Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
“Legacy” is a word we throw around a lot in leadership circles. We talk about the businesses we build, the books we write, and the people we mentor. But lately, I’ve been staring a different kind of legacy in the face—and it’s a deeply personal one.
Over the past year, I’ve said goodbye to two “pillars” in my life: my Dad and my father-in-law. They were only 80 & 81, respectively at the time of their death. I say ‘only’ because as I get older, those numbers sound younger and younger (and closer and closer!). As I watched my mother and my mother-in-law navigate those final years, one word kept coming to mind: Sainthood. These women were incredible. They cared for their husbands with a level of grace and devotion that was a beauty to behold. They wouldn’t have had it any other way – they were examples of selfless love.
I’ve been re-reading Today Matters by John Maxwell. It’s a book that fundamentally shaped my growth some 20 years ago when I read it and it is still impacting me today.. In one chapter, John mentions he was 57 years old as he was writing it.
That stopped me in my tracks. I am 57.
John is now 79. He is still writing, still traveling, still equipping leaders, and still remarkably active. I don’t know if he knew at 57 that he’d be this impactful at 79, but he lived as though he did.
But as I reflect on these things, I have come to this realization.
“The greatest gift I can give my family is to manage my health so that they can all look after themselves in 30 years because I can still look after me.”
Healthspan vs Lifespan
There is lots of talk today about the difference in healthspan and lifespan.
- With lifespan, people are trying to add years to our life. For healthspan, we are trying to add life to our years. (Read that again!)
- Lifespan refers to the total number of years a person lives, from birth to death. Healthspan is a concept that focuses on the number of those years that a person remains free of significant illness or disease.
Ideally, lifespan and healthspan are nearly equal to each other. Understanding this can help us to make the choices we need to make to improve the quality of our years remaining. The concept is simple… not easy. Mark Twain illustrated this when he said: “The only way to keep your health is to eat when you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”
It starts with WHY – You must Identify Your “SO THAT”
The only way to have a chance is to identify your “SO THAT.” My “SO THAT” is clear:
- I stay healthy SO THAT I can be an active participant in my family’s future.
- I stay healthy SO THAT, God willing, I can dance at my grandchildren’s weddings one day.
- I stay healthy SO THAT I can continue the work of an Uncommon Leader for decades to come, just like John Maxwell is doing today.
Leadership is stewardship. We are stewards of our businesses, our teams, and most importantly, the “temple” we live in.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We will talk more next week about the how I have been managing my health (especially the challenges of staying healthy on the road, as I am again this week), but it starts with the why.
Being a Leader, STOP treating your health like a secondary priority. Leadership is stewardship, and your most important asset isn’t your business—it’s the body you lead from. Excellence at 80 is a bill paid with the disciplines of today. If you’re managing your 401k but ignoring your Healthspan, you’re just saving money to buy back the time you’re wasting right now.
Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “HEALTHSPAN.” Identify your SO THAT and fire your inner lawyer. Whether it’s dancing at a grandchild’s wedding or leading for another twenty years like John Maxwell, your legacy requires you to stay in the game. Real leaders don’t just add years to their life; they add life to their years. Stop the rationalizations and start managing your health like the executive decision it is.
- Quote of the Week :
“Healing is coming to you. Thriving is waiting for you. But it requires you to live differently.” — Justin Roethlingshoefer
What you need to do:
Managing the Major Decisions
What “major decision” regarding your health did you make years ago that you’ve stopped managing daily? Excellence in your 70s and 80s is bought with the disciplines you practice in your 30s, 40s and 50s. Don’t wait until you’re 80 to wish you had taken better care of the current version of you. You’ve heard it said before, “The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The next best time is today.
I want to hear from you. Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “HEALTHSPAN” and let me know:
- What is your “SO THAT” when it comes to your health? What is the purpose that gets you out of bed to “do what you’d rather not” for your health?
By reaching out with OWN, you’re telling me you’re ready to stop the rationalizations and start managing your daily health decisions.
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Each week, I bring what I’m learning and living in the trenches of leadership. If this edition challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who leads, stays faithful, or learns alongside you, then click subscribe. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!
Until next week—stay focused, stay healthy, and keep growing, Champions!
