Remember that thanks to this blog I had the opportunity to attend a summit in Portland, Oregon?
Well, I found out on September 16th that last weekend, Scott Dinsmore, the CEO of Live Your Legend, passed away.
He was the generous soul that awarded me with the opportunity to attend Portland. He sent me a personal email to inform me on May 10th. And it was a wonderful Mother’s Day surprise.
So when I was about to post a Happy Birthday to my brother on Facebook on September 16th, whom I had been on the phone with a couple minutes earlier and had had lunch with the day before, and saw a post on my newsfeed that said those infamous words “A Tribute To Scott Dinsmore” I had a flashback to what had happened when I basically saw the same words regarding Wayne Dyer 14 days earlier.
So when I read that he had died after being hit by falling rocks nearing Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit in Tanzania while climbing with his wife Chelsea, I was in utter compete shock. Denial, really.
Whaaat?
Tell me it’s not true.
No, it can’t be!
No, it isn’t fair!
I can’t believe it.
How? Well I read how, but how could this happen!?
Falling rocks? What are the odds of that!?
At over 19,000 feet?
Oh my gosh, Chelsea!
Whyyyyy?
Where is Scott?
Tell me it’s not true.
I can’t believe it.
But it’s true.
Oh my gosh.
These were some of the thoughts that went through my head.
When I started processing that he passed away I sobbed. This news was like a stab in my heart. Like a literal stab in my heart. My heart truly did hurt.
And amazingly, that’s how many others have described this loss… an aftermath in which there is a hole in one’s heart.
I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Why?
Because that’s where Scott was and remains…in our hearts.
5 Lessons I learned from Scott Dinsmore
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Don’t give up.
There are more than 100,000 people in 182 countries that are part of Scott’s Live Your Legend community.
Yet, before his hard worked paid off and he achieved this success, Scott was about to quit/shut down this site because only his wife Chelsea and his parents were reading it for about 4 years… even though he had about 111 blog subscribers. But to him it was devastating, because he didn’t see any growth.
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A life in which you hate your job is not a life worth living.
Period. Yeah, we all have to make sacrifices from time to time but spending decades, quarter centuries, half centuries or a lifetime working in the wrong job sucks.
Trying to love something you plain and simply don’t affects your happiness, your love, your present and your health.
As if that weren’t enough, it also negatively affects the happiness, love, presence and health habits you are able (or in this case unable) to provide to others.
It’s okay to want to climb a professional ladder, you just need to make sure it’s a ladder you truly want.
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Anybody can start a concept and start a revolution that impacts people’s minds…yet it takes a special someone to start a revolution that affects people’s hearts.
Tim Ferris, for example, started a 4-hour workweek revolution. Was it inspirational? Yes, but at least for me, it was “aspirational,” something that only a few, select “lucky” people could really attain.
Did learning about the 4-hour work week help me? Of course. It was my first sneak-peak into a life outside Corporate America where you could create life on your terms. But maybe for me, it seemed unattainable at the time because I was utterly responsible in my job…. and the times were different.
For example, when you mentioned the concept of a 4-hour work week to others, like I once very stupidly did to a former boss, people said things like “Interesting” but they looked at you like…. “Hmmm. I didn’t know you were lazy. You really think you can make a living working 4-hour weeks? That’s absurd!” instead of thinking “I get it, you want to work in a smart and fulfilling way.”
Scott, on the other hand, started the Live Your Legend revolution, and he showed us that the goal is doing work that we loved. And for me, at least, the goal wasn’t working less, it was about finding what lit me up. Finding my ladder… and climbing that instead of climbing a conventional ladder that instead of taking people to meaningful heights, brings many people spiritually, mentally and physically down.
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Sometimes, the most impactful people, the ones who squiggle their way into the hearts of thousands or millions of people instantly are those that have a combination of WISDOM with WONDER.
You know how there are some things that kids say that stop you in your tracks because they’re filled with so much wisdom?
Scott’s message was like that.
Scott’s words and writing were filled with truth, simplicity and right intentions.
His message was simple, find what you love, surround yourself with people fulfilling your dreams and do the work required to make your dreams happen.
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God speaks to us through people.
Sometimes it’s hard to notice the impact we have on others until someone speaks up.
To me, it was a tremennnnndous honor to win a ticket to attend World Domination Summit thanks to Scott’s generosity.
To be honest with you, I still can’t believe it.
Out of all the entries he received I’m still in awe and super humble that he chose me.
I immediately felt honored, but when I saw the caliber of the other two winners, I was even more incredulous and more thankful.
And you see, that’s the thing.
In a prior job, for at least a decade I was naively and stupidly waiting to be recognized in a field that apparently I wasn’t “recognizable” in. Invisible, almost.
And in a short time, Scott recognized this blog, my writing, my community and my mission. And it meant sooooooo much more to me than if I would have fiiiiiiinally been recognized in the industry that I was not.
Why? Because what I’m doing now is the right ladder. Writing is my passion.
