Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Part 13

Looking over at Julian, I saw that he was beaming, his face full of joy and excitement. A radiant smile appeared on his youthful face and his hands were clasped together in the traditional way that the citizens of India greeted those they respected.

"Savor what you are seeing, Peter. The world won't see anything like this for another thousand years. The sages, in their infinite wisdom, had known this astronomical event would take place on this very night at this very time. I'm sure they must be experiencing it now, high up in their part of the world, just as we are witnessing it now in ours. I hope they're as moved by it as I am. I sure do miss them."

"What's this all about?" I asked, quickly looking back up at the sky before I lost another second.

"This, my friend, is nature's way of bringing in the dawn of a new era, a new age of leadership and life. There has been so much turmoil and turbulence in the world that many good people are giving up hope. They are losing faith in their power to make a difference. They are giving in to the demands of uncertainty and negativity, rather than transcending them and moving on to higher places of achievement, contribution and success. Many people in our society are even giving up on the gift of living. The natural phenomenon we're witnessing will act as a torchlight to remind leaders of their obligation to be visionaries. It will serve as their wake-up call to be the forces of good they are meant to be, illuminating their organizations just as the North Star has illuminated the sky on this very special night. Be a light, Peter. Be the one people look up to for guidance and direction. Let the ideal you aspire to burn brightly within you, blazing a path for all to see. This is your ultimate purpose in leadership - and in life."

Just as Julian had delivered this profound piece of wisdom, the night returned to its normal condition. We sat on the gra.s.s, Julian's robe growing creased and wrinkled. Then he continued, "One of the most timeless of all of the leadership laws is this one: The Purpose of Life Is a Life of Purpose."

"Powerful statement."

"The greatest irony of leadership is that the more you give, the more you get. And when all is said and done, the highest and most enduring gift that you will ever be able to give is the gift of what you leave behind. Your legacy to the generations that follow will be how much value you have added to your organization and how many lives you have improved. As the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer observed, There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.' Or perhaps even more to the point, let me use the words one father offered to his son while he lay on his deathbed, 'Be ashamed to die until you have scored a victory for mankind.'"

"So you're saying that visionary leaders, in practicing Ritual 8, link what they do with who they will serve."

"Nicely put, Peter. And in constantly focusing on leaving a rich footprint of service and contribution behind them when they depart, such leaders link leadership to legacy. In doing so, they fulfill their calling. They fulfill their duty to liberate the fullness of their personal gifts for a worthy cause. All the great leaders who have gone before us have aspired to reach this pinnacle, whether they were leaders in business, the sciences or even the arts. Just before his death, George Bernard Shaw was asked what he would do if he could live his life again. Though he had already achieved more in his lifetime than most of us could only dream of, he replied humbly, 'I would want to be the person I could have been but was not.'"

"Wise words," I replied.

"They are. They make me think of a short story penned by Leo Tolstoy called 'The Death of Ivan Ilych.' Ever read it?"

"No, Julian. To be honest I've never read any of Tolstoy's works. I guess I've never got around to it."

"There's such wisdom in the great books of literature and yet most people seem to be too busy to discover it. And so they continue to make mistakes both in their leadership and in their lives, mistakes that could so easily have been prevented had they taken a few hours out of their weeks to read deeply. In this particular story, Tolstoy wrote about Ivan Ilych, a vain, highly materialistic social climber who was more concerned about appearing successful than doing right. As a young man, he married, not because he loved and cherished his wife, but because high society approved of the match. He then had a number of kids, not because he wanted to have children but because that was what was expected of him. Rather than spending time with his family and building a rich home life, he devoted almost all his time to his work, becoming obsessed with his public persona as a top-level government lawyer.

"Soon, in an effort to keep up appearances, he began to live beyond his means, and eventually faced enormous financial hardship. This led to deep unhappiness and despair. As luck would have it, just when things were at their worst, he was offered a more prestigious and much higher-paying position as a judge. With his newfound good fortune, he bought the house of his dreams. He felt very proud of it and began to devote much of his time to furnishing the home with expensive antiques and fashionable furniture. The house had to be perfect, so all those around him would be suitably impressed.

"One day, when he was climbing a stepladder to show an upholsterer how he wanted a set of draperies hung, he fell and hurt his side. After the fall, he felt different and grew ill-tempered, often lashing out at his wife for the smallest transgression. A visit to a doctor revealed that he was seriously ill and various treatments were prescribed. But Ivan Ilych's condition only worsened. Within months, the once vital and jovial man appeared to be dying, his eyes lacking any expression of life and his body growing terribly weak. In his quiet agony, Ivan Ilych began to reflect on his life. First he thought about his childhood, then about his days as a striving adult and finally he contemplated the sad state he found himself in. Suddenly a question flooded his consciousness. A question that penetrated the deepest core of his being."

