I had a couple of things happen to me this past week. First, I traveled to the Cayman Islands for an HR conference and some vacation.
I’m in love with the Cayman Islands. Great people, the most beautiful water you’ll ever see and mind changing sunsets. I swam with Stingrays and Sea Turtles. I saved my wife’s life from dragged out to sea. I broke bread, several times, with friends, old and new. I was a pretty damn good trip!
I did Disrupt HR Cayman (My presentation starts at 18:18 on the video link) and talked about how Failure is the New Black, but shouldn’t be. Believing failure is okay is the worst snake oil being sold by leadership gurus today. Don’t believe the hype!
The sunset thing got me thinking. The other thing that happened is I had a friend unexpectedly pass away this past week as well.
So, I’m watching these great sunsets and thinking about my friend and understanding a little about you can’t take all of these sunsets for granted. But we do.
We take for granted that we will definitely see another sunset. So, what does this all mean?
I could tell you the same crap you hear from everyone that talks about this: make sure you tell people you love them, do what you wish now, etc., etc., etc. But I won’t, because you won’t listen. Instead, do this:
- Drink expensive alcohol. You’ll drink less of it, and enjoy it more.
- Wear really good shoes. They’ll feel better, look better and last longer.
- Eat food that you like. I’m not a foodie. Sometimes people eat crap trying to impress others, but it quite honestly tastes awful. You’re not impressing anyone. Shake Shack tastes great. I’m that kind of foodie – burger and fries foodie.
- Hang with people who want to hang with you. We spend way too much time in life hanging with assholes.
- Go to the other side of the Island. There’s beauty everywhere, and yet we tend to go where we know. Some of the greatest moments in my life happen when I go to where I know nothing.
How’s that for life-changing advice that you didn’t ask for?
Now get back to work and make some money!