Jared is a civil engineer. Many of the head honchos at his firm are nearing retirement. While that fast-tracks his goal of becoming partner, it also threatens the long term health of the firm by leaving a void of knowledge and wisdom that only years of experience can provide.

Wisely, Jared has taken it upon himself to interview these individuals before they sail off into the sunset. One of the things he asks them is what they would have done differently, if given the chance.

He told me that their answers are one of the following:

• Take better care of my body.
• Have more kids.
• Spend more time with my family.

Jared points out that not one person has talked about working more or harder.

Not one.

His findings don’t surprise me. It lines up with Bronnie Ware’s experience caring for dying people. What does surprise me is how easily we get bogged down in things that just won’t matter at the end of our lives.

The question is simple: What choices could you start making today that will erase the regrets you’ll have twenty years from now if you don’t?