Steve Jobs once commented, "If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?"
These are words to live by as Jobs, both literally and figuratively, certainly knew the tender balance between mortality and the drive to make a difference. Business is a roller coaster of ups and downs, and being able to navigate both the crests and the troughs is a vital characteristic of strong business leaders. And understanding one's place in the world is the key to putting "big" issues in perspective. Perspective is what informs strong leadership and a sanguine mind to make shrewd business decisions.
But the most important factor to making a difference is having true and unbridled fervor for what you do. I was lucky to have stumbled into the marketing field some 15 years ago, and I fell in love. Others may know right away or take time to recognize their business calling. But fear not, because true love waits.
Now I'm sure that if this were the last day of my life, I'd probably prefer being blasted off to space to orbit the Earth or maybe taking my family on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. But the economy of life asserts there is no such thing as a "free lunch."
Until then, I will ignite my daily passion with the hourglass of time and drive forward in the best industry in the world. Tomorrow is promised to no one. •