People don't remember you for your achievements.

They remember who you were when you were achieving.

It's simple wisdom that gets us thinking. But like any concise wisdom, begs further questions.

Are achievements actually important at all? I'd say most definitely. I've been speaking more and more to clients and audiences on the importance of ambition/aspiration and how the perspectives and practices associated with these are immensely powerful tools.

These are qualities that keep us relevant, energetic and spirited. These qualities are characteristics that people look for in leaders.

But they also can be destructive forces unless we govern them against time-honoured principles (think Conflict of Interest, Fidelity, Confidentiality etc).

In short, if we have people of sound character, operating under time-honoured principles, using ambition/aspiration...wow.

That's a powerful mix.