It was my first day in college. I had just concluded the registration exercise for new students. And coming out of the vice-principal’s office I headed to the left wing of the school complex walking down the alley. Just as I descended the staircase to go to my new class I could see so many inscriptions on the wall. But one of them caught my fancy, it was boldly and artistically written, “Don Carlos was here, 1980-1986, forget him not”. Those inscriptions did one thing, they made a point. They created awareness, telling anybody who cares that the youngster in question has passed through the college. This became a norm among the graduating students, each year they competed among themselves to carve their own “was here” inscription with their names. They want incoming students to remember the inscription on the wall. This is a sort of legacy to them.
The real essence of life is in the legacy we leave behind. Have you ever spent time thinking about your life? What posterity will remember you for? Or what legacy you will leave behind? The worst thing that can happen to you is to live your life without leaving evidence that you once lived on earth. I have said it times without number, in fact let it become your success mantra, that you are not living life just to exist but you are living to make an impact in life. Hence, the impact you make in life becomes the legacy you will leave behind for posterity to remember you.
The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life
– Williams James.
What is Legacy
Legacy according to Webster’s dictionary is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. It could be either a good or bad legacy. However, in this section we shall focus on the good legacies. This involves the transmission of values, inheritance, wealth, or attitudes etc. Hence, legacies are certain privileges bequeathed or passed down from one person to another. And in my own words, legacy is the evidence of a fulfilled life, a life well spent here on earth. It is leaving one’s indelible footprint or mark of success and achievements on the sand of time for others to follow. The legacy question is a critical one which we must address to lend credence to our quest for happiness in life. It is a powerful indicator of fulfillment. It defines our net worth.
Everyday Legacy
Earlier on I did say that the essence of life is in the legacy we leave behind. Life is segmented into phases. Life is in phases. And legacy is akin to writing a book, with each chapter you finish you start a new one until you come to the conclusion. It is progressive as life itself and so it is not only an end of life affair. We write our legacy every day by our actions, through the decisions we make, and the attitude we exhibit, etc. Therefore, in every phase of life we find ourselves we must strive to leave a legacy behind. These legacies are based on the experiences and awareness of such phases.
What phase are you in your life, career, business, or marriage? Are you a politician, entrepreneur, teacher, parent? What legacy are you going to leave behind at this phase of your life as you prepare to move on to the next phase? It may interest you that you can leave a legacy in every area of life.
Leadership by example
In any sphere of influence whether in politics, corporate world, religious circle, academic world, or family any individual that wields authority and influence over others is a leader. And every leader has the moral obligation to leave behind an enduring legacy. As a leader you must do something that will make those under you remember you for good. The best legacy a leader should leave behind is to lead well. This is leadership by example. And will be evident in your approach to leadership and communication style, and the capacity to impact people around you. It will also show in your ability to meet public goals. As a leader you will be very far from leaving a legacy if you are unable to meet the needs of those under you. These needs may include spiritual, economic, financial, emotional, political or leadership needs etc.
Invest in People
True leaders don’t invest in buildings. Jesus never built a building. They invest in people. Why? Because Success without a successor is failure. So your legacy should not be in buildings, programs, or projects; your legacy must be in people –Myles Munroe
As a leader, for you to leave a good and lasting legacy behind you must invest in your people. This should be your priority. But all your policies must be people-oriented. You must be able to carry people along and drive them to prosperity.
No legacy is so rich as honesty – William Shakespeare
There are other legacies a leader must leave behind. These include honesty and integrity, love and peace. Through these legacies a leader will be able to touch a great number of lives around him
If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader – Dolly Parton
Obviously, there is fulfillment for you as a leader when you meet the needs of those under you. Lead very well if you want people to remember you in life.
Parental Upbringing
It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations – Christine Gregoire
As a parent what legacy are you leaving for your children? What will your children remember you for? Every parent must leave good legacies for their children. And one of such legacies is good parenting. It is the responsibility of parents to train or bring up their children well. It is also their legacy to leave behind inheritance for their children. Therefore, every parent should work hard to bequeath the legacy of inheritance to their children. A good man will leave inheritance to his children’s children… Proverbs 13:22
Every parent as a matter of urgency should consider the above verse, and do everything within their power to leave inheritance to their children.
The best Legacy
In addition every parent must adequately train their children or wards. I strongly believe that the best legacy a parent can give his or her children is adequate and good upbringing. Even if you are not well disposed to give them financial or material inheritance, give them a good upbringing. Inculcate good values in them. It is the best inheritance any parent can give his children. And this good upbringing involves sound and adequate education, both formal and informal. Parents must make plans on how to give their children the quality education they deserve.
This planning includes funding their education even up to tertiary level. Fortunately, there are some contributory schemes or bank savings products that are tailored to meet the need of funding your children’s education. You can subscribe to any of these products. Start contributing and saving for the future of your children. Securing the future of your children is the best legacy any parent can leave for his or her children.
Adequate training is a prerequisite for the sustainability and preservation of every legacy we leave for our children. The truth is that whether you are leaving behind a large business empire, estate or a good name as a legacy it requires a high level capacity to maintain it. And the children will jeopardize or hurt this legacy if they lack the capacity to do so. Hence, it takes good upbringing and adequate training to develop such capacity.
To be Continued…
Till then always Dare to Succeed.