I’ve got this goal to read all 100 of the New York Times best books of the 21st century… not in any particular timeframe or order, but since it is a well curated list, that’s one less thing that I have to figure out. Recently I finished When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Published after his death, Mr. Kalanithi chronicled his rise to being one of the top neurosurgeon residents in the country as his life was tragically cut short, succumbing to cancer. There were many poignant pieces to this this read but I can sum it up as a powerful reminder of how values shape our lives, both in the moments we can predict and especially the ones we can’t.
In our leadership journey, we have all had moments of brilliance — the big wins, the breakthroughs, the celebrated achievements. While it’s natural to celebrate standout performances, the real win is whether we can establish norms that are consistent, drive collaboration, and make our teams better. Focusing on behaviors for a moment… can we craft a legacy that transforms ideals into something more tangible? Can we demonstrate actions that traverse our fleeting accomplishments and translate them to enduring business value.
In Kalanithi’s memoir, he reminds us that life is often shorter than we think, and we rarely have the luxury of time to achieve all we hope for. This urgency applies in business too. We assume we have time on our side – annual strategic planning activities, 3- and 5-year outlooks, forecasted revenues… what did I miss? We have the authority and the ability, but usually fall short on the ‘will’ and the ‘motivation’ to create a culture of excellence based on values that will outlast us. When we elevate our excellence, we shape business opportunities according to a core ethos that attracts talent to deliver quality outcomes. I don’t know about you—but this is something I’d be proud to leave behind. Whether we realize it or not, our legacy is being written everyday whether we actively curate a behavior-based narrative or let it be externally shaped by others.
None of this is new. Respected works, from Jim Collins' Built to Last to Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game, emphasize that organizations thriving over the long term are those that embed their core values into every aspect of their operations. It is our constant reminder that values are not just words on a wall; they are the foundation of consistent, sustainable performance.
To transform isolated successes into sustained performance, we need to shift organizations from just celebrating sporadic wins to fostering consistent behaviors. This means actively reinforcing core values, recognizing those who embody them, and aligning daily actions with a shared purpose. At Platinum Technologies, we aspire to these three: Thoughtfulness; Time Management; Bias For Action. I’m proud to say that we start every all-hands meeting by celebrating individuals who embody those values. It is part of the intentional culture we have created that has become the bedrock of our performance.
As I completed the final chapter and then epilogue written by his wife (I won’t spoil the read), I can tell you this book hit differently. This past week, on more than a few occasions I’ve paused to think about the folks who count on me – not just professionally, but in life. The unanswered question still floats… Am I creating change that will endure if I’m not here in a few years, months, days… tomorrow? I really don’t know. But I’m more conscious and deliberate in trying to achieve that goal.
We have the power to impact the lives of others. So, here’s my challenge: think about the values you’re living today and posit the internal question: Do those values help build the future you want, and does that future serve others as much as yourself? I not, are you willing to change to make those values matter more?