About A Legacy lived
My Philosophy
Too many people struggle to answer the question, 'what would you like to be remembered for?' Even that question neatly sidesteps the awkward reality that most of us won't be remembered for anything at all.
Its strange that in today's hyper-connected world, we are less connected than ever to the communities around around us. Equally strange, in a society obsessed with success, most of us feel that we add very little value whether in the job that we do, or to the people around us.
If you truly want to make an impact, if you really want to be remembered, you need to start thinking bigger than success. You need to stop thinking about yourself and start considering how to positively impact others. Dare to think bigger, to stand out and take some risks. Success is self limiting, a cage designed for people who just want to look good. Legacy is the real test of how you lived your life. Is your life worth remembering when you're gone? If not, maybe you want to start rethinking the way you're doing things...
My Journey
Having drifted, into the corporate world with a desire to make an impact and a drive for advancement. Rising quickly, I was handed my first leadership role aged 28 before graduating to a national sales role less than three years later.
Despite having responsibility for a multi-million-dollar business I came to a startling realization. I hated most aspects of my job. The higher I rose, the harder I found it to aspire to those above me. They, like me, were not making a positive impact and they would not be remembered when they departed. Despite their seniority, they remained anonymous in the wider world.
Given my love of history and interest in people development I began spending more time looking at what it actually takes to make a meaningful impact on the world around you; what it takes to leave a Legacy and to live a life that other people consider worth remembering. My studies across almost decade of work has led from the dawn of written history to modern psychological thought and the silver screen to understand not just who we remember and why, with the aim of helping others build their own legacy.
A Quick Test
How many Fortune 500 CEO's can you name, right now, off the top of your head?
My guess is not many. For those you did manage to name. Can your name their predecessor? How far back can you go? My guess again is not far, if anywhere. Those who you can name are likely those who are impacting the world or their field in a way that is likely to leave a legacy - Musk, Jobs, Ford, for example.
That, right there is the difference between Success and
Legacy. One might get you a nice car and a big house, the other changes the world and lives on long after you're gone. It's the reason why you might struggle to name the last five holders of the men's 100m record, but you know the name Jesse Owens.
If you're on the wrong side of that equation and want to do something about it, feel free to reach out.