Ron Shaich Panera
Panera's Ron Shaich writes his own obituary once a year.
  • Panera founder Ron Shaich uses an exercise he calls a "pre-mortem" to define his values and goals.
  • Shaich used the exercise in his personal life first before bringing it to his businesses too.
  • He recommends the exercise as a way to achieve your long term goals.

Every year, for the past 30 years, Panera founder Ron Shaich sits down and writes his own obituary.

He imagines himself far into the future looking back at a fulfilled life. Then he asks himself in the present what he can do to ensure he reaches that place.