Inspiration in a Eulogy

I've spent the last two years building a successful real estate investment firm here in Edmonton. But for some reason, there was something missing. I'm very passionate about real estate, but that wasn't it. There was a missing piece to this puzzle. In trying to figure out what the true mission was for this firm, I began a journey of self discovery.

I listened to many different speakers and attended many different seminars trying to discover why I was doing what I was doing. I mean, the purpose of the firm was to make great returns for our investors, and to provide quality housing for tenants, and of course, to make a profit, but there was nothing there that was truly gripping. Nothing that grabbed my heart and screamed at me that this was my life's purpose.

There was a number of different things that eventually lead up to the idea behind the BBC Initiative. I voluntered for the Alberta Community & Cooperative Association Summer Youth Program as a camp counsellor where I discovered my passion for working with and inspiring youth. I read the book "Good To Great" by Jim Collins and realized that I had to figure out what I could do better than anyone else and focus on it. I listened to the One Minute Millionaire by Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hansen, and that's where the picture of the BBC Initiative really started to form. All of these things really helped to form the idea and the concept behind the BBC Initiative, but still, they didn't help me to uncover my life's purpose.

It was during a program that I took through E-Myth Worldwide that was helping me to transform the concept for the BBC Initiative into an actual functioning business that I was challenged to write my own eulogy. How did I want to be remembered at the end of my life? Let me tell you, if you ever question the purpose of your life, or you are unsure of why you are here, try writing your own eulogy and you'll experience some quick clarity in these areas of your life.

Here's my eulogy:

"We're here today to celebrate the life of Jeff Schneider; a loving husband, a caring father, a successful businessman, a major philanthopist, and a huge contributor to our community. He was a man of many dreams, big dreams, and his drive and motivation was an inspiration to all of us. He devoted his life to giving back, both to his community and to our youth. Despite many hurdles and setbacks, he never backed down, never gave up, and never lost faith. He took every opportunity to inspire and teach the people he interacted with. He had an amazing outlook on life; he could always see the positive in negative situations, and he saw the potential in people, and always encouraged them to fully uncover it and to live up to it. He spent his life building a legacy, a legacy for his family, for his community, and for the people involved in his life. He loved kids. He spent many years volunteering his time at the ACCA Summer Youth Program and he started a very successful children's entrepreneurial and financial literacy afterschool program. This program has touched the lives of over 250,000 children across the country. This was a man of amazing faith; he lived his life for God, and honoured God in everything he did. As I said, we are here today to celebrate his life. He was an inspiration to those who knew him and his generosity and achievements will continue to inspire people for generations to come. Although he is no longer with us, he lives on in our hearts and continues to inspire us all to be our best, to reach our full potential and to live each day to its fullest."

What's your life's purpose?