Most People Are Dead; They Just Haven’t Made it Official

The first time I heard this back in 2011, I sat in the audience with 2,000 other people in central Ohio. These words ripped right through my awareness.

John Maxwell continued, “Most people die at 35 and they’re buried at 75.”

OUCH!

His words hurt, but only because they were so true. You see, until that time in my life I held back. I left some extra “in the tank” just in case I was wrong or just in case I failed. Little did I know that extra “in the tank” was a just a little lie called REGRET.

Face it. Most people are dead. They’ve killed their dreams somewhere along the way. Putting hope in wanting to be more, have more, do more, and give more, is too difficult. As a result, most people die a hundred deaths everyday.

They live in chronic pain and sleepwalk through most of life.

Let me ask you. When’s the last time you’ve felt truly alive? For many it’s been years. And as a result, they’re only going though the motions.

Much like “Red” in The Shawshank Redemption they no longer have any use for HOPE. Honestly, it’s no longer part of their vocabulary. It’s too painful. Remember the dialogue between Andy and Red? That was painful to watch:

ANDY: “Here’s where it makes most sense. We need it so we don’t forget.”

RED: “Forget?”

ANDY: “That there are things in this world not carved out of gray stone. There’s a small place inside of us they can never lock away, and that place is called hope.”

RED: “Hope is a dangerous thing. Drive a man insane. It’s got no use on the inside. Better get used to the idea.”

Get busy living or get busy dying…

Unlike “Red,” Andy doesn’t give up on hope or his dreams for that matter.

On that day in 2011, John Maxwell’s words awakened my heart. Although successful at that point, having authored 4 books, I was that 35 year old who was only half alive. I started to play “not to lose” instead of playing “to win.” I settled for slow death rather than abundant life.

NO MORE.

That day I chose to get busy living. I joined the John Maxwell Team and my life changed drastically. Twelve months later I had enough clarity, competence, and confidence to leave my day job and launch my dream job full-time. Today, I’m more alive then ever. I write, speak, and coach, full-time. I live out my purpose of IGNITING SOULS.

See, most of us have been handed a faulty belief that you pick a business and then try to squeeze life into the remaining margins. I don’t buy it. I believe something completely different…that you design your life and then build a business around it.

I made that belief my reality and I’m a different man because of it.

I leave you with a question every person must answer—ARE YOU BUSY LIVING OR ARE YOU BUSY DYING? 

 About the Author

Kary Oberbrunner left his day job to pursue his dream job—Igniting Souls.

Through his writing, speaking, and coaching, he helps individuals and organizations clarify who they are, why they are here, and where they should invest their time and energy.

The author of several books, Kary also serves as a founding partner on the John Maxwell Team.

Contact Kary at : http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/karyoberbrunner/