Imagine that you are 95 years old. You are just getting ready to die. Here comes your last breath! But before you take your last breath, you are given a wonderful gift—a beautiful gift—the ability to go back in time and talk to the person who is reading this foreword—the ability to help you, the person who is reading this foreword—be a better professional. More importantly, to give you the ability to help yourself have a better life.

What advice would the 95-year-old "you" have for the "you" that is reading this foreword?

I have had the opportunity to talk with a couple of friends who have interviewed old people—or dying people—and asked them the question, "What advice would the 'old you' have had for the 'younger you'?"

Three themes consistently come up in the answers from old people—or people facing death:

Be happy now.

Build relationships with people.

Follow your dreams.

This very practical and useful book is all about building relationships with people.

I think that the title Results through Relationships is very accurate. I believe if you even come close to doing most of the work that is suggested in this book, you will improve relationships and achieve results—your dreams.

You will become a better leader, a better salesperson, or a better team member. Your company's productivity will increase.

I would suggest that none of these good reasons is the primary reason that you should use the material in this book to build relationships.

You should work very hard on building relationships because the 95-year-old you will be proud because you did. And the 95-year-old you will be disappointed if you didn't.

In terms of all of the feedback and performance appraisals that you will receive in life—that appraisal of the "old you" who is facing death is the only one that matters. If that old person thinks that you did the right thing—you did. If that old person thinks you screwed up—you did. You don't have to impress anyone else.

If you think I am wrong, interview any CEO who has retired. I have interviewed many. Ask them one question, "Please tell me what you are proud of?"

All they ever discuss are the people that they helped—their relationships—not how big their office was or how much money they made.

At the end of the day, relationships are everything.

The main reason to use all of the good tips in this book is to become a better human being.

If that isn't reason enough, don't do it.

If you are just trying to manipulate people to get ahead, don't waste your time. Life is too short.

Review this book. It contains a lot of great ideas.

Do what works for you. Don't worry about the rest.

Have better relationships with people and a better life.

Be someone who the 95-year-old you would be proud of.

Send Joe a little thank you note when something he wrote helps you have a better life.

—Marshall Goldsmith

New York Times best selling author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There