I want you to imagine that  you're 95 years old, ninety five. 
I want you to imagine that  you're 95 years old, ninety five. 

You're just getting ready to die. Right before you take that last breath  
You're just getting ready to die. Right before you take that last breath  

you’re given a wonderful gift, a beautiful gift, 
you’re given a wonderful gift, a beautiful gift, 

the ability to go back in time. The ability to go back in time and  
the ability to go back in time. The ability to go back in time and  

talk to the person listening to me right now, the ability to help that person be a better  
talk to the person listening to me right now, the ability to help that person be a better  

leader, a better professional. Much more important, 
leader, a better professional. Much more important, 

the ability to help that  person have a better life. 
the ability to help that  person have a better life. 

What advice would that wise 95 year old you who knows what really mattered  
What advice would that wise 95 year old you who knows what really mattered  

in life and what did not matter and what was important and what was not important, 
in life and what did not matter and what was important and what was not important, 

what advice would that wise old person have for the you that’s listening to me right now? 
what advice would that wise old person have for the you that’s listening to me right now? 

You don't need to say anything  or do anything or write anything, 
You don't need to say anything  or do anything or write anything, 

just answer that question in your mind. What advice would that old person have for you? 
just answer that question in your mind. What advice would that old person have for you? 

Whatever you're thinking now, do that. 
Whatever you're thinking now, do that. 

In terms of a performance appraisal that's the only one that's going to matter. 
In terms of a performance appraisal that's the only one that's going to matter. 

If that old person says you did the right thing, 
If that old person says you did the right thing, 

you did the right thing. If that old person says you made a mistake, 
you did the right thing. If that old person says you made a mistake, 

you made a mistake, you don't need to impress anyone else. 
you made a mistake, you don't need to impress anyone else. 

Some friends of mine interviewed  all folks who are dying 
Some friends of mine interviewed  all folks who are dying 

and got to ask them this question, what advice would you have had? 
and got to ask them this question, what advice would you have had? 

Three themes came up as the answer from old people facing death on the personal side. 
Three themes came up as the answer from old people facing death on the personal side. 

Thing number one can be summarized in three words. Be happy now. 
Thing number one can be summarized in three words. Be happy now. 

Not next week, not next month, not next year. The great western disease is sweeping the world, 
Not next week, not next month, not next year. The great western disease is sweeping the world, 

what is that great western disease? I'll be happy when, 
what is that great western disease? I'll be happy when, 

when I have the money, the  status, the BMW, the condominium, 
when I have the money, the  status, the BMW, the condominium, 

I will be happy when… We all have the same when. 
I will be happy when… We all have the same when. 

That 95 year old person facing death, that is when. 
That 95 year old person facing death, that is when. 

Learning point from old people, I got so busy 
Learning point from old people, I got so busy 

chasing what I did not have I could not see what I did have 
chasing what I did not have I could not see what I did have 

when I had everything. My guess is you're one of  
when I had everything. My guess is you're one of  

the luckiest people that ever lived, you probably have friends, family, 
the luckiest people that ever lived, you probably have friends, family, 

interesting work, relative to  me you probably have youth, 
interesting work, relative to  me you probably have youth, 

you have it all. Don't get so wrapped  
you have it all. Don't get so wrapped  

up looking at what you don't have, you can't see what you do have. 
up looking at what you don't have, you can't see what you do have. 

I’ve asked thousands of parents around the world, I say, “complete this sentence with one word”. 
I’ve asked thousands of parents around the world, I say, “complete this sentence with one word”. 

“When my child grows up, I want my child to be...” One word comes up in the answers from parents, 
“When my child grows up, I want my child to be...” One word comes up in the answers from parents, 

one word more than every other word combined, no matter what country I'm in. 
one word more than every other word combined, no matter what country I'm in. 

What's that one word? Happy. 
What's that one word? Happy. 

Want your kids to be happy? Want your parents to be happy? 
Want your kids to be happy? Want your parents to be happy? 

Want the people who love you to be happy? Want the people who respect your work to be happy? 
Want the people who love you to be happy? Want the people who respect your work to be happy? 

You go first, you be happy. 
You go first, you be happy. 

Learning two from old people facing death on the personal side, friends and family. 
Learning two from old people facing death on the personal side, friends and family. 

You probably work for a great  company, I'm going to help you, 
You probably work for a great  company, I'm going to help you, 

when you're ninety five years  old and you're on your deathbed 
when you're ninety five years  old and you're on your deathbed 

and none of your employees are waving goodbye, you start to realize, you know,  
and none of your employees are waving goodbye, you start to realize, you know,  

these friends and family, they're kind of important, 
these friends and family, they're kind of important, 

they're the only ones that seem  to matter a whole lot today. 
they're the only ones that seem  to matter a whole lot today. 

And learning point number three, if you have a dream, go for it. 
And learning point number three, if you have a dream, go for it. 

Because if you don't go for  it when you're 45, you may not 
Because if you don't go for  it when you're 45, you may not 

when you're 55, you probably  will not when you're 85 and 
when you're 55, you probably  will not when you're 85 and 

it doesn’t have to be a big  dream, maybe a little dream. 
it doesn’t have to be a big  dream, maybe a little dream. 

Go to New Zealand or speak  Spanish or play a guitar. 
Go to New Zealand or speak  Spanish or play a guitar. 

Other people think your dream is goofy, who cares? 
Other people think your dream is goofy, who cares? 

It's not their dream, it's your dream. It's not their life, it's your life. 
It's not their dream, it's your dream. It's not their life, it's your life. 

Businesswise isn’t much different. Number one, have fun, life is short. 
Businesswise isn’t much different. Number one, have fun, life is short. 

Life is short. Number two is do whatever you can to help people. 
Life is short. Number two is do whatever you can to help people. 

The main reason to help people  has nothing to do with money 
The main reason to help people  has nothing to do with money 

or status or getting ahead. The main reason to help people is much deeper. 
or status or getting ahead. The main reason to help people is much deeper. 

The 95 year old you will be very proud of you 
The 95 year old you will be very proud of you 

because you didn't disappointed. And if you do not believe this is  
because you didn't disappointed. And if you do not believe this is  

true, you interview any CEOs who have retired, 
true, you interview any CEOs who have retired, 

I’ve interviewed a whole bunch of  them and asked them a question. 
I’ve interviewed a whole bunch of  them and asked them a question. 

Please tell me, what are you proud of? So far, no one told me how big their office was, 
Please tell me, what are you proud of? So far, no one told me how big their office was, 

all they ever talked about  was some people they helped. 
all they ever talked about  was some people they helped. 

Final advice is also the same, go for it. Your industry is changing, your world's changing, 
Final advice is also the same, go for it. Your industry is changing, your world's changing, 

you do what you think is right. You may not win, 
you do what you think is right. You may not win, 

at least try. Old people,  
at least try. Old people,  

we almost never regret the risks we took and fail, we always regret the risk we did not take.
we almost never regret the risks we took and fail, we always regret the risk we did not take.