This really surprised me!
I had never met Dan before.
Tom’s introduction stopped me! He said:
‘Dan, this is my dad. The last thing he does before he leaves the UK is give his coat to a homeless person.’
A few things:
I didn’t even know Tom knew about this, never mind remember it and I certainly didn’t expect him to lead with it.
Tom was not even there so one of his sisters must have told him.
I don’t do it often, certainly not everytime, but I do do it. (I don’t have many coats to start with!).
We were in Windsor, England. It was hammering down with rain in early January. I went out to pick up a takeaway on our last night. I saw a homeless lady sitting on a folded cardboard box that was soaked through. I took off my coat and offered it to her as a replacement for the cardboard. She smiled despite everything.
Tom’s introduction:
No mention of my senior corporate career in the UK or Australia.
No mention of my business ‘successes'.’
No mention of my entrepreneurial life as founder of GiFT631.
No mention that I am a published author.
No mention of ‘material success’ in anyway (I don’t value material things, I don’t even own a car, although I do love quality travel and experiences).
Tom’s great grandfather always said ‘Do good, don’t worry or think about getting it back, just do good.’ His legacy passing through the generations?
My reflection being:
What more can and should I do?
What actually matters to those who matter to me?
How are we actually seen by others? (What is seen vs what is said?).
What does legacy actually mean?
It is possibly too early to be sure but I believe this one line will impact my life from here. Thanks Tom. I suggest you take some Mozart time: How do you want to be remembered? Why? What will you legacy be? What REALLY matters to you and to those around you? How are you showing up in the world?
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