You are not remembered by what you take away, but by what you leave behind
On Friday I went back to the place where I spent the last 7 years of my working life. My erstwhile colleagues insisted we have a proper farewell.
I was awake at 3am as usual and, being just too lazy to get out of bed, I thought about what I would tell them in my final farewell speech. As I realised how I had changed over the past 12 years, I also had time to reflect on how and why that change occurred.
I was pleasantly surprised when I worked out that I helped at least 7 young black freelancers to move on to bigger papers as full-time journalists or photographers, motivated an illiterate assistant at the web press in our factory to pursue his dream of learning to read (something he never had the opportunity for) and coached a number of the present journalists from careers such as receptionists and sales people to fully fledged journalists. One of the journalists now works successfully in television.
After the party, a young man came and thanked me. I took him over from a satellite office where they wanted to get rid of him because they said he was “useless”. He is now one of the pillars of the editorial team. Another one was chased away from the company’s cadet school because they could not manage him. I took him on and he now works at the biggest daily in the group.
In my speech that morning I was able to discuss with them how each had influenced me. Isn’t it interesting that teaching people sometimes leads to the teacher learning more than the students? I suppose that confirms the view that the best way to learn is to teach.
I gave a long (too long) talk, mentioning some of the individuals who had influenced my development. If I had to mention them all, we would probably still be there.
I ended by saying that you are not remembered by what you take away, but by what you leave behind. I trust I left enough behind to assist each one of them in finding happiness and success.
Now it is full speed ahead on a new project with my son. But although I put this company and this experience behind me, I will still draw from the experiences I had while working with this group of special people.