“Don’t worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people.”– Clayton Christensen
“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” — John Wooden
“What is important is not the length of life, but the depth of life.” — Leo Tolstoy
If you want to live a life that you would be proud of in a hundred years, don’t let anyone else define your goals. You have to own your path, and the journey has to ring true deep down in your heart. Don’t just sit on the sidelines as an observer. Fully participate in your life through all its messiness and randomness.
I firmly believe you’ll have fewer regrets if you live with integrity. C.S. Lewis described it as:
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
To expand on it, I think it means being honest and authentic with yourself and others, letting your actions speak louder than your words, and not living for external validation.
As Blaise Pascal wrote:
“If you care too much about being praised, in the end you will not accomplish anything serious.”
Technology will continue to evolve, but human behavior will remain consistent. We will seek power, status, and prestige. It’s a trap anyone can fall into at any time.
To avoid that trap, you have to keep your ego in check. Take a look around you. Are you putting your time and love into the relationships and pursuits that truly matter? I’ve admired what Clayton Christensen said, which was to focus on helping others become better people. I think that’s a great way to help leave the world a better place.