This email is going to sound a little depressing…

But please hear me out!

Because this weird psychological trick could give you a powerful motivational boost… or at least some clarity in your business goals.

Okay, so my grisly question to you is this…

“What would you do if you KNEW that
this was your final year of life?”

Perhaps you’d freak-out, panic and get VERY upset….

But after the initial shock… followed by the grim acceptance of your imminent fate… what then?

What sort of things might you set in motion as a legacy?

What pleasures and pursuits would you prioritise?

What would you consider the most important aspects of your life, worth cherishing and nurturing in this final year?

These are interesting questions to ask yourself.

Because when you remember that – eventually, inevitably – you’re going to die, it can actually crystalise what it is that you really want from life.

This mental exercise goes way back to classical times.

Ancient Protection from
Arrogance and Folly

In Ancient Rome, a victorious general would return to the city and parade through the streets on a golden chariot, soaking up the applause of the crowd.

But Romans were cautious about what they called ‘hubris’ – excessive pride and complacency – which might lead to a terrible fall.

So a general would employ a lowly servant to whisper in his ear the following: “Respice post te. Hominem te memento.”

It meant, “Look behind you. Remember, you are only a man.”

This would ground the general in the reality that life is short, all glory fades and even the most decorated hero would meet his end, eventually.

Cheery stuff, right?

Christianity embraced this idea, particularly in the rites of Ash Wednesday, when ashes are placed upon worshipers’ heads with the words, “Remember, Man, that you are dust and unto dust, you shall return.”

There’s also a line from Ecclesiasticus that says, “in all thy works be mindful of thy last end and thou wilt never sin.”

In other words – “remind yourself that you’re going to die and you’ll make much better choices!”

In the 17th Century, Trappist monks took this even further…

They would dig a little bit of their own graves each day as a daily discipline – but not to dwell on death but to commit themselves to a meaningful life.

A reminder of death is known as a ‘memento mori’.

Its purpose is not to make you miserable, but to help you radically change your life for the better.

And this is where it could come in useful for you…

The Motivational Memento Mori

I started thinking about this idea recently after reading a piece by performance coach and behavioural scientist, Danny Kenny in his Seeking Wisdom Substack.

He argues that creating your own ‘memento mori’ is a way to lift a mental fog so that you can see more clearly what’s most important to you.

“Befriending death doesn’t make life feel shorter or scarier,” he writes. “It makes it feel more vivid, more precious, more worth living authentically rather than performatively.

And he’s right…

In today’s western culture, we’re encouraged to waste so much time and energy on things that seem – on the surface – to be important.

For example…

• Chasing status symbols like a flash car, a massive house, expensive clothes or a designer watch…
• Worrying about your weight, how many wrinkles you’ve got and how attractive you are compared to Hollywood celebrities.
• Feeling embarrassed about your economic status, job role or career.
• Obsessing over social media metrics – how many followers you have, who liked your last post, how your photo feed compares to that of your more popular friends.
• Arguing online over trivialities, taking offence at other people’s opinions, and railing against what you perceive to be bad behaviours or wrong views.
• Being seen by others doing cool and impressive things like travelling to exotic places, dining in destination restaurants or attending lavish parties.

A lot of the time, these goals are not driven by what you truly, deeply want – but by what other people, or society, expects from you.

Which means you might end up chasing a home business goal that you *think* is important…

For a level of income you *think* that you need…

For possessions and status you *think* that you want…

Yet if you were given a ‘memento mori’ right now, with a gun against your head, you might realise suddenly that a lot of what you were chasing wasn’t worth it.

Perhaps a lot of it was just you PERFORMING for the crowd, like a victorious Roman General.

Therefore a reminder of your death would help you strip away most of these false pressures.

Which makes this an unusual – but potentially powerful – tool for choosing a meaningful goal in life and finding the kind of business that’s most suited for you.

Because if you were to give yourself a memento mori…

• You’d stop chasing other people’s definitions of success and status
• You’d stop pining for a level of income that you don’t actually need.
• You’d stop getting stressed, angry and offended over differences in opinions that won’t really matter to you when all is said and done.
• You’d be able to cut the performative aspects from your work and life, saving you a lot more time and mental energy
• You’d become clear about what matters most to you and your family.
• You’d create a business that you actually enjoy and find fulfilling.

Okay, so how can you do this?

Well there are three little exercises suggested by Danny Kenny that I recommend.

1. Write your own eulogy

Picture someone standing up at your funeral and speaking about your life to your loved ones in a year’s time.

What would you most want them to say about you?

Think about things like your personal qualities… your achievements… your passions and interests… what you meant to other people… what impact you had on those around you…

THOSE are the things you need to aim for, and whatever business you choose should help you achieve them – and be the kind of business that represents your true self.

As a separate exercise, you can try the same technique but as if you died tomorrow.

What would your eulogist say about you?

If it doesn’t include things like your recent weight-loss, strong jawline, fancy designer clothes, 1000 Facebook friends, and how you once met Pierce Brosnan at a house party, then perhaps those things aren’t really important and you can stop pursuing them.

2. Imagine your ideal 95-year-old self

In this second exercise, you should project yourself into old age – and imagine you’re 95 years old, looking back at your life.

Really inhabit the mind of this version of you and ask yourself… what do I regret doing, or – more likely – NOT doing?

What business idea do you wish you’d pursued?

What talent, interest or skill do you wish you’d developed more?

What do you hope you’ll be remembered for?

Write down the answers and use them as your template for setting meaningful goals.

3. “If this were my last year, would I spend it doing this?”

This was the question that opened today’s email, so you’ve already done this exercise.

If not, it’s worth thinking about again.

Would you spend another year fussing over the design of a logo for a website?

Would you spend it arguing on Facebook groups or photographing your expensive dinner for Instagram?

Would you spend it trying to make enough money to buy a posh car so that your neighbour will take you seriously?

Would you spend it selling a rubbish affiliate product that you don’t believe in, just because a YouTuber said it was the best way to make money?

Or would you put all these things aside… choose only the most valuable, meaningful goal in life…. then put all your efforts into that instead?

I know what I’d choose!

Anyway, I hope today’s email gives you clarity – rather than a dose of the blues!

Sometimes we need to take a hard look at ourselves, even if it’s painful.

As always, I’m here to help offer advice if you are looking for a business idea that fits what you REALLY want in life.

Just tell me the results of your ‘memento mori’ exercise and I’ll point you in the right direction.