Last week I attended a conference in Anaheim, Los Angeles for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) - a global insurance and financial adviser organisation for the world's top performers. The 7,200 delegates from around the world that attend were there for motivation, inspiration and education.
One speaker that spoke on the main platform really touched me and provided much inspiration. He has made what I'm sure will be a long lasting impression.
Capt. Jerry Linenger is a retired NASA astronaut. During what has been reported to be one of the most dangerous and dramatic mission's in space history, he spent nearly five months aboard the Russian space station Mir.
He spoke of the challenges he faced with his crewmates and in particular a fire they had on board where he thought he had taken his last breath and had resigned himself to never seeing his pregnant wife or son ever again. His one regret was that he never left a note before he left for this mission to tell his young son what he believes in, why he does what he does and why he makes the sacrifices he does.
My lesson from this very emotional part of his speech - "don't have any regrets". I instantly sent a text to my wife and daughter just to let them know how much I loved them - most of the people in my near vicinity did the same thing.
Capt. Linenger also shared with us one of his life lessons - "at the end of the day leave it behind and get ready for the next challenge…."
I have taken this life lesson on board - if it's good enough for an astronaut who has circled the globe over 2000 times its good enough for me. Another message he had for us was "you can overcome anything when you have passion for it".
So get out there and live a life of passion!