Being an Example

Every man is a diary in which he writes one story while intending to write another. His humblest moment is when he compares the two.
— Hugh B. Brown

My task list is loaded today with things that are urgent, things that are commitments, things that required by my employer, etc. But two particular entries loom large. They were not assigned; I chose them, and I’m not going to get fired if they don’t get done. They are not conventionally urgent. They are not part of my job. They are really hard, I’m not entirely sure how they will turn out, and my time is really limited today.

But these two are the most important tasks I will do this week because:

  • I have been working for five months very openly to get to the point where I can do these tasks,
  • Getting these two things done right has the potential to fundamentally change my life,
  • I made a commitment to an old friend that I would do one of them, and most importantly,
  • My son is watching me.

I have been telling my son that the future looks very different than the present and that a lot of what he is hearing about living in the future may be wrong. I have been telling him that the actions I have how people of the future will act. In his eyes, my action on these two tasks will determine whether I am a man of the past or a man of the future; whether I believe what I’m saying or not.

Today, I will compare the stories I am writing. By the end of the week, so will he.

Every action we take sets an example for people who are watching (and people are always watching). The question is whether we will be a role model or a cautionary tale.