Michael Josephson, founder and director of the Josephson Institute, wrote a poem entitled, “What Will Matter.” In it he asks his readers to “live a life that matters” (Josephson, 2003). He describes this lifestyle as a choice:
…What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what (Josephson, 2003).
As teachers and coaches, we are presented with opportunities every day to invest in the growth and success of others. Opportunities to share our love for the content we teach or the activity we coach are plentiful. The environments we create for the sharing and construction of knowledge and learning are crucial to the positive growth of those we have the opportunity to work with. The conscious investment in others ultimately provides the opportunity for them to also “pay it forward.”
Dr. Bob Frederick gave me Josephson’s poem several years ago when I was a graduate student at the University of Kansas. Inspired, Bob lived a life that mattered and did so consciously everyday.
“Throughout Dr. Frederick’s career he served in a variety of sport leadership roles, many of them at the University of Kansas where he participated as a student-athlete, coached, served as an athletic director, and taught classes in sport management” (Van Mullem, 2013).
As one of my mentors, Bob Frederick invested in my growth as a person and as a professional by truly caring about me as a person. He did the same for countless other students who were privileged to learn from him. He embodied characteristics like empathy, integrity, and compassion – all characteristics that I strive to emulate on a daily basis. I keep a copy of Josephson’s poem in my office and look at it regularly to remind me of what really matters.
Sadly, Dr. Frederick passed away in 2009. I think about him and the impact he had on my life everyday. The busyness of life brings seemingly never-ending pressures to balance the challenges of work and home. In the pursuit of being excellent both at work and at home it’s easy to stray from living a life that matters. Out of respect to Bob Frederick and his commitment to helping others grow and improve, I continue to strive to live a life that matters. I wish it were as easy as Bob made it seem. But the conscious choice to treat others with respect, compassion, and empathy is important. If we touch just one person they in turn can touch others who too can pay it forward.
Strive to live a life that matters. As Josephson (2003) so eloquently shared, enrich, empower, and encourage others to be their best. Embody those characteristics that facilitate growth and help others realize their potential. As teachers and coaches we’re in the perfect place to do so. It’s through your efforts that you encourage the next generation to “live a life that matters” (Josephson, 2003).
References
Josephson, M. (2003). What will matter. Retrieved from http://charactercounts.org/pdf/WhatWillMatter.pdf
Van Mullem, P. (2013). Dr. Bob Frederick Sport Leadership Lecture Series. Retrieved from http://vanmullempete.wix.com/lcscsportleadership
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