"What was it?"

"He asked himself this: 'What if my whole life has really been wrong?' You see, Peter, for the first time in his life, he realized that all his jockeying for social position, all the energy he spent trying to look good and to be seen with the right people at the right events, was really not important. This dying man realized that life is a gift. And his could have been so much more than he had made of it. He could have contributed immensely and served greatly. He could have risked, dared and dreamed. He could have been the person he should have been. Instead, he squandered his days on frivolous matters of little consequence, matters that did nothing to improve the world around him. With that realization, his physical pain grew even worse and his mental torment became unbearable. He began to scream, and continued to do so for three full days.

"Then just two hours before his death," continued Julian, "he said to himself, 'Yes, it was all not the right thing.' He then grew silent and wondered, 'But what is the right thing?' Just then his young son, a schoolboy who had been deeply saddened by his father's illness, crept softly into the room and stood beside his bed. His father put a frail hand on the boy's head as the child began to cry. At that moment, a timeless truth was revealed to Ivan Ilych, one that most people never discover. He realized that though he had not lived his life as he should have lived, it was still not too late to rectify his failure. He realized that his duty was to serve all those around him and to enrich their lives in any way possible. He understood that the purpose of life was to make a difference through one's presence. If even one life was left a little better, it would have been worth living. So as his final act, he requested that his son leave the room so he would not have to endure any more of his father's suffering. He then closed his eyes and died."

I was deeply moved by this story. The power of the message Julian had just shared was not lost on me. I looked up at the sky, breathing in the fresh air and staring at nature's abundance. I reflected on all the time that had pa.s.sed in my life and on all the things I had missed. I thought about the many men and women who counted on me and considered the duty I owed to them. I thought about the enormous potential of our company and regretted all the opportunities we had neglected. My thoughts then turned to my family. A lump came to my throat when I considered all of those special times I had missed with my two young sons. Little-league baseball games, Christmas concerts, sun-filled afternoons laughing in the park were all missed because I had not had the courage to spend my life well. I thought of my youngest son whose only request of me was to play and laugh a little more with him. I thought about his elder brother whom I had not spent even one quiet evening with in many months. I thought about Samantha and all the romantic getaways that I had promised we would go on, but never did. I really had missed out on living the life I was meant to live.

But, as Ivan Ilych came to appreciate, it was never too late to do what is right and live life fully. That moment I vowed to change the very person I was. I would become the kind of leader my heart told me I was capable of being. I promised myself I would be the kind of husband and father I knew I had the capacity to become. And I would live with the kind of soaring intensity I knew I deserved. At that moment, I looked over at Julian. Tears filled his eyes as well.

"I think you now understand what I've been saying, my friend. To be the kind of person that you are destined to be and to leave something special behind for all those who follow you is what life's all about. It is the essence of leaving a legacy. As Yogi Raman put it, 'What makes greatness is beginning something that does not end with you.' "

"You know, Julian," I said as I wiped my eyes, "my dad used to say that 'the first fifty years of life are spent building one's legitimacy while the last fifty are to be devoted to building one's legacy' I never quite understood what he meant until now."

"The sages had a saying that captures the essence of the point that your father in all his wisdom was trying to make." "What was it?"

"They used to tell me that 'when you were born, the world rejoiced while you cried. Your mission must be to live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice.' Only then will your life have made the difference it was intended to make."

"Just so I am perfectly clear, Julian, will my legacy then be the goals that I will have achieved over my life as a leader?"

"Your legacy must be so much more than that. Your legacy will ultimately be a manifestation of the deepest and the best that you had to give in life. It will be a reflection of the person you now are and the person you aim to be. Leaving a legacy is not about impressing your friends or reaching the top. It's not about looking good but about doing good. It's more about fulfilling your duty and actualizing your humanity. Legacy-Based Leadership is the most powerful type of leadership. Practicing it will allow you to do what few leaders in the world today can do."

"Which is?"

"To create a successful present while building a brilliant future. And if I may say so, Peter, every leader in every field of endeavor should aspire to no less."

Julian then walked me back to the entrance of the observatory. Under the steps was a little wooden box that had been covered by a clean white cloth. Julian reached down and picked the box up, carefully making sure that the precious contents were given their due respect.

