Your Legacy is Now
Life is not a search for meaning from others, it’s about the creation of meaning for yourself.
For over 30 years Alan Weiss has consulted, coached, and advised everyone from Fortune 500 executives, state governors, non-profit directors, and entrepreneurs to athletes, entertainers, and beauty pageant contestants. That’s quite an assortment of people, and they run into the thousands. Most of them have had what we euphemistically call “means,” and some of them have had a lot more than that. Others have been aspiring and with more ends in sight than means on hand.
Alan Weiss states:
I’ve dealt with esteem (low), narcissism (high), family problems, leadership dysfunctions, insecurities, addictions, and ethical quandaries. And I’ve talked about them through the coronavirus crisis. But don’t get the wrong idea. About 95% of these people have been well-meaning, honest (to the best of their knowledge), and interested in becoming a better person and better professional. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking to me.
I found the equivalent of the “runner’s wall” in their journeys, where they must break through the pain and the obstacles and then can keep going with renewed energy and spirit. But runners know how far they must go after the breakthrough, be it another half lap or another five miles. There is a finish line.
I’ve found that people in all positions, even after the “breakthrough,” don’t know where they are in the race, let alone where the finish line is.
They do not know what meaning is for them. They may have money in the bank, good relationships, the admiration of others, and the love of their dogs. But they have no metrics for “What now?” They believe that at the end of life there is a tallying, some metaphysical accountant who totals up their contributions, deducts their bad acts, and creates the (hopefully positive) difference.
That difference, they believe, is their “legacy.”
But the thought that legacy arrives at the end of life is as ridiculous as someone who decides to sell a business and tries to increase its valuation the day prior. Legacy is now. Legacy is daily. Every day we create the next page in our lives, but the question becomes who is writing it and what’s being written. Is someone else creating our legacy? Or are we, ourselves, simply writing the same page repeatedly?
Or do we leave it blank?
Our organic, living legacy is marred and squeezed by huge normative pressures. There is a “threshold” point, at which one’s beliefs and values are overridden by immense peer pressure. Our metrics are forced to change.
In an age of social media, biased press, and bullying, we’ve come to a point where our legacy, ironically, is almost out of our hands.
Yet our “meaning”—our creation of meaning and not a search for some illusive alchemy—creates worth and impact for us and all those with whom we interact.
Dave Gardner
Congratulations, Alan! What a journey for you and your family. This is just wonderful news. Dave Gardner
Ed Kless
Awesome news, Alan. Continued blessings to you and your expanded family.
Anthony
Congratulations to you and your family!
Graham Franklin
We thank God for you and your family.
Drew Stevens PhD
God answered our prayers. He does listen and he does provide help for everyone. God bless you and the family. We will continue to pray for their health.
Amy Showalter
Well, that is good news! So happy for everyone. I once heard someone say: “If you can’t trace God’s hand, trust his heart.” Continued prayers for good health for all.
Lois Kelly
Bursting with joy for your family!
Dan Weedin
Great, great news! We will keep the prayers coming.
Simma Lieberman
That is wonderful news and they are beautiful. It has been a long journey for your family, and now you can enjoy the girls at home.
Christina Dyer
I am happy as hell for all of you Alan! I love the photo and I really love those Boppies…they saved my life, not to mention my back!
Christina
Danielle Keister
Heartwarming, joyous news, Alan! Adding my well-wishes to your family. 🙂
Rob Novak
The best news comes in small packages…congratulations and happy healthy wishes for Alaina and Gabrielle!
Paul Copcutt
Alan – great news, best wishes to all.