Yesterday I had one of those life-in-perspective moments, and a strange question popped into my mind:

If I found out I had just a couple years to live, would I stop working or would I work even harder?

The obvious answer was to stop working. After all, if I’d be gone in a couple years what would be the point of building a business and career? Shouldn’t I just do as much nothing as possible and enjoy my last few years of life? Duh.

What was even more odd than the question itself, though, was my actual answer. The truth is, if I didn’t finish what I started and get my work out there in a big way, I’m pretty sure I would arrive at the pearly gates with some regret. Down the first road I stay in my own world and play small. Down the second road I do whatever it takes to make a difference. I was actually a bit surprised at how important I realized it is to me to go down the second road. I don’t say this to praise myself or be “holier than.” It’s actually self-serving.

After all, playing small is no fun.

And, I would argue that the opposite of playing small is being of service. When we play big – even if that means simply living a life of luxury and adventure that, from the outside, could seem selfish – we make a difference for others by modeling what is possible for them. And, when we take it a step further by directly giving others a leg up in accomplishing what is inspiring for them, we are enabling them to play big and make a difference as well, and are therefore contributing to an upward spiral of being of service.

We all contribute in different ways, which is the beauty of business and entrepreneurship.

You may be building a business writing memoirs, producing an entertaining web show, researching alternative energy sources, or decorating homes. Perhaps your focus is raising your children to be positive, purposeful, self-expressed people in the world. Whatever you do to make a difference, if you’re passionate about the work you’re doing, you are propelling the being-of-service spiral.

If, on the other hand, you’re spending your days in a job you hate, or you’ve woken up for too many mornings in a row feeling ‘blah’ about the day ahead, there is no time like the present to take an inventory of what is truly important to you and get to the doing of it.

Like most entrepreneurs, deadlines help me focus.

What bigger deadline is there, than the one imposed on a lifetime? We each only have a century on the planet, at best, and there are no guarantees. In that sense, getting our good work out there in the world is urgent. That’s what we’re here to do. Of course as we are pursuing our passions and building a business, the key is to stay present, show our loved ones we care, and enjoy the journey. That’s a conversation for another time.

What is your important work? Comment below and share what you and your business do to make a difference in the world!

March 2013 Issue