The Unfinished Work of a Life Well-Lived

There is work left unfinished. Life often feels like a relentless pursuit of a championship title—the way athletes in football, hockey, baseball, or the Olympics push themselves season after season. Each day, I rise, commit to the work, strive to do what is right, and chase the goals I’ve set. I do it over and over again, measuring progress, refining my craft, showing up with dedication. And yet, as the calendar turns another year, I sometimes pause and ask myself: Am I there yet? How do I get there?

This reflection, I realize, is shortsighted. There are successes—many of them. They accumulate over time, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. The victories are not always the ones we envisioned, yet they leave a mark—on someone, somewhere, in ways we may never fully know.

This feeling of unfinished work is not unique to me. It is a common theme among those who seek my guidance in person-centered accountability and human potential. They, too, strive to reconcile their relentless pursuit with the reality that true impact is often intangible.

As a human potentialist, I am learning to embrace the paradox of striving while also being. To live as potential in every moment. To integrate the six action-based principles of person-centered accountability into my daily existence—not just as a framework for others but as a lived experience. This, I believe, is the essence of a worthy life: not simply reaching a destination but committing to the process, leaving behind a legacy of hope, and proving—through action, resilience, and care—that our work, even when unfinished, is never without meaning.