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Great business books have two elements, heart and practicality. Todd Henry’s latest work Die Empty has ample portions of both. This is an impatient book. The title sounds desperate, a pleading with the reader to leave the earth empty of the creative abilities they have inside themselves. Todd then spends the book beautifully explaining why and then how to do it.
It’s irresponsible for writers to simply inspire people to action without giving them a roadmap to follow that action. Die Empty is part sermon part treasure map. He inspires the believers, those of us who know we have creative ability, and then he gives us instructions on how to achieve a life well lived.
This book is unafraid. Todd confronts the myth that no one on their death bed regrets working too much. He embraces work as a place where we find meaning and add value to the world.
Your job is a collection of activities that allow you to add value to the world.
You may in fact dislike this book before you embrace it. Early on Todd make it clear that the key to long term impact is embracing discomfort and the unknown, a message that is of course difficult to live out.
The key to long-term success is a willingness to disrupt your own comfort for the sake of continued growth. To that end, how you choose to stare down uncertainty is often then determinant of success or failure.
Die Empty is not a feel good book nor is it a guilt inducing lecture. Die Empty is a strong word of encouragement and a detailed map for those of us who want to change the world with our words, our art and our leadership.
One day will be my last day and I plan to die empty. (Tweet That) This book has helped inspire and instruct me on how to do that. I hope you’ll read it and die empty too.
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