legacy). After all, that is all you can leave this world when you are gone.

Until next time keep Living on Purpose,

Ken Keis