Hi GirdleyWorld!
I promise this won’t be as heavy as it sounds — it’s super useful!
- The Green Box Exercise
Let’s get into it!
First off, I wish you the best of health.
Secondly, we’ll all die someday.
It will be hard for my loved ones when I think about the days after I go. And I recently learned something you can do to make that easier for them.
The Green Box Exercise
Here’s how it works:
- Collect all the info your loved ones will need after you’re gone.
- Put it in a box. (Preferably green.)
It’s a roadmap to find everything. It will save your family, lawyers, etc., from puzzling out a million loose ends.
Here’s what I put in mine:
Personal Stuff
- A “START HERE” document that lists everything in the box
- Letters to your spouse/children/parents
- Any mementos and a list of to whom you’d like them given
- A copy of your will
- Copies of your power of attorney documents
Life Admin
- Computer passwords (I keep this simple – it’s the master password for my password manager)
- Copy of passport and birth certificate
- Copy of credit cards
- Details of life insurance (personal and company-owned)
- Details of all other insurance
- Medical/dental information
Business
- Org chart(s) and contact information
- Recommendation on who to trust and how
- List of trusted advisors (lawyers, accountants, CPA, etc)
Assets
- Personal financial statements
- Details of any trusts
- Copies of physical property titles (cars, houses, etc)
- Personal portfolio information and access
- Personal property valuations (jewelry, etc)
- Rewards or points accounts (why waste those airline miles!)
Final To-Do Lists
- List of personal and business people that should be notified
- Any instructions not addressed in your will
- Funeral/burial instructions
And finally, whatever else they might need.
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A few thoughts
This isn’t an easy thing to do. Logistically, it’s a bunch of stuff to pull together.
But writing the letters to your family is a very grounding exercise. It makes you think about what matters in life.
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For some of this stuff, your mileage may vary. I didn’t put much for funeral instructions. I figure, do what you want — I’ll be dead.
On the other hand, putting something down could take a difficult decision off your family’s plate.
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This box has sensitive information in it.
You could put it in a safe or fireproof cabinet or a safety deposit box at your bank. The important thing is make sure your family knows where to find it.
One other note: don’t rush, but don’t wait.
It’s a big list. So I gave myself some time to put it all together. And if you don’t have a will, you should.
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People have asked me why the box has to be green. I have an answer. What do YOU think?
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Finally, a big thank you to my friend & coach Tom Cuthbert, who introduced me to this idea as part of Vistage. If you’re looking for a business coach, he’s amazing!
3 things from this week
- Appetizer: Let’s lighten the mood a little. My meme thread from last September. All memes. No dying. (Well, one skeleton meme.)
- Main: More people than ever are living to 100. I’d love to be one of them.
If you would too, my colleague Robyn Smith just launched the best newsletter covering the longevity space. Right now you can only read it if you subscribe! Click here to sign up.
- Dessert: I launched a brand new Girdley.com this week! Check it out, and let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading! Stay alive, everybody!
Michael
