In earlier times, life was simple. The past used to be with us. Families passed down not just names, but stories, values, and wisdom. The landscape shaped our identity. Everything was deeply personal and profoundly local.

Legacy wasn’t a buzzword – it was a way of life!

This has changed. Modern life is fast, mobile, and hyper-connected – yet somehow more distant. We change roles, companies, and even industries. A sense of continuity is lost over time among generations.

The question shouldn’t be how fast we move, but what we leave behind as we move forward.

Legacy is the most meaningful work you do to enhance your life beyond you. It’s a spiritual path of life where you raise yourself by yourself! A higher purpose for life, a humble journey where you begin to see yourself as a wonderful person. It makes you compassionate, gives you a sense of personal worth to yourself and to the world outside.

But we hear most professionals talk about how long and well (or not) have they planned and worked hard for their retirement – that be savings for securing financial stability, ensuring a comfortable future, etc. This is understandable. But most people aren’t even aware that their life is their work – a legacy, leave alone planning for or building one.

Why we miss the idea of legacy

Many assume legacy is reserved for the famous, the wealthy, people in power, or the visionary few who set out to transform the world. But that’s a myth. Legacy is not about being extraordinary – it’s about being intentional.

So, what is not a legacy?

It is not a Title or Position, Celebrity Status, Size of Wealth or Material Success or a One-Time Achievement or a Milestone or seeking recognition.

Here’s the key difference:

Retirement Planning ensures financial security for yourself.

Legacy building creates lasting impact beyond yourself.

Both are important, but legacy is what gives meaning to your work and life. It is the impact, influence, and the lives we touch and assist. Your life is your work!

How to build your legacy?

Consider these questions:

·      What contributions will outlive your working life?

·      How will you inspire and shape future generations thinking and life?

·      What impact do you want to leave in your family, field, community, or industry?

Select an endeavor that seems larger than what you could do.

·      That which can consume you passionately. Fulfilling. Blissful.

·      You work it through as if it’s your own privilege.

·      You go on working at it regardless of any ROI.

Slowly you may build it up into a great practice, a strong pursuit that is clearly beyond you. It takes time. Your work turns into your meditation – meditation through your body as you progress. You know you are ‘giving’ but it isn’t a self-sacrifice, because whatever work you do you enjoy by being in to it, with a sense of faith in yourself.

Beauty is that there is no ‘unfinished job’ for legacy building – as whatever you have done before leaving off, remains yours. You can come back any time and start from where you left off. So, it is about the significance and difference you make while you’re here.

Here are a few examples.

Professional Legacy

·      Mentoring Future Leaders

·      Creating a Values-Driven Culture

·      Building Sustainable Systems or Innovations

·      Championing Diversity and Inclusion

·      Developing Talent Pipelines

·      Establishing a lasting business unit

Personal Legacy

·      Living by Example

·      Passing on Traditions, Values, and Stories

·      Giving Back to Your Community

·      Creating Something of Enduring Value

·      Raising Empathetic, Purposeful Children

As Seth Godin says: “When someone uses my work to teach others or to make something better, the work has achieved its purpose.”

We may yet consider ourselves ordinary. The quiet or profound legacy we create might go unnoticed – of our labor, contributions, and sacrifices – that we hope will help our societies. I read somewhere that the word ‘humble ‘originates from the Latin ‘humus’, meaning soil – a humble reminder that greatness often grows from the ground up!

So, just do it as your good karma without any agency!

I know of a few who are building their legacy their own subtle way – aware or unaware. For example, my friends, Achyut Menon, a HR guru, Linda M, Fonner an accomplished CFO, always endeavor to educate their fraternity, relentlessly. For me: I’ve been coaching and mentoring professionals, pro-bono (about 1500: graduates, employees and leaders, so far) since 2005 in the US and globally, and will continue to multiply my work through TrainedArrow.com

My humble idea here is to provide a thought-trigger through this blog. So, as you plan for the future, ask yourself:

Are you solely planning for retirement, or are you also actively crafting your legacy?