Create a legacy that goes beyond your name.

***UPDATE, 6/5/2020***

An action item that was created from this event was a resolution, a call to action to our members created by our student leaders.

I am incredibly impressed and proud of our members for what they put together, creating a legacy for this organization!

Check out the video: AKPsi Resolution

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A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present at our annual President’s Academy / Fraternity Advisors Conference. I am always humbled to address our chapter presidents and volunteers, the leadership team members on the front line pushing and driving the fraternity strategic initiatives. A handful of our members expressed interest in sharing this topic, so here you go!

In this post, I want to talk directly to YOU.

I was asked to introduce the theme for this year, an idea that came into fruition as a result of my current environment and taking on the role of Fraternity President six months ago. The theme?

Creating a legacy.

This theme was for the weekend but quite frankly, it was my call to action for you. What do you want to leave behind as your legacy, for your chapter, for this organization, and for you as an individual leader?

Before you can answer that, first, what does creating a legacy mean to you? Take a moment to answer that.

There are many thoughts on what a legacy is and what it entails, here are 3 points that I want to share when you think about creating that legacy.

First, it is understanding that a legacy is not about people remembering you. The legacy is the impact you make during your time and how it affects the way people ACT and THINK after you are gone.

Creating a legacy is not about people just remembering who you were. Even after you are gone, the memory of you, the person, also begins to fade. But changing how people act and think gets passed on. That action, that way of thinking is taught to the next generation. Perfect example, your chapter, the things you do today is because it is what you were taught as a pledge and member. Do you remember whose idea it was or how it got started? Most likely not. This is another reason why each chapter is unique in their own way.

And for our fraternity advisors, HOW you interact and guide our student members will mold what they do next. This will last for generations to come.

All great leaders and individuals build a legacy that goes beyond fond memories. It is about the actions others take, not knowing who you were but WHAT you did.

Next, the foundation of creating a legacy is knowing you, what your core values and beliefs are to you. It is not just knowing what is important to you, but what is non-negotiable.

The foundation of building a legacy starts with knowing what matters to you and what is considered your non-negotiables. It could revolve around different aspects of your life. It does not matter what those non-negotiables are, what matters is that you know what they are and how it drives your decisions.

Write these non-negotiables down on paper, remind yourself daily, and refine them consistently.

Here are my top 3 non-negotiables as your Fraternity President:

• I will always see more potential in you than you will see in yourself. Which is why I will challenge and push you to be better, to think outside of the box. I am a firm believer you can achieve anything but only if you want it.
• I will not tolerate any brother that pulls our members down and sets them up for failure. That is not our organization and the core values we were built on. We always pull our brothers up and push them forward.
• I will always make decisions that are driven by the success and growth of our members over my personal gains. No ifs, and, buts about it.

Great leaders drive home their non-negotiables over and over and over again because it is their core being. You should do the same because it is easy to forget during the hustle and bustle of life.

Lastly, to build on the foundation, you have to actively create a legacy that you want. Every moment, every decision, and every outcome will define you.

There will be moments that will define you. Whether you are at a party, in a meeting, or on a project, there will be a moment, where you will make a difficult decision, ignore an issue, choose instant gratification/fun over what you know what is right. The outcome will define what tomorrow will bring and what you have left behind.

If you want to leave behind more than a memory and if you genuinely want to change who you are and the organization you work in for the long term, you must actively create it. A legacy is not given, it is created.

Think about your chapter traditions and what your chapters do today, do you know why or who started it? Most likely not but you do it today because it promotes the development of your brothers.

Ask yourself this, what legacy do YOU want to create?

The purpose of this weekend was to help you define that for yourself, for your chapter, and for AKPsi. Talk to your peers and create your list of non-negotiables. Leave here knowing that you can do more and be more, create the legacy that goes beyond your name.

Being in AKPsi does not make you a principled business leader and holding your role does not make you one either. What makes you one is actively creating that legacy, one that impacts the action and betterment of others. Are you leaving a legacy that leaves our brothers better than when they started?

I love to hear your list of non-negotiables and what you are doing for your chapter!

Thanks, brothers!