At my mother’s memorial service, there was a long pause in proceedings when the minister-in-charge asked if anyone would like to share personal comments about her life and times. My “inner awareness” could very tangibly hear mother saying “Who will rise and speak on my behalf?” It turned out that everyone assembled was simply waiting for the first person to “break the ice”. But once that happened, a flood of endorsements of a life well-lived came gushing forth, and I learned many new and wonderful things about this very special person in my life.
If there’s anything to us at all, i.e., if we’re of any decent account in the world, we should attract and inspire endorsements. Pro athletes, television and radio personalities, opera divas, political candidates, and even the local beauty shop measure their worth by the endorsements they receive. Certainly, resumes and biographical sketches are nothing if devoid of bestowed awards and bereft of accompanying letters of recommendation.
And, while some go well beyond reasonability in compiling endorsements*, endorsements do grease the skids and provide both internal and external validation.
Endorsements are a level up from affirmation. They include the “because”.
Endorsements carry with them both specified and unspecified entitlements (see “Rules” blog coming soon) and empowerment.
Today’s Action Plan: Plant viable seeds of endorsement. Find something useful and meaningful to do, which – done with excellence – adds important value to the lives of others.
*Importantly: A “contrived” endorsement will not long stand, wilting hopelessly in the heat of battle at the front lines of meaningful endeavor. A contrived endorsement dishonors both the endorser and the endorsee.
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” Warren Buffett
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