The idea of leaving a legacy has been on my mind. After completing a book study on
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, I find myself challenged with what's next. It's great to read challenging books, get inspired, set goals, dream of the future…but if it stays a dream without snowballing into action, what was the point? The 21st Law that Maxwell address is "The Law of Legacy", stating that a leaders lasting value is measured by succession. Knowing what legacy you want to leave, and starting to live that legacy today. That's a challenge on multiple levels.
1. "A leaders lasting value is measured by succession"…it's not all about how well I can do and how much I can accomplish. Who did you influence? How did you leave the world, your sphere of influence, better? How will people remember you? Leaders often spend their time and effort racing towards success, rather than succession. Leadership is at its core, influence. A good leader will be successful because of his or her influence on the people they lead, not because of their ability to problem solve, innovate, or dream big. Those things are important as you lead, but it is ultimately your ability to effectively inspire and influence others, that mark a great leader.
2. "Know what legacy you want to leave, and start living that legacy today." I want to live with a purpose, I don't just want to "exist". If I live my life day to day, never looking ahead, never moving towards a goal, I fear I will get to the end of my life not having influenced the way I dreamed I would. So today, I start with where I want to end. What do I want my legacy to be? I want to use music & writing to change the way people see Jesus, Christians, and the church. I want to bridge the gap between the secular world and the church using the things I love and are passionate for. So what do I do today? How can I, today, move one step closer towards that legacy? That's a questions I want to ask myself every day so that when I do come to the end of my life, I can know that I lived my legacy and didn't wait to see what it would be.
I want my kids, my family, my work, my art, the people I influence, my character, to be the legacy I live and leave. Every day for the rest of my life will be spent with that legacy in mind. I want it to be said of me that I didn't just leave a legacy, but that I lived a legacy.
