Building a Legacy
Why We Should All Think About Legacy
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
Hopefully, you can look back at your life in five years, ten years, 20 years, 30 years, and feel that you've done enough to contribute to my community and to society. That will end up being my legacy.
Your legacy may be that you:
- Were a grandparent babysitter and if it wasn't for you, your kids would not have been able to go to work each day and earn a living, knowing the kids are safe.
- Were an accomplished poet.
- Were an amazing photographer.
- Traveled miles and miles on foot to immigrate to another country in search of a better life.
- Always did everything while abiding to rules and laws.
It’s important for all of us to consider our legacy – or what we are going to be remembered for in the end of our days. To me, legacy also means the positive impact we each have to make upon this earth for as long as we are alive – whether it’s an impact on one person, one creature, or nature as a whole.
What is Legacy?
According to Merriam-Webster.com the definition of legacy can be something transmitted by or received from an ancestor from the past. In the old days, legacy used to be gifts or money that one generation would leave for another within families. The definition has changed somewhat over the years. It does not have to be money or gifts that one generation leaves for the proceeding generation; it can be what you did to help them remember you.
It is common to think of famous people and celebrities when thinking about great legacies. Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Marie Curie, Martin Luther King, Junior, and others, we think of their inspiring stories. We think of their actions and heroism that excites us and get us to think about something we would want to do for the greater good. A legacy is about the actions that people take to be remembered by in future generations.
If you are an adult, whether you are in your twenties, or forties, or sixties, it is never too early or too late to think about legacy. The first step must be to figure out what your passions are – what you enjoy most in life. Your passions in life are often intertwined with your values.
Step 1: They all involve getting a planner! Without a planner, there will be no actionable steps in achieving your goals.
Step 2: Choose a few goals. Most people can work or 3 to 5 long-term goals at one time. Then, write down a few action plans in your planner for those goals (either once a month, or once every two months, once every three months, etc.)
Step 3: Keep monitoring your planner and crossing off those action plans as they take place.
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
· If you were to pass away next week suddenly and unexpectedly, do you think those you leave behind will be inspired by the life you led?
· Do you think celebrities are the only ones who build and pass on a legacy, or is it something we should all aspire to do?
· Have you heard stories from your parents and grandparents about some of your ancestors who did amazing things before they died? Do their stories inspire you to think about what you want to leave behind when it is your time to depart from this life?
If these questions intrigue you, keep reading!
Legacy is for Anyone and Everyone
People of all walks of life can think about the legacy they are going to leave behind after they are gone. Those who are rich and famous and pass away may leave a legacy for the masses to remember them by, like John F. Kennedy, Sean Connery, or Aretha Franklin. Their words, their actions, music, and other attributes will leave a lasting impact upon everyone. Can people who are not rich, not politically active, nor famous also leave a legacy? The answer is yes, absolutely.
It is never too late to leave an impact upon the lives of others, even if it is just a small circle of friends and family. Think in terms of a eulogy; what can be said about you that would inspire the members of the audience there to pay their respects to you? Have you accomplished deeds and acts that will inspire and motivate those who are present to go out and pay it forward?
The habits, the values, and the principles you live by could affect the generations to come. Even if you do not have children of your own, the stories, actions, and words may still impact others – even if you touched their lives for a moment in time.
Have you caught yourself bragging to your friends about someone in your family who:
· Came to the US generations ago with empty pockets and managed to start a business, purchase a home, and send his 3 kids to college?
· Was born with a physical disability but did not let that stop her from running 2 marathons each year?
· Saved money her entire life and before dying, donated it all to the local children’s hospital?
· Was a political prisoner for 20 years of his life and after being released, authored several books?
These situations do not describe the rich and famous; they describe people who live nobly, with humility, through perseverance, strong will to succeed, and determination.
The list below involves 24 specific and actionable ways you can start building a legacy, depending on your passions in life.
Step-by-Step Organized Guide to Living with Purpose
24 Ways in Which Everyday People Can Build Legacies
20 Specific Ways to Inspire Others and Make a Positive Impact
· Have you ever heard the phrase “live with purpose” and not quite understood what it meant to you as an individual?
· Do you want to live with purpose but not sure what that means?
· Do you feel like you have many purposes in life and do not know how to organize or prioritize what you want to do?
· Are you feeling like something is missing in your life or that you are not getting the fulfillment that you need?
If these questions intrigue you, keep reading!
What Does Living with Purpose Mean?
“Live with Purpose” is a slogan used by colleges, universities, life coaches, educators, clergy members, and the elderly who have life experiences. If you have ever wondered what it truly means, you are not alone. