Are you building a strong résumé or preparing to leave a lasting legacy?
~Mark Sanborn.
Legacy is important. It is not what you are. Legacy is unique in that it is who you are! It’s easy to confuse who you are with what you do. We do it all the time.
We identify someone because they are a CPA, a pastor, a stay-at-home mom, a grocery store clerk, a teacher, a server, a mailman, a car mechanic, a business owner, a coach, or a cook. We identify ourselves by what we have: Money, cars, homes, clothes, riches, status, position, or title.
But those are not who we are — they are what we do.
What are you handing down to the next generation? What are you leaving behind? What will you bequeath, pass on, or give to your family and friends? Can you answer those questions without using any of the so-called definitions above?
In other words, what is your legacy?
I have to tell ya. I’m a sentimental guy, and I’ve got some stuff handed down to me that I’d like to hand down to my kids. Some of those things go back generations: My great-grandfather’s pocket watch, my mom’s Bible, my grandfather’s old radio (that still works), and my dad’s collection of old pocket knives. Among other things. But those are only things, and many of them may one day end up in a box in the attic or, worse, in a far-away dumpster.
Regardless of your age, you are preparing your legacy. Not in money and the “stuff” you gather through living life, but the meaningful things that will last for generations. The tangible and sentimental things you own carry significance only in this earthly world, but the important things you leave behind involve more than just the physical things. These legacy memories will last — the things that involve character, personal experience, and life stories are the true pass-me-downs for generations. This part of your legacy has eternal value and wi
ll help to create paths beyond this finite world.
What did my grandfather and grandmother leave me? The power of peace and acceptance. I always felt safe and accepted in their home. My mom and dad? They always believed in me. Pastor John Bosman constantly challenged me to excellence. Gil Stricklin taught me the value of mentorship by being a mentor and encouraging me to mentor others. There are many others: Mrs. Stroud, Uncle Frank, Uncle Martin, Norm Fletcher, Pesky Hill, R.L. and Beth Sigrest, James Hearron, and Tony Robichaux, to name a few.
For some of you, this idea of legacy may come as a blow to your thought process. Indeed, it can shake you if you find your strength in things — even sentimental things. But it turns the spotlight away from your things and onto your character. Check out the differences in résumé and legacy from Mark Sanborn’s book You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader.
So, are you building a résumé, or are you leaving a legacy? How can you move from one column to the other? You’re leaving something behind — breadcrumbs that will lead a future generation. Chances are, many of the people on my list above didn’t realize they were instilling value in me that would be lasting.
Could you take a moment to write down the list of people who have left a legacy in your life? And then think of those to whom you are preparing to leave a legacy. It can be life-changing — for you and for them.
What value are you leaving in others? What legacy are you planting? How can you leave a lasting legacy?
If you want to leave a true legacy, you can carve your name on hearts instead of tombstones. (Check out THIS. One of our most-read posts.)