What Will You Regret On Your Deathbed?

Happy Sunday everyone,

Did you know: Steve Jobs credited his cancer diagnosis with giving him his clearest perspective and strongest drive..

He said, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

In today’s email:

1. What You’ll Regret On Your Deathbed & how to be proud instead.

2. The Most Common Regret Dying Men Have & how to avoid having it yourself.

3. The UK’s New Solar Power Record & why energy costs went negative.

POWER SURGE

What Will You Regret On Your Deathbed?

The other day, I got some news that put me in a contemplative mood.

I found my mind switched to a big picture perspective where I saw life from a different vantage point.

From your deathbed, would today's to-do lists and inbox notifications matter?

Would that presentation you were obsessed with or the minor workplace politics hold any significance?

The “deathbed perspective” is a powerful tool we can use to separate the meaningful from the mundane. How would this situation seem from a dying individual's point of view?

One nurse working in palliative care reported that every male patient she tended to wished they hadn’t worked so hard.

As busy young people constantly chasing the next achievement or outcome, most of what we think we want is shaped by people who won’t be there in our final moments.

Yes, income does accurately predict subjective well-being, but countless studies only show that up to a point.

Many people believe that achieving their career goals will lead to everlasting happiness, while in reality, it’s fleeting.

And no—this doesn’t mean abandoning ambition.

You can still build. Still strive.

But maybe that means turning off your notifications, showing up for that friend’s wedding in Ireland, or actually calling your mum when you think of her.

Using the deathbed perspective and projecting yourself to your final reflections, what would you genuinely regret?

Would it be:

• Not responding to that last email, or would it be missing connections with loved ones?

• Not expressing your feelings to someone important?

• Never pursuing your passion?

Death is a morbid topic, but it’s also the ultimate clarifying lens. It strips away pretence and reveals the true hierarchy of what matters.

It makes us realise the absurdity of giving all our energy to the insignificant and prompts us to prioritise what truly matters.

When we embrace this perspective, we often discover that our most meaningful achievements aren't the promotions or accolades, but the relationships we've nurtured, the impact we've had on others, and the moments we've been fully present.

How Do You Use The “Deathbed Perspective”?

Real progress, whether it's in life, wellness, relationships, or even our careers, isn't just about ticking boxes and chasing milestones.

It's about embracing balance and exploring the deeper, more meaningful parts of life. It's about stepping back sometimes and viewing life as a complete work.

The entrepreneurs and high-achievers I admire most regularly step back from the daily grind to evaluate their choices from this broader perspective.

They make decisions that align with their deeper values, not just immediate goals.

They understand that accomplishments pale in comparison to values like integrity and kindness.

Would you rather 100 people remember you as a ruthless high achiever, or 10 remember you as the kindest person they knew? The answer should be obvious - we can learn a lot from our priorities from this question alone.

What insignificant thing stole too much of your energy today? What meaningful action did you postpone for "someday"?

Take a moment to consider what your future self would want you to prioritise tomorrow. 

1. Identify one meaningful thing you'd regret not doing more of on your deathbed.

2. You may pick: investing in a relationship, pursuing a passion, making a positive impact, or simply being more present by listening to your friends.

3. Deliberately commit to making space for it in your schedule tomorrow.

The most powerful business strategy is ensuring that your professional journey doesn’t subtract from what truly matters.

Let's build lives and careers we can look back on knowing we invested our limited time in what genuinely mattered.

Let's make our lives something we can look back on without regret.

LOOK INTO THE LIGHT

Here’s 3 Great Things You Missed Recently:

#1 UK Breaks Solar Power Generation Record

• UK solar farms generated 12.2 GW of electricity on April 1 – a national record

• Surplus energy even caused wholesale prices to dip into the negative in parts of Europe.

• The milestone signals progress toward a cleaner, cheaper energy future.

#2 AI Learns Minecraft Without Help

• Google DeepMind’s AI agent, Dreamer, learned to play Minecraft at an expert level on its own

• It achieved this by setting progressively harder goals for itself over 9 days.

• This marks a significant leap toward autonomous, self-learning AI systems.

#3 SpaceX Sends First Private Crew Over Earth’s Poles

• SpaceX launched Fram2, the first private spaceflight to orbit Earth over both poles.

• The civilian-led mission included entrepreneurs and scientists from multiple countries.

• It marks a milestone in commercial space and expands the possibilities of polar orbits.

Wisdom or Wires

Which Quote Is AI?

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