As I write this, a man I admire is on his deathbed. Though I’ve never met him personally, he has served as one of my business mentors through his books and seminars. He’s in his mid-sixties, young by today’s standards. In the marketing and advertising world, he’s a superstar. Just a few days after receiving a terminal diagnosis, he wrote a final letter to his followers and fans. In response, they thanked him for everything he had done over the years. Thousands of letters poured in, each a testimony to the impact he had on them and on their professional lives. For many, he was a true hero.

When I read his farewell letter, it got me thinking about my own life. What kind of legacy will I leave behind? Will I do anything in my lifetime that will actually impact the world, not just while I’m here, but after I’m gone? Is it possible for each one of us to have that kind of lasting effect on our fellow humans or is it reserved for those whom God has anointed?
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I’ll admit, I’ve not always been sure. It seems like a fantasy and beyond my capacity to make that kind of mark. 

​I'd heard that old saying many times growing up. Unfortunately, like so many other things I heard, it went in one ear and out the other. We have a tendency to dial out clichés and good advice in general. After all, something so easily acquired can't be worth much, can it?

Well, perhaps it's worth more than I first thought.

Relationships come in many shapes and sizes. Some are better than others, some we have whether we enjoy them or not (relatives come to mind), and others come and go. Regardless of who it is or the nature of the relationship, one thing is certain, the people we surround ourselves with play a major role in defining who we are as a human being.

However, when it comes to the people in my circle of trust, it took a long time for me to realize that I was not cursed by bad luck, I wasn't drawing the short straw, and God wasn't pulling strings to make sure my life remained a miserable existence.

Simply put, I was my own worst enemy. I was the one choosing with whom I would spend my time and with whom I would not, be it friends, girlfriends, business partners, or even people at Starbucks.
As difficult as it is to admit, I was to blame for my relationship woes.

​Yes, it's true that birds of a feather really do flock together.