part0019

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you’re there.

It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that’s like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime.”

My purpose in writing this book has been to share a perspective on the most important skills in business life and in some respects, life itself. Ultimately, any skill can be learned. Everything described in this book is based on my curiosity and a lifelong love of learning, and often from getting it wrong the first time. If I can leave you with a single message, it is to encourage you to pursue your curiosity, with persistence, framed in service.

For many years, art and business were considered separate entities. Creativity wasn’t considered a suitable topic for the workplace. Times are changing, however. As businesspeople, we now express our creativity in a business context. We respect not only art or science, but a combination of both, which also helps us become more whole, integrated human beings. Our works of art are analyses, presentations, and products. The more we can express ourselves through our work, the more meaning we will find in our lives and the more effective we’ll be. In addition, those around us will surely appreciate our contributions more fully.

All we have left when we leave this world is what we have created and given to others. This book is a way for me to give you a tool kit that I hope will help you create your own works of art, while achieving your personal goals. Each chapter stands alone, but is also part of an integrated guide for your journey of discovery. This book started off as a primer on essential consulting skills. It has become a guide for any professional, and an invitation to explore further and deeper, and eventually to create your own legacy.