Remembering the Future: Foresight and Hindsight for Lessons Learned

How do we remember something that has yet to happen? One way is to project backward from an imagined time when we know the outcome and see where it leads us — like death.

Kevin Kelly recently shared his life lessons on the Knowledge Project podcast with Shane Parrish. Kelly’s recently published book highlights one of his life lessons, which stems from his experience at funerals. His insight: people remember your character, not your accomplishments, at your funeral.

Kelly is spot-on. At funerals, people don’t spend much time talking about a person’s achievements but instead about their character. Moreover, those about to die often regret not investing more in building their character through humour, spending time with friends and family, raising children, and being kind rather than focusing solely on work.

When we apply this post-death perspective to our workplaces, it reveals some uncomfortable truths. Will your organization be remembered for its efficient ways of working? Will your ability to achieve sales or service targets be noted as a career highlight? Will you be known for your five-point plan to make a difference? Or will you be forgotten altogether?

Organizations may not be people, but their culture reflects the people within them. Remembering…