Thread: Don't lose out to the potato salad [by Chaseme]

Don't lose out to the potato salad

October 9, 2011
by Chaseme

On Wednesday the world said goodbye to one of the greatest innovators of the century - Steve Jobs.

As TechCrunch mentioned in a recent article what makes Job's passing so distinguishable is that people that never even met the man felt so emotionally attached to his death.

But it wasn't only his myriad of cool tech products that drew him so many fans. It was his passion for enriching lives through Apple products.

However, it wasn't fueled by a desire to get rich; as Jobs was famously known as having a $1 annual salary.

Jobs was once quoted as saying:

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me…Going to bed at night saying we've done smething wonderful…that's what matters to me."

A sad reality of human life is that no one is safe from the grasp of death. But the tragety isn't in death itself but in the time of being plucked from this earth.

I had a family reunion last month and was able to speak to a distant relative of mine. We got into discussing what we do for work.

He told me he collects computers from large organizations and parts them out for the precious metals. But as a side job he saves some of the working parts and builds up fully-funcitonal computers and donates the finished product to low-income households in his community.

He told me he loves helping people out and a doing something that matters by using his resources and skills for bettering people.

We kept talking and he said one thing that stuck with me.

He told me, when he dies he doesn't want to lose out to the potato salad.

My interest piqued and my eyebrow raised.

He continued to explain - if you've ever attended a funeral you realize how still and grim the ambiance is. In this ambiance of remembrance few words are spoken. Following the mourning ritual is often times a post-funeral meal. One of the most awkward social situations is dining in silence. For this reason someone will break the silence at the dinner table by commenting on something frivolous like how great the potato salad is.

Now after some time passes, when your friends and family look back on you and your subsequent death; they may not remember you but they will always remember how great the potato salad at your funeral was.

"Don't lose out to the potato salad."

Strive for greatness, strive to change lives, and strive to live every moment on earth to its fullest.

Touching story. I was at funeral on Friday, and he certainly did not lose out to the potato salad.

Good article Chase.