The Idea Of Legacy (And Omerisms Turns Five)

Photo by Reannan Finney on Unsplash

I don’t think any of us want just to be visitors.

We don’t want to pass through our lives having simply gone through the routine, without having felt like we’ve contributed in some meaningful way. 

Of course, ‘meaningful’ is different for each of us. Our scales will vary as will the nature of it, from the psychic to the economic.

The point, though, is to have intent. So it’s important to begin somewhere and just start doing. That first step begets the next one, and so on and so forth. That’s how legacies are created, so to speak.

It’s also important to note, though, that this idea of leaving a legacy can’t start with a focus on anything other than our ability to contribute. What I mean by that is, it can’t be governed by a desire to impress, or look a certain way. If we’re doing it for ‘status’ benefits, then I’d suggest we’re doing it for the wrong reasons and, it’s unlikely to endure.

I think it has to start from a sense of honesty and contribution. We have to focus on delivering value without necessarily expecting anything back in return. Only then can you do good work, work that is truly valuable. Work that truly matters. 

But, again, you have to begin, somewhere. 

Which is what I did 5 years ago today when I started this blog. Here we are, 500+ posts later and almost 100 podcast episodes in (episode 99 comes out on Wednesday). 

Benjamin Franklin once said, “if you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” I’m trying to do both, and I’m hoping this blog will be a part of my legacy for my kids and their kids, at the very least - and perhaps for a few of you as well. 

Thanks for being part of the journey.