“The Obituary”

By Lance Peeples

Recently, I read The Heart of a Leader by Dr. Ken Blanchard. In this book, Blanchard tells the story of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. When Nobel’s brother died, the newspaper mistakenly wrote Alfred’s obituary. Nobel was horrified by what he read. He wanted to be remembered as a man of peace, not as the inventor of an instrument of war. And so Nobel began to live his life in a way such as to reflect his peaceful nature. Today, Nobel is better known as the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize than as the father of dynamite. If you died today, how would your obituary read?

Would it say you were a loving father and husband who took care of his aging parents? Would they write that you worked a second job so your kids could go to college or so you could buy a boat the kids never got to ride. Would they write that you were a man of character — the first to stand to face trouble or will your obituary tell a tale of cowardice? Will you be remembered as a “standup” guy, a leader, a guy who “took care of it” or will you be remembered as a guy that hid in the shadows and let others do the heavy lifting.

Fortunately, you have an opportunity to “rewrite” your obituary. Below I have listed ten suggestions so when that inevitable day comes you will be remembered around the firehouse kitchen as a “standup guy.”

1. Live everyday as though it might be your last. (No really … this might be your last day on this earth.)
2. Love and cherish your family. This includes your firehouse family.
3. This is not a drill. This is the only life you will be given on this earth. Make it count.
4. Live your life according to the “front page” tes t… i.e., if my actions showed up on the front page tomorrow morning, would my mother be ashamed of me?
5. Teach those who know less than you and learn from those who know more!
6. "Cowards die a thousand deaths…the valiant only once." (Shakespeare)
7. ALWAYS tell the truth.
8. Be a leader.
9. "Never, never, never give up!" (Churchill)
10. Put others before self.

It’s not too late to start rewriting your obituary. I suggest you start now. Live everyday as though it might be your last.

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