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We often talk about success. Performance. Visibility. But we rarely pause to ask the deeper question that underpins it all:
What will your legacy be?
Not someday. Not at retirement. But right now — today — as you lead, work, parent, partner, and show up in the world.
As I approached the 49th time in which the Earth has revolved around the sun, I found myself asking that question more seriously. Each sunrise and sunset brings me closer to a half century. It’s a natural inflection point—one that’s brought legacy into sharper focus.
This year, my family gave me something intangible for my birthday: a collection of heartfelt messages that left me quiet and reflective. They weren’t about what I’ve achieved. They were about how I’ve made them feel.
It was a mirror. And it made me wonder: What kind of legacy am I building?
The Personal Side of Legacy
Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind—it’s what people carry forward because of you. And you don’t have to be a CEO, celebrity, or founder to have one.
Legacy is built in the everyday:
How you treat people when no one is watching
How you show up when it would be easier to check out
The rituals and relationships you prioritize
So I invite you to consider:
Will your spouse, partner, or children remember you the way you hoped?
Have you created a presence that others feel long after you're gone?
Are you intentionally shaping how others experience your time with them?
The Professional Side of Legacy
This reflection isn’t just personal—it’s profoundly professional.
Whether you're an executive or an individual contributor, you have the power to influence culture, systems, and people in ways that will long outlast your name on an org chart.
Ask yourself:
If you left your job tomorrow, would your team be better because of what you built?
Are the people around you more capable, confident, or collaborative because of your presence?
Did you create workflows, rituals, or expectations that still function without you?
Legacy in the workplace is measured in how others grow, how culture evolves, and how your decisions ripple beyond your tenure.
That’s not abstract. That’s leadership.
A Tool to Get You There: Write Your Own Eulogy
In 2013, I wrote a piece on Medium titled "Writing Your Own Eulogy." At the time, it was an exercise in visioning—designing life backwards. It was a younger version of me trying to imagine the mark I wanted to leave. I was just beginning to understand the power of intention. Now, twelve years later, there's maturity in my voice—and more importantly, in my actions.
Through daily disciplines like meditation, journaling, running, and mindful eating, I’ve cultivated a presence and a perspective that are more grounded. I’m no longer just imagining legacy—I’m living it more intentionally.
Twelve years later, I’m convinced more than ever: this might be the most strategic leadership tool you’ll ever use.
In a world obsessed with visibility, true legacy is quiet. It’s not your title. It’s not how many views your last post got. It’s how people describe the impact of your presence—when you’re no longer in the room.
This question of legacy has even shaped how I approach my conversations on the BDO Legal Tech Talk podcast and the National eDiscovery Leadership Institute (NeLI) podcast. For many of my guests, I like to ask: What do you want your legacy to be? Because now, more than ever, I’m intensely curious about how others are thinking about the marks they want to leave behind—in their careers, in their communities, and in their lives.
Start Today. Not Later.
You don’t need to wait for a birthday to start designing your legacy. Here are a few practical steps you can take:
Write your own eulogy. Frame it around the impact you want to have had—personally and professionally.
Ask someone close to you how they would describe your presence today. Not your work. You.
Choose one behavior you’ll shift starting this week to better align with how you want to be remembered.
Because legacy isn’t something you stumble into. It’s something you shape—deliberately, daily.
Thanks for reading. If this resonated, consider sharing it—or better yet, acting on it.
And if you're looking for a structured space to reflect more deeply, the downloadable Golden Leadership Cycle 90-Day Journal might be a helpful place to start.
