Memento Mori & Professional Brand
- Anne Marie DeCarolis
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Remembering your death, traditionally referred to as “memento mori,” has a way of prompting us to distill down what’s important and embrace greater authenticity. “Live like you were dying” is a modern equivalent, prompting similar reflection.
Assuming most of us won’t have a front-page obituary detailing our illustrious career, how does a reflection on mortality impact how we work? Perhaps, we will show up differently, lead with greater empathy and emotional intelligence, not work late yet again or keep setbacks and success in perspective.
The culmination of how we show up becomes our professional brand. Articulating said brand, as we’re encouraged to do, can be daunting. However, ask anyone we work with and they’d lend at least a few adjectives.
When others tell us our brand, we must decide if we need a rebrand and to change our behaviors accordingly. Brands are always alive and becoming – and so are we.
How else might memento mori and professional brands be subtly linked? Most obituaries include some variation on “devoted wife, mother and friend” alongside surviving relatives, hometowns and hobbies. Some may condense decades of professional contributions into a passing mention, if mentioned at all.
What if our professional brands were inspired by the writing style of obituaries? Can we capture what we do, how we do it and why – stripped down, ruthlessly authentic and written through the eyes of those who love us?
Hmm…that sounds vaguely like Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle from Start with Why.
In a world focused on ‘what,’ people remember ‘how’ and ‘why’ far more.
To the Point
Professional branding differentiates us. As St. Carlo Acutis said, “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.” Preserve your originality as you live this fleeting, wondrous life.
If you’re grappling with positioning yourself professionally, consider memento mori.
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