The idea that human beings search for meaning need meaning in their lives is not a new one, Victor Frankl famously wrote one of the most influential books, not only on this topic but on any topic in 1946 about his experiences in the Nazi concentration camps. In man's search for meaning Frankl explained how the why of our lives is essential and when we have the, why we can deal with pretty much anything to try to get there. The why could be being a mother or father, a scientist dedicated to her lab or anyone else who has a meaningful purpose in life. Research by many others later went on to highlight how meaning the search for why is often associated with contributing to others in some way, giving more than taking, as the chinese saying goes, if you want happiness for an hour, take a nap, if you want happiness for a day, go fishing, if you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune if you want happiness for a lifetime help somebody. I've often thought about this in terms of multiple streams of impact, you may have heard people say, when it comes to their business or their career, that they're trying to achieve multiple streams of income, which is fine, but multiple streams of impact as an idea and as a goal is much more powerful because it enables us to do what we want and need to do in our career at the same time, it opens up the door to seeking additional opportunities to have an impact, to answer the why question on meaning and many do this, right? I mean if you volunteer your time anywhere, you're doing it, if you donate money to a cause or an organization, you're doing it. If you help one person connect with another, you're doing it. And if you structure your work so that meeting your goals actually is beneficial to others, which could happen in many ways, from choosing an industry or sector to work in that support societal goals in some way to your day to day work. Building a company that creates jobs and advances careers. You're also doing it. I want to tell you a story that highlights the power of helping other people accomplish more in their lives and careers than they probably otherwise could, maybe even more than they ever dreamed possible. On May 16, I helped lead a daylong strategy retreat at the global beer, wine and spirits, powerhouse constellation brands and they were the owner of dozens of brands from Robert Mondavi wine, to serve Vodka, Vodka and many, many other things. The event was held at Robert Mondavi's ranch in California and 60 to 70 of the company's top executives had flown in from around the world for the occasion. It was a long day full of heated discussion about the company's future. The executives in the room cared a lot about the company and had taken off their gloves as they critique one another's ideas and presented ideas of their own. At the end of the day, we all attended a big barbecue dinner at the ranch, the Mondavi ranch and it turns out that I was seated across from Mr Mondavi and his wife Marguerite. They were invited for they weren't there because he was in his 90s at that time, but they were invited for the dinner as an honor and they came and you know, Robert Mondavi is widely remembered as a true pioneer in the wine industry. The man who helped produce really the flowering of the US wine industry. He's also remembered as one of the greatest talent spotters in the industry. The Robert Mondavi winery became known as Mondavi University because it produced the country's best winemakers, including those whose wines Won the legendary judgment of Paris Tasting in 1976. That was like a mega thing that signaled the arrival of California wines on the international scene. By 2007 as he sat at our table, Mondavi was already in significant physical decline. He sat in a wheelchair, he couldn't or wouldn't speak and his wife was helping him with his with his meal. He was still handsome though and dressed very neatly in a well tailored suit. As I made small talk with a few other tablemates. I saw an unforgettable sparkle in his eye. He seemed to be paying attention to our conversation about halfway through dinner, people from other tables started coming up to our table to greet Mr Mondavi. Many of these hard boiled executives were former Mondavi Proteges. Well others hadn't directly worked for him, but of course they knew who he was and they were strongly influenced by him in some way, directly or indirectly. At first they came up one or two at a time, then, you know, whisper went around the room and more people got up and they started standing in line waiting their turn to speak to him and you have to picture this. He was in a wheelchair so they kind of knelt down and they touched him in the arm, a gesture of reverence of respect, maybe even of love. And what did they say to him? They said thank you, thank you so much Mr Mondavi for everything you've done for me and for the wine business. It's an honor, It's a privilege to be here with you one after another after another, I was taken aback. None of this was planned, It was, it was organic, it was, it was authentic. Here was a man who had touched many people and so many years later they were still immensely grateful Robert Mondavi hadn't just made wines he had made people, he had crafted careers and now in his old age he had something to show for it, he had a legacy. He was simply put someone who mattered. My thoughts naturally enough drifted to myself as I watched all this, and I was thinking, what am I accomplishing in my own career when I'm in a wheelchair, will anyone line up to greet me?
