Legacy

Since the dawn of recorded history, the next apocalypse has been just around the corner. 

Here, the word apocalypse is reserved for the man-made variety that comes primarily in the form of social, political, and economic upheaval. I purposefully use the phrase “man-made” because it’s almost always men behind the wheel of the social, political, and economic machines that steer us toward certain doom—the truest form of what we now refer to as toxic masculinity.

After all, many of history’s leaders have been “anointed by the divine” and would rather burn the house down than yield even an inch of ground to their competition. The other side is labeled “evil,” is dehumanized, and unconstructive conflict is almost always the result. With example after example of visionary, persuasive, narcissistic leaders who see an opportunity to exploit weakness, division, or discontent for their own personal gain; one must ask the question: How are we still here? An even more important question is: How will we survive and thrive as a species moving forward?

Part of the answer to both of these questions is the quiet, persistent, yet powerful voice of stewardship that has—time after time—pulled us back from the brink and has given humanity an opportunity to prosper. Behind the definition of the word stewardship is the implication that a steward acts with care and operates by balancing short-term and long-term objectives. It is a stewardship mindset that will help us create a brighter future.

In my opinion, a steward is aware of the balancing acts that surround them, is adept at navigating the treacherous waters of extreme viewpoints, and acts with the interests of myriad constituencies in mind.

It All Begins with Purpose

To become a steward, one must first adopt a stewardship mindset. To develop a stewardship mindset, one must begin with purpose. In earlier Muses on personal planning, the first step toward building clarity of vision—and creating the goals that support that vision—is to determine one’s purpose by answering questions like: “Why am I here,” and “What do I stand for?” Additional questions to add into the mix are: “How do I want to be remembered,” and “What will my legacy be?”

For me, personal exploration of the legacy question has consistently led me to a desire to leave the world a better place than when I found it—to work within the boundaries of things I can control in any given moment to create a virtuous cycle of doing well for myself, my family, and the community that surrounds me. 

During my career, I’ve broadened the boundaries of geography and culture through travel, education, and a desire to understand different perspectives. Broadening one’s boundaries of influence takes time, and at each step on the journey, one must be willing to take on board new information and challenge existing beliefs. From my experience, we get ourselves in trouble when our perspectives are fixed and unyielding. Almost without exception, I have made suboptimal decisions and have taken steps backward during those periods when I shunned agile thinking and a growth mindset.

My Purpose and Legacy

My personal purpose is to teach, coach, mentor, and (hopefully) inspire others. I strive to act with a steward’s mindset. I hope that after I’m gone, my words and actions will have influenced others to embrace stewardship, work within the boundaries of what they can control to create more virtuous cycles, and continually push on their personal and professional boundaries through continuous improvement and lifelong learning.

I relate my personal story on purpose and legacy in hopes that you’ll make the time to engage in the reflection that’s necessary to determine your purpose and think about how you will positively impact future generations. 

It’s critically important to note that your purpose does not need to be grandiose and your legacy does not need to be earth shattering. Most of the stewards I referred to in the first paragraphs of this Muse are names that have been lost to history. They worked diligently behind the scenes to make the world a better place within their personal sphere of influence, and found joy in small wins as well as the knowledge that they acted with dignity and integrity.

While my ego would love the boost that would come from influencing millions to focus on purpose and stewardship, I recognize that success is likely to be much more modest.

Conclusion

So while self-serving, narcissistic leaders bloviate in an attempt to shepherd us toward the next crisis, let’s each work to mute their voices ever so slightly and steer the world back toward the center. We can do this important work by acting as stewards of the planet and our local communities to ensure that future generations not only survive, but thrive.

How do you want to be remembered?

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By the way, I’m acutely aware of my own narcissistic tendencies and have learned through the years to employ them in service of my personal purpose. Do I always succeed? Insert emphatic “no” here.