This week I went to New York to support my friend, the force of nature that is Rosie Von Lila (for more, see VonLila.com). Her guest at the event was New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake, an inspiring individual indeed.
Paolo Coelho’s latest email to his subscribers had me recall something Mike Blake said to an amazing 18-year-old activist as advice. The whole exchange between them gave me goosebumps. The early 30s statesman and the young woman about to graduate high school the very next day and already focused on a career in public service.
One piece of advice he gave was to always consider in the choices we make :
“Are you resumé building or legacy building?”
So, to the Coelho post, a short tale, entitle “Be careful with your work” :
As a boy, Abin-Alsar overheard a conversation between his father and a dervish.
“Careful with your work”, said the dervish. “Think of what future generations will say about you.”
“So what?”, replied his father, “When I die, everything shall end, and it will not matter what they say.”
Abin-Alsar never forgot that conversation.
During his whole life, he made an effort to do good, to help people and go about his work with enthusiasm.
He became well-known for his concern for others.
When he died, he left behind a great number of things which improved the quality of life in his town.
On his tombstone, he had the following epitaph engraved:
“A life which ends with death is a worthless life.”
Oh, and I referred to Mike Blake as a Statesman and not a Politician. Why ? A favourite quote of mine is:
“A politician thinks of the next election; a statement of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift.”
~ James Freeman Clarke
Mike is a Statesman, not a Politician. May it ever be thus as he continues to dedicate himself to change within a system which often turns the best-intentioned intentioned into politicians!
I loved Mike’s advice for all of us. Yes, and particularly for young people, we need to build our resumé, be educated, get experience. At the same time, what is the difference we are going to make in the world?
To close…
A leader is someone others choose to follow.
If you wish to lead, be purposeful, be passionate, make a difference. People will follow to be part of that.