LinkedIn Lists You While a Legacy Builds You: Founders, Take Note!

‘The goal isn’t to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.’ – Chuck Palahniuk

Now the question that stands is: Are You Building a Business or Just Playing Founder on LinkedIn?

Let’s be brutally honest for a second: Are you a founder, or are you just another highly ambitious LinkedIn player collecting likes, flexing funding rounds, and sharing your ‘grindset’ while secretly Googling ‘how to build a brand that lasts’?

See, LinkedIn may list, endorse, and even trend you, but none of that means you are evolving something to outlive you. If you were to disappear today, would people really recall your brand, your mission, your leadership past a few kind LinkedIn posts??

A Cruel Truth: Immediate Fame vs. Long-Term Effects

Achievement is absolutely alluring!?

Founders love publicizing their 4-hour sleep regimens, loudly announcing their funding rounds and lastly going viral with their #MondayMotivation! But the sad news is that just 25% of businesses survive for more than 15 years, and the start-up failure rate is even more shocking, going up to 90%.

Is your goal to be relevant today, or are you creating something that will persist over time?

Let’s break it down!

The Founder’s Dilemma: When your Ego vs. Impact

A Case Study to look into: The Forgotten Unicorn!

Remember Quibi? (Yeah, me neither.) It was a $1.75 billion streaming startup backed by a star-studded crew that had been touted beyond belief. However, it died within six months. Not because they lacked funds, but because they lacked a clear goal.

Compare this to Steve Jobs, who was focused with legacy rather than virality. He did more than just start Apple; he instilled a concept so deeply that the brand continues to thrive long after his death.

What's the difference? One chased sounds, while the other created a movement.

No One Really Cares About Your Title!

The world will not know who you are because you were a 'Founder and CEO' but because of what you built and how it transformed them.

Consider:

• Elon Musk: More than just another billionaire - a mission-driven disruptor.
• Sara Blakely (Spanx): Solved a problem, scaled with purpose, and still owns her brand.
• Howard Schultz (Starbucks): More than coffee, he built a culture.?

So, What Are You Really Busy Building?

Ask yourself 3 difficult questions:

1. What would happen to the world if my firm disappeared tomorrow?
2. Am I preparing for acclaim now or impact tomorrow?
3. Would I do this even if no one clapped?

The Founder Shift:

The “How to” Behind Creating a Legacy, Not Just a Startup

• Avoid the ‘exit’ mindset. Stop focusing on the next round of fundraising and instead create for the next generation.
• Solve an issue, not merely a trend. TikTok was not the first social media app, but it had a greater understanding of human psychology.
• Think of movements rather than products. Your brand should stand for more than just revenue.
• Hire for a mission, not skill. Employees stay for a reason other than their paycheck.

• Be willing to be the ‘bad Guy.’ Visionaries don't simply blend in; they question orthodoxy.

The Reality Check: Numbers Don’t Lie

• 80% of businesses never make it to year 10. And the ones that do? They turn, they change, they transform, because legacy isn't a single brilliant plan, but a capacity for change and resilience.
• A company that began with the publishing of books and became the heart of world's commerce. Nothing compared to the work in relation to book sales that created a legacy; it was the dedication to innovation, customer focus, and thinking rather than acting longer-term that did it.
• Or Netflix - a DVD rental service that saw the future before the industry did. Although the CEOs of Blockbuster scoffed at their own business model, Netflix revolutionized the way that entertainment is consumed. Today, it’s a household name, while Blockbuster is a meme.

A Founder’s Final Test:

Will they Remember You?

Hype, quick wins, or LinkedIn praise don't create legacies. They are founded on fortitude, vision, and the capacity to question the status quo. The entrepreneurs who have the courage to pose difficult issues are the ones who make an impression.

Here's one for you, then: Are you setting up for writing history or writing a LinkedIn headline?

Your Turn! What is one action you are taking now to create a legacy rather than just a business? Put it in the comments section below!