This week’s message is to me. I think I need to frame it or laminate it to remind me of what I need to do. Maybe it will help you, too. About 18 months ago I found out one of my very good friends, Mark Johnson, president of Granite Transformations (an international franchise company), had stage-four cancer. He died a couple weeks ago and I’ll attend a memorial service for him in California on April 4.

Here are some excerpts of a note he sent to me shortly after he learned of his situation:

I love my job, love who I work with and love the people I serve with on committees. I love my family, my friends and even my enemies because they teach me something as well. I even love cancer because it has helped me realign my thought process.

I love everything that influences me or crosses my path. I enjoy the sunrise, the sunset, the clouds in the sky and the peace of the chirping birds. I appreciate a simple conversation, a moment alone, completing a task or clearing my desk before I leave in the evening. I appreciate every single simple moment in life and recognize that I am fortunate to have this life. God is teaching me to focus on the moment. 

In December I flew to Florida to say my last goodbyes—knowing the end was near. He said that he finally took the time to have a coffee each morning with his wife on the lanai. He didn’t have time before then to do it. Cancer forced him to take the time.

Since his death I’ve tried to be more cognizant of contact family and friends—every day I try to get better.

My wife, Mary Kay, was registering us for an online banking site and one of the questions was “Who is your hero?” I thought about Abraham Lincoln … but knew it was really my dad—who had a sudden heart attack and died when I was only 13. Sadly, not long enough to create many treasured memories, but I remember racing him to read “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss. Must have been about 1959, two years after the book was published, and I was learning to read in kindergarten

While combing the local newspaper, I saw this week’s Associated Press’s Best Hardcover Fiction Book sellers:

1). “Insurgent” by Veronica Roth (No. 3 is “Allegiant” and by her also.)

2). “Green Eggs and Ham” (first published 1960)

5). “One Fish Two Fish” (first published 1960)

7). “The Cat in the Hat” (first published 1957)

9). “Fox in Socks” (first published 1965)

10). “Hop on Pop” (first published 1963)

Does this amaze you as it does me? Dr. Seuss, or Theodor Geisel, had an amazing talent that is still influencing kids decades later. Mary Kay and I are still buying his books for our grandkids.

When Mary Kay was vice president of ad sales for Comcast in Los Angeles, she had five offices and 70 sales representatives reporting to her. She bought “Green Eggs and Ham” for every new sales rep. She still believes this book, with only 50 words (49 of them one-syllable words), is the best sales book ever written.

My favorite Dr. Seuss book is “The Places You Will Go.” I think it is a must for every high school and college graduate. Looking for great idea for graduation present? Bring the book to each of your child’s teachers from pre-school through high school and have them inscribe a message to your child. Present that to your child upon high school graduation and you will have a home run!

My question this week is to think about yourself as a leader—who are you leaving great memories with? Kids? Grandkids? Other family? Friends? Your technicians or customer service representatives?

Who will talk about you 50 years from now? What about five years from now? The reason I say this is I believe leaders do something memorable. It might be your particular style. It might be what you wear to the office every day or your kindness. Perhaps it will be your management, your vision or your ability hire and train. There is always something leaders do to leave memories.

The next time you are having the absolute worst day you’ve had for the month remember these words: I love my family, my friends and even my enemies because they teach me something as well. I even love cancer because it has helped me realign my thought process. 

Create a memorable week. Leaders are able to do this because they choose to do it!