Living Your Legacy

Living Your LegacyThirty years from now, what will people say about you, your company, and the legacy both left in your local community? Will employees and clients feel gratitude for how their lives were positively impacted by you? Will the local community be better off; resulting from contributions of time, talent and money provided by you and your employees? Or… instead will no one remember or care soon after you and your company have drifted off into the sunset? I believe the direction taken and resulting outcome is yours to make; and that this pivotal choice made can make or break the success of your organization, richness of your life and the impact in lives of others. I also believe it is never too late to make this pivotal decision.

Last Tuesday marked the retirement party for Dave Tinius, who as a long time Chair of the Accounting Department at Seattle University, invested 42 years of his life positively impacting the lives of students while building a nationally ranked program. Over 150 peers and former students made the pilgrimage to be with Dave for this special evening. For me, the trip was a mere 6 miles across Lake Washington and the I-90 bridge. For a former colleague, a trip across the pond flying from England was what it took to be there. Others flew in from across the U.S. just for the occasion. Distance traveled didn’t matter to anyone in the room, which speaks volumes to the legacy Dave is living and leaving.

Listening to countless stories about Dave’s integrity, honesty, resolve and super-human ability to transform crazy ideas into nationally and internationally renowned accomplishments provided a reminder of how one individual can quietly go about their business and positively impact the lives of so many. I believe that YOU have the ability to do exactly the same thing. Do you believe?

How does one go about living their legacy? “One day at a time” is the answer. Below are some ideas:
1. Mentor employees with potential to become leaders. Inspire, teach and guide them in a way you were once guided or wish to have been guided.
2. Give every employee an opportunity to stretch, grow and find meaning in their work. Give them a reason to be excited to come to work each and every day.
3. Focus on how your work positively impacts clients instead of the work itself. Make the work about them and not you. Clients can tell the difference.
4. Give back to your local community. Millennials especially want to be affiliated with a company that cares about giving back to their local and global community.

It makes sound business sense to think about living your legacy, starting today. The ability to create big impact in the lives of others begins with you!

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