Create A Legacy That Matters ... That Lasts

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?        

Listen to this article:

What is a legacy?

leg·a·cy /?leɡ?sē/

noun

1. An amount of money or property left to someone in a will.
2. The long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc., that took place in the past or of a person's life.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT "LEGACY" AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SECOND DEFINITION PROVIDED.

My Top Six Points:

1. DISCOVER YOUR VALUES & GUIDING PRINCPLES/PURPOSE, THEN LIVE THROUGH THEM
2. REVEAL YOUR NATURAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES
3. UNLOCK THE SECRET
4. CREATE A STRATEGY
5. INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION
6. GIVE BACK

QUESTIONS TO FOCUS ON AS YOU COACH & MENTOR

Did I Teach | Coach | Mentor | Lead Them?

Did I prepare Them?

Did I CARE (Create A Remarkable Experience) for Them?        

HOW DO WE LEAVE A LEGACY???

It seems simple; however, my experiences have proven that it can be more complex than many assume. We often get caught up in the idea that our legacy must be tangible. It doesn't, and I submit that it shouldn't be. Aligned with the definition above, our legacies are left in those around us, those we love and have positively impacted. It isn't explicitly aligned to any career, specialty area, or profession; it is in the humans we surround ourselves with.

A PORTION OF MY PERSPECTIVE TO ADD VALUE TO THE STEPS I PROVIDE?

I chose two pictures of me with my four sons, approximately 14 years apart, and then let the LinkedIn? artificial intelligence generate an article photo for me. I chose these photos because my guiding principles are?Faith,?Family, and?Service. I bring my guiding principles into our legacy conversation because that is where I believe legacy truly resides. I am unaware of how you create a legacy outside your guiding principles and personal values. The pictures highlight a portion of my journey and the Vaden legacy-building opportunity.

Early on in my fatherhood, I decided, with the help of some fantastic mentors, that I desired my sons to be great men and citizens and help others on their journey. The only way I could visualize this was through my very disciplined and thoughtful approach. I use my sons (four of them) here as a conversation starter regarding legacy; however, the principles I will share with you should be applicable regardless of whom you are building a legacy through.

LEGACY IS AN INVESTMENT.

I knew my sons would only know about the legacy with action on my part, so I took a deliberate approach. I wanted to invest a lot of time strictly focusing on the legacy so it would be able to avoid being left to fate. This is serious work, and you will not get credit for it, but a legacy isn't about praise anyway; it is about inspiring the best out of humans with a focus on a particular set of principles that you believe, if followed, will have a positive impact on their lives, allowing them to do the same in other's lives.

Many assume they should leave a mark through their accomplishments (work, accolades, etc.), but while those things are good, they are not what legacies are built on. To truly make a "long-lasting impression," you must first answer a pivotal question: What does it mean to you to leave a legacy? Leaving a legacy must be meaningful and uniquely you.

But… how do we do that??

Well, keep reading, and I hope to provide some clarity on that through the following:

DISCOVER YOUR VALUES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES/PURPOSE, THEN LIVE THROUGH THEM

Understanding how to leave a legacy can seem vague and only possible if you know your values and guiding principles. We must be authentic and inspire people; it is doubtful that you will inspire people if you are not genuine and passionate. The key to your passion is through your values and purpose.

Once you identify your values and purpose, you will unlock and display your passion, fueling your fire to leave a legacy! Building trust with those you want to leave a legacy/with is imperative; we can only do that by being credible and approachable. Without purpose, any action you take feels aimless. To discover your purpose, start with the end in mind. You will want your legacy based on your values, so write them down and keep them concise. Do you want your legacy to be diligence, work, discipline, etc? Writing down your values enables a clear focus on what fulfills you most: your?purpose! Then, build your?legacy!

REVEAL YOUR NATURAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES

True, "What got you here? Won't necessarily get you there." However, we all have natural strengths.?

We should not stray too far from our natural abilities to over-focus on our weaknesses. John C. Maxwell stated a 5%-95%. His quote below is an excellent example of that philosophy.

"To succeed in life, we must stay within our strength zone but continually move outside our comfort zone." ~John C. Maxwell

Think of those people in which you have the greatest admiration for. Those people who inspire, motivate, and elevate you. Those people that praise you behind your back, not the opposite! I guarantee that the individuals who come into your thoughts are of the utmost respect, give others respect, and treat others with kindness. They may also come into your memory's focus due to their impeccable talents.

"There's something fundamentally poignant about watching someone's gift come to life. In self-actualization – living out the innate talents that make you uniquely you – you demonstrate how to leave a legacy that others will admire." ~Tony Robins

UNLOCK THE SECRET

There isn't a secret, but since you seldom see this in action, it seems like a secret. Living out your values and purpose creates an environment of contentment. That contentment is a good thing; it is serenity. We can only truly give to others when we are content and not focus on the "next best thing!" "What does legacy mean?" is a question about passions that meet a need in the world.

Finding your values and purpose gives you passion, and then when you relate that passion with your unique talents, that produces your recipe for leaving your legacy. It should be noted that this is not an "overnight" strategy development; it should take considerable time to ensure that you genuinely align your values, purpose, and passion. When you've discovered and locked in your true passions, you're ready to implement practical strategies for leaving a legacy.

CREATE A STRATEGY

You need an excellent strategy to leave a good legacy that lives on after you are gone. We are not talking about having a job that requires us to show up daily; we are talking about creating something that will remain without you. I have provided generalized principles here on leaving a good legacy; however, you will need to develop your own specialized plan for your legacy.

INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION

While I do not have specific strategy steps in this article, I want to share a couple more generic topics. Leaving a legacy means finding your fulfillment and inspiring others to achieve great things that they cannot even see themselves accomplishing. When you're gone, your legacy will live on in those you coached and mentored, the people you inspired, and the lives you created with long-lasting positive influence.

GIVE BACK

We are all living in our "dash," so make sure it is a life worth talking about, a legendary legacy! If everything in your life is "awesome," you have the most extraordinary stories, accomplishments, etc., and you did it without love and kindness, then you failed at this thing we call life, plain and simple. One of the primary foundational principles of leaving a legacy is giving back. In doing so, I challenge you with three questions about those you are building your legacy through.

1. Did I Teach | Coach | Mentor | Lead Them?
2. Did I prepare Them?
3. Did I CARE (Create A Remarkable Experience) for Them?

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

References:

“Legacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legacy . Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.