I Think This Plane’s Going to Crash: A Perspective on Significance
"Striving for significance is far more important than achieving success."
~ Zig Ziglar
Is This Plane About to Crash?
A few years ago, returning from an event with customers, I found myself aboard a chartered flight alongside several well-known TV personalities, the father of a famous athlete, and high-ranking corporate executives. Approximately an hour away from our return to Toronto, the plane began to shudder and then took a steep dive. As a frequent traveler, I recognized the anomaly, as did everyone on board. Seated beside me was my boss, someone I've always regarded as level-headed and confident. Witnessing his expression of panic mirroring my own, I started to fear this might be our final flight.
After several unsettling occurrences of shuddering and diving, the plane seemingly regained stability. Moments later, the pilot apologized for the "turbulence" (we all knew better), and soon after we landed safely.
Here's a tidbit about me: in dark moments, a twisted sense of humour often surfaces to cope. Faced with the potential of impending doom, a random humorous thought crossed my mind.
Once safely on the ground, I turned to my boss, saying, "Glad we didn't crash today. I'd hate to perish in a plane filled with all these celebrities. Imagine the headlines: so and so, this athlete, this person's dad, and 49 others perished in a crash just outside Montreal." I continued, "If I were to go down, I'd want it to be on a plane in some remote developing country where I'm the lone Canadian, not one of the ‘49 others’. At least my name would make the headlines that night." Luckily, my boss shared my humour in that moment, providing us both a much-needed moment of relief. Exiting the plane and kissing the ground, I was relieved to return home.
Shaped for Significance
This memory sparks a thought for me about significance. Deep down, we're all striving for it. Think of those times we contort our bodies and flash peace signs in front of TV cameras, yearning for that fleeting cameo, and our 5 seconds of fame.
Fame is transient; significance runs deeper. Being significant is about making an impact. To achieve significance, we must cease seeking shallow outward approval—dwelling on Instagram likes, the weight of our ideas in meetings, or if we're being noticed at work.
A Complete Mindset Shift is Essential.
Significance is other-focused. It involves playing the long game, leaving a legacy. When we prioritize significance, we contemplate how we can assist others, transform roles rather than merely fulfill them. It's mission-driven. Love him or loathe him, Elon Musk is driven by significance, striving to create civilization for humans on Mars—he has become an unstoppable force for change.
Significance centers on the legacy left for our children, or those generations who follow us. Breaking generational curses, healing ourselves to be the adults our children need to flourish, investing in our passions to set an example they can follow. Encouraging them to step out of comfort zones and grow.
I believe significance revolves around who shows up at your funeral and what they say about you. I've attended one funeral in my life that I truly enjoyed. When my larger-than-life colleague's father passed, it was a given for many of us to offer support. At the funeral the enjoyment stemmed from the myriad hilarious stories about my colleague's father. It was evident—he led a life of significance and left a legacy.
Closing thoughts:
“It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go."
~ Randy Travis
If you seek significance, pursue a goal that will create an outsized impact on others. Commit to it, bringing others along to help bring the vision to life. Cease seeking outward validation by playing small, and embrace the long game—let consistency and daily growth be your guide to success.
TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK:
If you’re contemplating how you can start to shape your life into one of significance, here are 3 ways you can start to take action this week:
Volunteer or Support a Cause: Take the initiative to volunteer for a cause you deeply care about or offer support to organizations making a difference. Spend time contributing your skills or resources to a charity, community initiative, or environmental project. Even dedicating a few hours a week can make a meaningful impact.
Mentor or Empower Others: Make a commitment to mentor someone in your community or workplace. Share your knowledge, experiences, and guidance to empower others. It could be a colleague seeking career advice, a younger individual looking for guidance, or someone from an underserved community who could benefit from your support.
Set Long-term Goals with Impact: Reflect on your long-term aspirations and set goals that align with leaving a lasting impact. Identify a cause or vision that drives you and create a plan to work towards it. Whether it's starting a community initiative, advocating for change in your industry, or contributing to a significant project, outline steps to bring this vision to fruition over time.
