My songwriting mentor passed away in 2019. He was one of the most successful songwriters of the last decade, writing and producing hundreds and hundreds of songs, many of which were number-ones.
On the flight home from his private memorial service, I realized something. Not one person I talked to mentioned any of his hit songs. Sure, it was noted how great of a songwriter he was, but there wasn’t any mention of particular songs. The stories I heard were about how he treated people and that he made them feel loved.
It occurred to me that among your friends and family, nobody cares about your so-called trophies. They are proud of you and your achievements, of course. But they probably can’t remember all you’ve done and accomplished. They love you because of your relationship with them and who you are.
Some songwriters want to be remembered for their songs. I think I used to as well. But the longer I live, the more I realize my greatest hits will be how I treated people and the relationships I was blessed to have.