There are moments in life when something you hear or see doesn’t just pass through your mind—it settles into your heart.
We’ve all had those moments. A sentence. A thought. An experience. Something that makes you stop and say, “Wow… that just became real.” And once it does, it never really leaves you. It shapes how you see the world, how you see people, and how you see yourself. 
I want to share something with you that’s been part of my life for almost fifty years.
It’s a small piece of paper—about this long and about this wide—with just one sentence written on it. That piece of paper has lived on my bathroom mirror through several different houses, several different stages of life, and a whole lot of fishing seasons.
The sentence is simple.
“Your work is a portrait of you. Autograph it with excellence.”
Stop and think about that for a moment.
Your work—whatever it is you do—tells a story about who you are. It reflects your values, your effort, your integrity, and your respect for the opportunity you’ve been given. Whether you’re on the water, in the shop, in the office, or at home, the things you do leave a signature behind.
When I first read that sentence, it became real to me in a powerful way. It applied to everything. Not just fishing. Not just television. Not just work—but life itself.
It made me ask a simple question over and over again:
Is this good enough… or can I make it just a little bit better?
That question has guided countless decisions over the years. How we prepare. How we treat people. How we tell a story. How we respect the resource. How we show up every single day.
This is a short message, but it’s a powerful one. The kind that’s worth repeating. The kind that’s worth carrying with you.
So this week, the next time you look in the mirror, think about that sentence.
Your work is a portrait of you. Autograph it with excellence.