After 33 years serving the burgeoning community of Londonderry, New Hampshire, my dad, Reed Clark (along with my incredible mom!) has relocated back to the Washington, DC area.  It is the end of an era.  Over that time, my dad served on the Londonderry Town Council, led countless community civic programs, faithfully attended every town budget meeting, set a record as the longest serving member of the Londonderry Rotary Club, and poured his heart and soul into making his corner of the world just a little bit better.  For his years of dedication to the town, he was named “Citizen of the Year” and recently bestowed with a plaque proclaiming him “Londonderry’s Most Esteemed and Cherished Citizen of All Time.”

But even those well-earned accolades paled in comparison to the unprecedented farewell he received from the town.  Londonderry Police Captain Patrick Cheetham organized a full police escort for my mom and dad, complete with a final tour of the town, a citizen’s parade at the Londonderry Fire Department, and the type of pomp and pageantry reserved for royalty.  As the motorcade meandered through the streets, my dad did his best “Queen’s Wave” and belted out his signature phrase, “Carry On!” to all the well-wishers.  But it was during a lull in the action that the seminal moment of the day played out.

The police officer driving my mom and dad was making small talk and keeping the mood light.  But as we headed toward the airport, the conversation turned more serious.  At one point, the officer leaned over toward my dad and reduced his voice to a near whisper.

“You know, sir, Ronald Reagan once said that most people spend their entire lives wondering if they have made a difference.”

There was a long, dramatic pause, as he surveyed the people lining the streets.  Finally, he turned back toward my dad.

“Sir, you don’t have to worry about that!”

(I’m not crying, you’re crying!)

It was a wonderful moment and a perfect way to sum up a life well-lived.  But it also invoked broader considerations for what it means to make a difference in this world.

Impact is Measured on a Human Level

We all want to be prosperous in our careers and make a difference in our company or organization.  It is important to have goals and to drive toward those outcomes.  But too often, we hold ourselves to lofty ideals that are simply not realistic.  Not all of us are going to break into upper management.  Not all of us are going to run the company.  Not all of us can consistently remain on top.  We may stumble.  We may fall short.  But that doesn’t mean we have failed.  Life is not a zero-sum game.  We all have the ability to make a difference!

Any time we help a young co-worker with a problem, we have made a difference.  Any time we encourage a frustrated colleague to stay the course, we have made a difference.  Any time we calm the fears of a trusted client, we have made a difference.  Any time we sacrifice for the greater good of the organization, we have made a difference.  Impact is not measured in dollars, or titles, or stock share.  It is measured on a far more human level.  In the end effort, empathy and dedication make a difference!

Make Our Corner of the World Better

Think about the people who have influenced our own personal lives.  Perhaps a coach who never gave up on us.  Or a teacher that kept us laughing despite our struggles.  Or a friend who always stayed in our corner.  Or a parent who always lent a sympathetic ear.  Or anyone who ran to our aid when the storms clouds gathered.  Our inner circle may not receive an award, or have a statue erected in their honor.  But they have made a monumental difference in our lives! And they have inspired us to give back and do the same in return.  That is what impact is all about!

It isn’t always going to be a smooth road.  We have to whether the storm.  We have to stay resilient.   We have to face down our naysayers and stay confident in the face of adversity. And we can’t measure ourselves by someone else’s definition of success. Service matters.  Dedication matters.  Faithfulness to a cause matters.  Longevity matters.  If we are going to make a difference in the world, we have to start by making our own corner just a little bit better.

Thank you, Londonderry, for shining a light on those who truly make a difference in this world.