This post is an introduction to the value of legacy work. We all want to know that our lives mattered.
In leadership workshops, I often ask the question: When do leaders leave their legacy?
People usually give responses such as:
- When we die.
- When we retire.
- When we switch jobs.
- When we leave.
Then I ask: Leave what?
And the answer is really whenever we leave–leave the room, leave the meeting, leave the interaction. Basically we are leaving our legacy all of the time. I call this Breadcrumb Legacy ™ to help people find meaning and purpose in life on a daily basis. We are leaving crumbs every day and the “crumbs” may be positive or negative. Since legacies can be good or bad, it matters what we say, how we say it, and how we make people feel. We can be honest with kindness. We can give direct feedback and not be mean or extremely critical.
I call this legacy thinking. If we think about how we will be remembered, we pay more attention to our interactions. As reflected in the expression often attributed to Maya Angelou:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou.
I created Breadcrumb Legacy™ to teach people how to leave a trail of meaning regardless of age or stage of life.
What is your legacy?
How do you know?
How do you feel about the “trail” you are leaving behind?