Weekly Spark #57: Resume vs. Eulogy Values
An actionable message of reflection to start your week
Recently, I’ve been thinking about the contrast between résumé values and eulogy values. I was first exposed to the concepts in The Road to Character, a book by David Brooks. Just yesterday, I took some time for an annual update for things that have happened in the last year. As I updated the document, I got to thinking that while the skills needed to be successful in careers and life are related and overlap, it feels like there is a lot missing and unaccounted for by reducing a person to one page on paper.
For starters, résumé values are the ones that appear on your résumé, and the skills that you bring to the job market that contribute to external and career success. Examples include your technical skills, education, accomplishments, experiences, etc. Eulogy values are much deeper; the name is derived from the thought of them being the things that people would say about you at your funeral. They are your character; they exist at the core of your being and make up who you are on the inside. Examples include whether you are kind, honest, faithful, reliable, trustworthy, and the kinds of relationships that you formed. The two can certainly be related; having a strong career can lead people to say positive things about you. Similarly, being a good person with quality character in the work you do is often viewed positively by those around you.
In the long run, one type of values certainly seems much more important than the other. However, when you think about what is prominently discussed in our world today and as a result likely consumes the average person’s mental head space, the majority of emphasis is placed on résumé values. Now let’s be clear- no one wakes up in the morning thinking “I wonder what people will say about me when I die.” But the conversation has shifted away from character, yet the two aren’t mutually exclusive; you can have both. It’s certainly important to cultivate the skills necessary to be successful in your career and life, and oftentimes, in the process you will develop character. It’s also important to take the deliberate time to cultivate the positive traits of we think of as quality character. As Brooks states: “We live in a culture that teaches us to promote and advertise ourselves and to master the skills required for success, but that gives little encouragement to humility, sympathy, and honest self-confrontation, which are necessary for building character.”
I would argue that by dedicating incrementally more time to developing your eulogy values (character), your “résumé” accomplishments will be far greater than if you spent no time developing character at all. In other words, a conscious effort of repeated and intentional personal/character development will do wonders in the long run. I’ll invite you to reflect on a few short reflection questions:
What are your résumé values?
What are your eulogy values?
How would your friends and family describe you?
What are things that you can deliberately do to develop your character?
Mental Diet
Video of the Week: Tim Ferris Show Episode #534: Michael Dell, Founder of Dell — Early Failures, Battling Carl Icahn, Learning from the Competition, and How to Play Nice But Win
A great conversation between Tim Ferris and Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies. Dell is on the speaking circuit promoting his new book, Play Nice but Win, chronicling his business career from near-college dropout to founder of an $80 billion company. His life’s work shows that his dedication to developing his character, his eulogy values, and “playing nice” did not come at the expense of his worldly accomplishments. It’s always interesting to hear inside the mind’s of successful people, and this podcast is no different.
Quote of the Week:
”Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.” - Abraham Lincoln
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. As always, I welcome any thoughts, comments, or feedback. If you found this Weekly Spark beneficial or thought-provoking, please share with a friend and encourage them to sign up, or send me their email and I will gladly add them to the recipient list. Lastly, if I can help you in any way, whether it’s with my knowledge, connections, or resources, please reach out. Let’s stay positive and make it a great week for everyone around us!
Nathan