One of the most gripping sonnets of poetry I’ve ever encountered is from Walt Whitman’s poem entitled “O Me! O Life!”

It’s in this poem that Whitman poses the question of what good is life, what is this great purpose for us as humans to toil and tread in this life.

And the answer, “That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”

Today is about your contribution to the world around us. What is the verse you are writing with your message, your books, your talks, your training, and your content?

Life is far too short and far too fragile for us to simply make money. It is our sacred responsibility to make an intellectual contribution to the world around us.

What is your verse? What is the lasting contribution that those around you recognize as your great gift? And, how do you add even more meaning to those around you?

That is your verse. That is your legacy. This is your extraordinary moment of impact, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.

Keynote Clarity for Thought Leaders is presented by Jon Cook, founder of Keynote Content. Jon and his team help thought leaders, namely speakers, coaches, and consultants, craft and share their messages to better serve their audiences. Connect with Jon and his team at Keynote Content by visiting keynotecontent.com. You can subscribe to the Keynote Clarity for Thought Leaders Flash Briefing by visiting bit.ly/KeynoteClarity and enabling it there. Then, all you have to say is, “Alexa, what’s my flash briefing?”