Creating a Legacy

I love Chick-Fil-A and I am exhausted.  So, I am going to have Dan Cathy, C.O.O. of Chick-Fil-A fill in for me.  Thanks Dan...and enjoy his blog!

 

Creating a legacy

I have been thinking a lot about the word "legacy" lately. Usually when we hear the word, it is being used to describe a great character. It's a word reserved for heroes and icons. We use it to celebrate someone who did something great, or impacted the lives of thousands of people.

Steve Jobs died recently and we heard over and over about the "legacy" he left behind. I was a big fan of Steve Jobs and I will forever be influenced and encouraged by his creativity, bravery, innovation and willingness to step out and do something different. Steve Jobs left behind a life-changing legacy that none of us will soon forget.

But the truth is, we all are building a legacy. The choices we make, the things we believe and the things we do day-in and day-out are creating positive and negative charges that will be passed down from generation to generation, whether we intend it or not.
I thought about that as I sat across the desk from a young man who wanted to work at Chick-fil-A. He was a great candidate, but something puzzled me. I knew his father was a very successful lawyer and I was confused as to why he wouldn't want to follow in his footsteps. But his answer was a powerful one:

“My dad was never around for our family. He missed every game or event I had as a kid. I would never do that to my family. I would never be absent like that.”
The legacy he was given was certainly not the one his father intended: Hard work, determination, perseverance. Those are probably the words his dad would have liked to pass on to his son, but somehow priorites changed and something went askew. Somehow, the things he passed on became negative instead of positive charges.

What positive and negative charges are fueling your story and the stories of the people around you? Are you sure? Take a step back and rethink, refocus, and recommit yourself to creating a great legacy. You may not have control of what the future holds, but you do have the power to make an impact that you and others will be proud of for generations to come.

What will your legacy be?