What is your legacy?
Now’s the time to decide.
I was thinking about legacy today and how it should be intentional. Everyone wants to leave a legacy- proof they lived on this earth and made a difference while here. Although the concept of legacy may evoke death, the truth is that each of us is leaving a legacy now and we do it every single day. Many of us will live 30 years longer than our grandmothers did. Our legacy is our influence and our actions. The passion and the purpose of our legacy are not for the future- it is happening here and now, continuing through the future.
Others have impacted us- that is part of their legacy and our inheritance. Our legacy is built on the foundation of those who came before us- and their legacies. We are all doing the same to those with whom we interact-whether we are aware of it or not. When we become clearer about our legacy and become more intentional, the power, purpose and sustainability of our legacy increases.
We are in a very unique time- many of us know people who are 100 or more years old and all of us know children who are 1 year old. Our ability to be influenced by and to influence so many generations is very powerful. Our ability to build a sustainable legacy has never been more present, purposeful or powerful.
When we focus on the intention, passion, purpose and power of our legacy we are focusing on the influence we want to have now and in the future.
Three components of a lasting legacy.
Understanding the power of our legacy. Powerful, purposeful legacy is intentional. That requires focus and reflective thought on what we intend our core legacy to be, for now and in the future. Each individual and family has a different legacy. Legacy takes many forms- spouse, children, grandchildren, business, books, artwork, music, community, philanthropy and global connections. We live in the present, yet make choices for the future. Understanding the power of our legacy and connecting it to broader purposes leads to intentional legacy.
The process of legacy. Implementing legacy is a process that takes time. Our legacy is composed over our lifetime- it is not a linear line toward a singular goal. It is creative, fluid and adaptable, yet intentional. Like a sailboat requires constant adjustment to stay on course in light of prevailing conditions so does our legacy. As we evolve, our legacy evolves. As there is a process to building a business, there is a process to understanding and implementing our legacy. In a world that requires 24/7 immediate attention to all tasks at hand, it is difficult to step back and begin or continue the process of legacy. The process of legacy has heightened importance.
Our legacy must be integrated to be sustainable. To be sustainable, our legacy must be congruent with our foundational values, goals and objectives (how those values will be translated in life), and enabling structures (legal documents and financial investments). When congruency does not occur the foundation of the entire system can be disrupted. It is important to take a satellite view and be sure that all pieces are coordinated and working together- now and for the future.