And as I told Scott the day he awarded me with this opportunity of a lifetime, I will forever love and treasure this honor.
Unconventional Reasons Why I Love Scott and Chelsea
In the entrepreneurial sphere, seeing a couple like Scott and Chelsea isn’t that common. Yes, many people mention a wife, mention their support, and sometimes mention their name, but they rarely show their face, their experiences, their complementary lifestyles and their joy of being together. That is, few of them talk about how much more enjoyable this entrepreneurial journey has been having each other by their side.
Scott on the other hand, has always been proud to have a wife like Chelsea. His story of his proposal to her is touching.
On August 21, 2015, Scott and Chelsea celebrated their 5-year wedding anniversary in the same hotel where they celebrated part of their honeymoon. But their engagement lasted approximately 7 years.
And having a blog called Love and Treasure, I can see that Chelsea and Scott had a special kind of love, one that was friendly, sexy, fun, adventurous and that simply worked. Why? Because they truly invested in one another. They gave each other more love than many couples give each other in a lifetime.
You only have to take a look at their Instagram pictures and videos they filmed together to see what the relationship dynamic was like and how much love they have for each other.
And if all of these reasons aren’t enough… by reading the first few lines of Scott’s About page on Live Your Legend, you can see that he showered Chelsea with his love and appreciation often.
And he posted his wedding video and even tells you the part that makes him cry. You can hear his vows and see Chelsea literally take his breath away.
Talk about romantic and a couple meant to be.
In this case more than ever, I am glad that love is everlasting.
To Wrap It Up
Just like with Wayne Dyer, Scott’s early departure represents a tremendous loss for me and for humanity.
I’m sure that like me, many people woke up and are trying to go about their day with puffy eyes, a clear signal that they had been crying since hearing of Scott’s passing.
But all the Kleenexes that we’ve used up won’t do much if we don’t carry out the legacy the way Scott would have liked… and that is, through our own action and through the fulfillment of our own, true, fulfilling legend.
That’s why, I want to share with you what both Wayne’s, Scott’s and my message are… through Scott’s own words, which he so powerfully and effectively said in less than three minutes:
While it is super sad that this accident happened, it’s important to remember, that Scott and Chelsea were fulfilling a decade-long dream of traveling the world. So as tragic as this loss is, Scott died doing what he loved… with his loved one by his side. And that, as small as it may seem in circumstances of such tremendous pain like this, dying doing what you love with those you love is a blessing. Meaning, it’s better to die fulfilling a dream than to die having never tried. And for Scott and Chelsea, traveling the world like this was a dream come true and it gave them an opportunity to enjoy themselves, this adventure and this playground called world together for eight months. That time they shared is something they’ll treasure forever.
Let us take a moment to remember, that the greatest legend we will ever live and the greatest legacy we will ever leave is our love.
Additional Resources from Chelsea, Scott, and Those Who Loved Them
This is the announcement that was sent via email to the Live Your Legend Community
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we write to let you know that the incredible Scott Dinsmore has sadly passed away after being hit by falling rocks while nearing the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. He was traveling with his wife, Chelsea, who is uninjured and has safely returned to the United States.
As we all grapple with this devastating news and heartbreak, we can take some comfort in this amazing community Scott has created. He leaves an incredible legacy of possibility, inspiration, and downright action….
…. As you all know, Scott was out there living his dream and truly lived each day without regret. His infectious energy, smile, passion and fearlessness were an inspiration to all of us. Scott is someone who has changed the trajectory of so many thousands of people’s lives. And he didn’t just talk about living a life of passion and purpose, he was actually out there doing it. Being the change he wanted to see in the world.”
Scott’s Ted Talk
Here is Scott’s Ted Talk How To Find and Do Work You Love that almost didn’t exist (according to what he shared in some interviews), but that does for a reason. Watch it!
Scott’s Tribute Page
If you had the fortune of knowing Scott or are super impressed by how great he is upon meeting him, there is a Facebook Tribute page where you can read more about what people admire about him or write a tribute to him.
Chelsea’s Gastronomic Talent
Chelsea has a wonderful site called The Simple Kitchen full of delicious meals. Scott and Chelsea hosted dinners around the world for their community.
A Trip of a Lifetime in Pictures
Chelsea and Scott posted photos almost daily. You can check them out below:
https://instagram.com/chelseadinsmore/
https://instagram.com/scottluckeydinsmore/
Creative Live Tribute
Live Your Legend: In Memory of Scott Dinsmore
Heartfelt Tributes by Those Closest To Scott
I loved these posts written by three of Scott’s closest friends, Corbett Barr, Jonathan Fields and Leo Babauta that showed what an awesome person Scott is, and who like him, offer great resources to the world.
Jonathan Field’s Tribute to Scott Dinsmore
http://www.jonathanfields.com/gone-too-soon-my-friend-scott/
Leo Babauta’s Tribute to Scott Dinsmore
Corbett Barr’s Tribute to Scott Disnmore
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