"Before I die, I want to…" — fill in the blank. What did you write?

Here are a few of the things I wrote:

  • Travel to New Zealand and Australia with my husband and hold hands on the beach.
  • Dance like I've never danced before.
  • Travel with my immediate family somewhere unforgettable.
  • Stop worrying so much and just relax.
  • Have a bigger impact on others in uncovering their purpose.

This topic came up because I was listening to a powerful episode of the TED Radio Hour called Rethinking Death. There was a segment about an artist in New Orleans, Candy Chang, who lost someone close to her and decided to mount an interactive art project on a building wall — simply titled "Before I Die." It got her, and thousands of others, thinking about what actually matters in a life.

As a career coach, I have my clients write their eulogy. I do this because many of them come to me seeking greater meaning — in their career and in life. Writing a eulogy is one of the most clarifying exercises I know for understanding the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Career can be a vehicle for living that legacy. I know people who don't care much for their career itself but love that it provides the income to create impact in their free time. I also know many who live their purpose directly through their work — I'm one of them.

However you view career in the context of legacy, I find that both the "Before I die" prompt and the eulogy exercise give us the same gift: clarity about how we want to live, what truly matters to us, and how we want to show up in the world.

How to Write Your Eulogy

Imagine that your family, friends, and loved ones are gathered to remember you. What do you want them to say? Here are some questions to help you start:

  • What professional goals or milestones would you like to have reached? (e.g. "She invented…" / "He taught me…")
  • What would you do if you knew you could not fail? (e.g. "I would start a business" / "I would change careers")
  • Which values and personality traits do you most want to be remembered for? (e.g. "She was kind-hearted and valued deep friendships")
  • What would you like people to say about your contribution to your family, your community, and the wider world?

Take your time with it. The answers that surprise you are often the most important ones.