Legacy

Legacy – by Arnie Wohlgemut

Recent events in my life have lead me to wonder, if leaving a legacy is a deliberate process or just a byproduct of a life well lived.

As I get older, the question about adding value to another person’s career or life seems all to frequent. Is this a way of leaving a legacy?

Many years ago, I made a decision to give back where-ever I could. It occurred to me that my life experiences, particularly my work experience, may help someone from making some of the same mistakes I made. This was a deliberate decision and resulted in deliberate actions on my part. As a result, leaving a legacy was something I thought I knew how to do.

My mom was a stay at home mom. She didn’t have the chance to invest in others in a workplace setting, but invested in others she did! She deliberately added value to others by the way she lived her life.

Over the course of 90 plus years, she lived a life that demonstrated love for those close to her, building strong relationships on mutual respect, trust, and modelled restraint in many difficult life situations.

As I reflect back on the lessons of my childhood, one of the most significant one she taught my siblings and I was that if you want a friend, you have to be a friend. She always greeted people with a smile. For an introvert like me, making friends was not easy. Despite that, my Mother taught me differently. Introverts do make friends!

“If you surround yourself with good people who believe in you, they’re going to help you carry that ball over the line.”

Melinda Gates

The second lesson she taught me was the importance of selecting good friends. I have come to realize that I have had good and loyal friendships in various seasons of my life. Invariably, many of those played a role in holding me up in the moments of self doubt, and many, many difficulties that come with life. Many of those that believed in me are still my friends today.

Together with selecting good friends and being a loyal friend, is a powerful and challenging lesson. LOYALTY plays a vital role in driving growth and success. It always has for me.

“Choose your loyalties wisely. They will influence your life, and define your legacy.”

Fred Reichheld

The question remains for each of us to resolve, what type of legacy are you building? How will your legacy be described?

THANK YOU MOM!