What's Your Legacy? (Hint: You're living it now)

CEOs have legacies. Leaders have legacies. But I’m not talking about that. What about you? What will be your personal legacy? You don’t have to be Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, or some other billionaire genius to make a difference.

All you have to be is you.

Your legacy is how you want to be remembered. It’s about the contributions and actions - both tangible and intangible – that you’ve made. It’s an impression that you’ve made on others. Sometimes that’s positive and sometimes not.

But you have control over your legacy.

Our life consists of a series of encounters, some chance, from a wide range of people and from all walks of life. You may recall a teacher, parent, relative, minister, boss, or even a neighbor who made an impact in our life. One early impression that was left with me was in my early elementary school days. And it wasn’t a teacher that left the lasting impression, it was our school janitor. She did everything on her own. She was there before anyone arrived and was there late into the evening. She didn’t have a car and walked the mile to and from school every day. I don’t recall her ever missing a day.

I had more respect for her than any teacher there. Her hands were worn, cracked, wrinkled and calloused-looking from the harsh chemicals that she used to clean. But her heart was soft. Her legacy wasn’t just the value of hard work she portrayed. It was her kindness and her warmth. Her soft blue and faded eyes comforted many children. On more than one occasion, she consoled a crying child after they had fallen on the playground, who was sick at school, or just didn’t want to be left behind by their parent. She didn’t just leave a legacy of being the school’s janitor. I never thought of her in that way. I thought of her as a woman who cared deeply about the children and loved every one. We trusted her. She was always in our corner.

What about you? What’s your legacy?

“Your achievements die with you.
Your deeds live on as your legacy!” ― Manoj Vaz

Is it your sense of humor, or your wit? Is it your intelligence, your creativity, your hard work? Is it your prowess with sports or other competition? Is it based on your accomplishments at work or in your community? Is it because you treat every person you meet with respect and kindness?

Heck, maybe you don’t even care about your legacy. Fair enough. But what if you do?

Understand that the legacy you are leaving is happening right now.

Your legacy happens in real-time. Whether you think about it or not, your legacy is being written every day. The decisions you make and the effect you have on others all influence what is said, remembered, and exhibited about you. Your legacy doesn’t have to be accidental. The way you walk through life and the purpose you bring to it, touches many people along the way. If you don’t like the way your legacy is unfolding, you cannot rewrite life but you can start a new chapter with a different ending.

Your legacy is your contribution. It’s why your life matters.

Photo Credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/mimoza by Maria Georgieva

Your Turn: What’s your legacy?