nwv brief #14: character

Dear Founder,

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on loss. Losing people close to me has brought one question to the surface: What will my eulogy say?

If I were to die tomorrow, how would the people I love remember me? What stories would they share?

Legacies are peculiar; they don’t live in what we think of ourselves, but in the words others speak about us when we’re not in the room or when we’re gone. Through reflection and a little eulogy research, one truth has emerged: what people remember most is character.

Character: the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

Unlike personality, character is not fixed. It evolves, shaped by our choices, habits, and impact on others. Yet, too often, we tether our identities to fleeting markers—our industry, titles, revenue milestones, or organizational size.

We obsess over metrics that will vanish when we do.

When I envision the founder I hope to become, I don’t want to be remembered as “the one with a million users” or “the leader of thousands.” I want something deeper:

• She made a positive impact on the lives of others.

• She inspired those around her.

• She was loyal, kind, honest, empathetic, intelligent, and trustworthy.

I hope people's stories reflect how I made them feel, the values I embodied, and the moments we shared.

The worst eulogy I can imagine would be a sterile list of accomplishments read aloud by people who felt disconnected from them.

Maybe who we are is not in what we achieve but in how we make others feel.

Perhaps what truly defines us is not just our moments of greatness but our everyday acts that reflect our values. Character is revealed in the small, consistent choices we make: the times we choose kindness over convenience, honesty over ease, or courage over comfort.

If the measure of a life is the impact we make on others, then building a legacy of character is less about ambition and more about alignment. It’s aligning who we are with what we do—day in and day out.

So, who do you choose to become today? And how will your actions reflect the legacy you hope to leave behind?

With purpose, vision, & appreciation,