"Here, this is for you. The time has finally come for me to leave and for you to explore the full magnificence of the 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders on your own. I could not have asked for a better student and a more receptive friend. From the day I first exposed you to the leadership wisdom of the sages at our golf club, to this evening here at the observatory, you have embraced what I have come to share with an open mind and an honest heart.

"And so, as a token of my thanks for allowing me to fulfill my promise to Yogi Raman and spread the lessons I learned throughout our part of the world, I humbly offer you this gift. It has great meaning to me and has been my constant companion since I left the Himalayas. I couldn't think of a better home for it than with you. All I ask is that you sincerely continue to apply the knowledge that I have delivered to you and spread The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders throughout your organization for all to discover. In this way, not only will you transform your leadership, you will bless the lives of all those around you."

And with those final words, Julian reached over and embraced me as only a dear friend could, then dashed off into the darkness, his richly embroidered robe trailing behind him. As I opened the box, I saw that the gift was beautifully wrapped in some type of homemade covering. I immediately removed it, eager to find the special present Julian had placed within.

As I looked deeper, I saw that the box held a shiny object. A smile came to my face as I recognized what it was. It was the small telescope that Julian had been clinging to the night of the basketball game. I could not believe that he would have parted with such a prized possession. I knew how much his stargazing had meant to him.

Picking it up, I noticed that an inscription had been engraved on the telescope in elegant lettering. It said simply: To my now wise friend, Peter, a man who I know will touch many lives. May your spark of leadership turn fear into power and darkness into light. With love, your fan, Julian.

Chapter 12 Knowledge Summary * Julian's Wisdom in a Nutsh.e.l.l.

The Ritual.

The Essence The Ritual of Contribution and Significance.

The Wisdom * The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

* Focus on leaving a footprint and making a difference * Leadership greatness comes by beginning something that does not end with you.

The Practices * Create a successful present while building a brilliant future * Legacy-Based Leadership.

Quotable Quote Your legacy will ultimately be a manifestation of the deepest and the best that you had to give in life. It will be a reflection of the person you now are and the person you aim to be. Leaving a legacy is not about impressing your friends or reaching the top. It's not about looking good but about doing good. It's about fulfilling your duty and actualizing your humanity.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

To the many thousands of people who read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, were inspired by its lessons and shared its wisdom with their families and friends. Thank you for helping me spread this message for life improvement.

To all who attended my public and corporate seminars across the United States and Canada. Special thanks to Sharma Leadership International's corporate clients who sponsored personal and organizational leadership programs for their employees. I feel privileged to be able to contribute to your success.

To the entire team at HarperCollins. You folks have made this a most joyful and satisfying experience. Special thanks to Claude Primeau for your guidance, Iris Tupholme for your faith in me, Judy Brunsek, Tom Best, Marie Campbell, David Millar, Lloyd Kelly, Dore Potter, Valerie Applebee, Neil Erickson and Nicole Langlois, my insightful and highly competent editor.

To my valued team at Sharma Leadership International for your energy, support and for managing my nonstop corporate seminar and media schedule.

To my mom and dad. I have so very much respect, appreciation and love for you. To my dear brother, Sanjay, my tireless supporter and confidant, to his wife, Susan.

And to my young son, Colby, for keeping me playful amid the writing of the ma.n.u.script (partly with your Curious George stories) and to my daughter, Bianca, for being a light.

About the Author.

ABOUT ROBIN SHARMA.

Robin Sharma is one of the world's premier experts on leadership, elite performance and self-discovery. He is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the #1 international bestseller The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, its popular sequels Leadership Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and Family Wisdom from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Who Will Cry When You Die? and The Saint, The Surfer & The CEO, a #1 bestseller at amazon.com. A frequent guest of the national media, Robin has starred in his own PBS special and appeared on over 1,000 television and radio shows. He is also in high demand across the globe as a keynote speaker and frequently shares the stage with such individuals as Jack Welch, Bill Clinton, Christopher Reeve, Dr. Phil, Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer.

A former lawyer who holds two law degrees, one of them a masters, Robin is the visionary CEO of Sharma Leadership International (SLI), a widely respected learning services firm that helps employees and entrepreneurs realize their highest professional and personal potential. SLI also runs the highly acclaimed Elite Performers Series, a strikingly effective 2-day coaching process that helps individuals show excellence in all they do, and The Monthly Coach program, Robin's Book and CD of the Month club. As well, Robin is a top executive/life coach to CEOs, entrepreneurs and some of the planet's most successful people.

Robin's personal mission is to help people rediscover who they truly are and live in a way that creates value for others. Through The Robin Sharma Foundation for Children, he helps underprivileged children stand up for their dreams.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

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