What Will Your Legacy Be?

Over the past few weeks, so many have lost their lives, that I thought I wouldn't be able to devote my pen to the service opportunities that I intended. I've just been so distracted that I felt the need to slow down and refocus. In the midst of the relaxation, I discovered a jewel that keeps floating ever so slightly to the surface, legacy.

It's rolled off of my tongue so many times over the past couple of months, that it can't just be happenstance that it showed up again. My boss recently asked me to create a presentation that encourages our staff to write accomplishments from the "legacy" perspective. I half-heartedly agreed, wondering if legacy could truly be derived from the mundane reality of performance metrics (what we do). The presentation stemmed from my Big Boss's stirring speech to our mentoring group, "What will remain after you are gone? When you move on to another position, what will you leave in your current one?"

Legacy after you leave the job, hmm. Maybe something like, "I improved communication across the team by...creating this presentation exactly as my boss requested."

Interestingly enough, we've had two more familiar examples of legacy...legacy after death.

Michael Jackson, King of Pop and arguably the greatest entertainer of all time, was eulogized through word, song and raw emotion. As a product of the 1st MTV generation, I became extremely fond of all things Michael Jackson, from the red Thriller jacket to our 5th grade graduation rendition of We Are the World. I just new I was Diana with my extra puffy press and curl.

But during his memorial on every major channel, many described a man who strove for greatness, attempted perfection and along the way, became this great, world-renowned entertainer.

Then we have a spectacular athlete who chose to attend an HBCU and still made it to the pros. One who contributed to countless charitable organizations and had a beautiful family. Sportscasters and athletes touted his professionalism and sheer athletic courage on the field.

Both of these men left incredible bodies of work and charitable giving. But as news anchors pondered whether or not Michael Jackson was receiving too much press, they cut to a visibly distressed man, "I don't know why a child molester and a pervert deserves all of this attention." And Steve McNair, I feel conflicted about him myself. "How do you raise boys who love and respect women, when you have girlfriends?"

As you and I both ponder why I felt the need to go here, it's because I wonder about my own legacy. Will my daughter understand the sacrifices that I made to serve the community? And will those sacrifices net a change that she can be proud of if she has to sit on the front row of a church gazing at my casket? I hope that no one has to make an Al Sharpton speech to her about the fact that her momma wasn't crazy. And I pray that no one has to make sure they don't mention the specifics of my death.

Legacies are more than your professional resume. They are more than how much money you give away, how many hit albums you produce, and how many touch downs you score. As I work with Young Professionals, it sometimes amazes me how much we focus on success and how little we worry about what will be left in its wake.

What will your legacy be?

This summer, I would like to highlight your efforts to make the world better than you found it through service. As you will see through my coming posts, there are many ways to be of service to others. Share with me how you've done it, through work, volunteer service, organization, etc. and I'll share it with as many people as I can. :)

brandi@brandirichard.com
www.brandirichard.com