Life by Design - Resume vs Eulogy Virtues

Author David Brooks once wrote about the distinction between what he called Résumé Virtues and Eulogy Virtues:

Résumé Virtues are the things you put on your resume. Your professional accolades, education credentials, titles, status, net worth, and more.
Eulogy Virtues are the things people talk about at your funeral. Whether you had a clear purpose and worked with meaning, whether you were curious and interested, whether you were kind, loving, and trustworthy, whether you were a loyal friend, partner, and parent, and more.

He believed that people often prioritize Résumé Virtues, but Eulogy Virtues are actually more important and fulfilling. Despite this, don't discount the resume virtues.

The key is to focus on the right directionality to achieve both types of virtues.

Chasing Résumé Virtues can lead to success in terms of financial wealth and professional accomplishments, but it narrows your focus and may cause you to miss the bigger picture. Leading with Eulogy Virtues, on the other hand, involves working with purpose, building meaningful relationships, and acting with integrity. It allows you to see the broader perspective and ultimately leads to a more fulfilling and successful life.

The directionality matters: A purposeful focus on Eulogy Virtues will build Résumé Virtues, but a focus on Résumé Virtues will not build Eulogy Virtues.

The main takeaway is to stop focusing solely on Résumé Virtues and prioritize Eulogy Virtues instead. By living with purpose, kindness, and meaningful relationships, Résumé Virtues will naturally follow. The key is to maintain the right directionality in life.