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.
Mike Klassen
I’ve become a very big fan of Apple. Not just because most of their stuff seems to “just work” as it should, but because of incidents like you mentioned.
I had an experience with them in 2009 that blew me away to such a degree, I had to write about it:
http://magalogguy.com/blog/2009/12/03/what-a-free-apple-computer-reinforced-about-great-customer-service/
Peter McLean
I’ve never had an Apple product before (yes, I know they’re superior da da da da da ….) until I bought an iPad2 as a potential assistive communications device for my youngest daughter. A couple of weeks in, the screen started doing very strange things so the retailer said I needed to take it to the Apple store, which I did. I was escorted through to service and taken care of until a “Genius” support staff member could assist – all noted and tracked on their pdas. When he came, he took one look at it, said “Wow, I’ve never seen that before!” and replaced it with a brand new one on the spot. I was impressed by the overall experience enough to think maybe I should start converting …
I also got very good service at said retailer (Australia’s Harvey Norman) when my brand new HP desktop also did strange graphics things and they replaced the whole computer on the spot without qualms. I then had a little difficulty with blu-rays playing and the HP support line was instantly responsive from the US (despite the fact that I really needed to contact HP Australia) with personal emails, attention and follow-up to ensure that everything was working fine.
This kind of service definitely promotes loyalty …
(Mike’s blogged story is very impressive, by the way.)
Jeff Anderson
Quite different from Amazon Unbox. They make it difficult to contact them, and then have strict policies against refunds like this. My problem was the the entire film didn’t download, and they couldn’t grasp why I did not get the value for what I paid. We have now been a happy Apple TV user since January.
Alan Weiss
High tech, high touch.
Rick Thomas
My daughter bought an ipod with her own money. 3 months before the warranty ran out, it quit. We sent it fed ex pre-paid by Apple to get repaired. It was turned around immediately (next day) and sent back, unfixed. When I called tech support they claimed it had water damage. Before calling I had noticed that the connector which hooks to the computer had a bent pin. Their is no way even my 10 year daughter could have caused that. After all mr apple supervisor I sold computer equipment for 25 years, I really do know what I’m talking about. After 20 minutes of using logic and empathy (so, I have to tell my daughter the $220 she spend of her own money) was a waste for a connector that clearly isn’t visible when working properly is bent and caused by water…. the supervisor replaced it… he wanted to know if I wanted a box sent Fed Ex overnight, or UPS ground.
Digital Media has very little cost, as explained in Chris Anderson’s book, Free. Ipods on the other hand cost a pretty penny.
Alan Weiss
Rick, okay, but what’s your point? Good, bad, ugly? What?
Rick Thomas
Alan,
The water explanation as the reason for not wanting to honor the warranty was downright dishonest.
Would that dishonesty compel me to risk capital on a more expensive product with them? I recently decided I can justify a tablet for my business, but the Apple Ipad isn’t on the list. I won’t risk the same dishonesty twice.
Alan Weiss
Thanks, now I see your point. I understand your unhappiness.
On the other hand, since so many people report positive experiences in similar circumstances, I’d guess you had an employee having a bad day, and ultimately you did receive what you wanted, if I can understand your post. I doubt people buy technology based on the quality of the technical support, and if you escalate any complaint high enough, you usually get what you need in any case.