Last night our mutual friend Jon Giganti (who I met through Scott) texted me. “Did you hear the news about Dinsmore?”
I figured it was just something amazing that he did. He tends to always be doing or planning something epic. He got featured on Oprah probably, I thought.
I wish I could say that’s what happened. Two days ago my good friend Scott Dinsmore died in a freak accident while climbing one of the safest mountains in the world, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Last night I went to bed hoping it was just some crazy, fucked up hoax.
It wasn’t.
My friend is gone and he’s not coming back.
When I first met Scott, I didn’t want to like him. He was a young, successful, bro-ish kind of guy with a perpetual self-help kind of smile that made you wonder if it was just an act. But damnit, he turned out to be one of the most genuine, caring and down to earth people I ever met. He broke all the stereotypes I had about dude-bros from the beach that listened to Tony Robbins and had a privileged, middle class upbringing. I didn’t want to like him, but over time he became a great friend.
I remember when he first guest posted on my blog, it was called Illuminated Mind back then, and his was called Reading For Your Success. We both kind of grew up together online, and helped each other shape our brands and messages. When he rebranded to Live Your Legend he asked for my blessing, since he was being pulled to do similar work as I am. I was flattered, but knew that this follow your passion, live on your own terms thing was about something much bigger than us both. I had no idea at the time that his site would absolutely explode in the way it did.
Looking back, it’s easy to see why. Scott was an incredible human being, always giving, always humbly learning from everyone around him. No matter how big his blog became, he never acted like he now had it “all figured out.”
The kind of weird thing is that we never hung out a ton, at least not in the traditional sense. We exchanged emails, tweets chatted on Skype and hung out at WDS. I guess that’s how most of my friendships have formed these days, through the magic of this thing called the internet.
Scott, you died living your life to the absolute fullest. It fucking sucks that you’re gone, and I’m going to miss the hell out of your perpetual smile and your bro-ish style. You taught me that people are awesome and that you never know who some of your best friends might become.
My love and prayers go out to Scott’s wife Chelsea, their family and his friends. We’re here for you.
I’ll miss you brother. Thank you for inspiring me to make this precious, fading life count.
So sorry to hear. A loss for us all. Prayers to his wife in her time of loss. The only thing we can do is mourn and carry out our dreams.
Jonathan,
Thanks for sharing your memories. A few years ago I sat in a very hot second story room with Scott, Leo, Mary, Courtney and a few others and talked about doing this thing we do. Scott was still doing business under his former site name and what I remember from that two-hour meet-up was his smile, his piercing eye-contact that let you know when was listening to every word you were saying whether he’d known you for years or had just met you, and his energy that radiated drive, commitment, and compassion. I’m sorry that you lost a dear friend, brother… and I’m sorry the world will no longer hear his voice or read his latest thoughts and plans for the rest of us.
I don’t know Scott, but I can grasp such a loss, and my heart goes out to you and all who’ve been touched by his legacy and zest for living life on his own terms. It is such people who inspire us to “seize the day” … and while to most it’s just some quote, there are those few who hold this in their hearts like a mantra, or a rule almost. Over the past year and a half, my concept and definition of success has changed dramatically. Now as a single Mom and business owner in the Bay Area, the day to day monotony has been replaced with making every day count for both myself and two small children. Children have world’s to teach us, but more than anything is the ability to fully embrace each moment. Some people are naturally inclined to do so, many of us inspired later in life upon fully grasping how fleeting it all really is. Someone recently asked me “Kylie, what is it you truly want?” I guess I’d say to live each day as if it were the last and to leave a legacy to those I cherish… that they never question my devotion to being present in the now, nor ever questioned where they stood with me. To live this life as the adventure it is meant to be- that my children and those I love knew every twist and turn to be faced in the most genuine and honest way, with appreciation for every lesson. Your friend is honored and remembered for the life he chose. Sometimes the brightest stars do burn out gaster you know. Most of us can only hope for a fraction of that. Take care and Godspeed … in your own journey xo
Kylie Dayton
Oh man. I’m devastated by this news. Thank you for sharing; condolences on the loss of your friend. He was an inspiration. Keep up the good work. – TM
awesome post man… yeah, i had never even met Scott… only been touched and inspired by his work online. gutted man…. so sad today. now i’m gonna follow you because you knew Scott and obviously vibed off the same stuff. Look forward to getting to know you. RIP to our bro.
I remember seeing Scott’s Ted talk a few years back. It inspired me to take action and start working towards my goals.
Sad to see you go so early.
It’s just too hard to believe I agree and I also wrote a tribute to Scott since he touched my life – as you say you couldn’t help but get infected by his positive lust for life. We need to celebrate him now and continue the amazing work he did for his legend to carry on
We really miss the great thoughts and articles, May his blessed soul rest in eternal peace
Thank you for writing this tribute, Jonathan. It helps makes the loss more bearable.
Both you and Scott have had huge roles to play in helping me turn my life around. In particular, both of you have been instrumental in making me the writer I am now.
I joined Scott’s Live Off Your Passion course in April 2013, and working through the exercises I realized that my passion was writing. I started writing everyday, but I was still afraid to publish most of it. I was scared to death of calling myself a writer or a blogger.
Then, in November 2013, you launched your momentum challenge and my blog was born as a direct result of it. I haven’t looked back since then and have gone on to be published on much bigger blogs.
Thank you for doing continuing to make a difference in people’s lives. I didn’t get a chance to say thank you to Scott, to whom I owe almost every good thing in my life now. But I hope I will get a chance to thank you in person some day. Till then, “thank you from the bottom of my heart”.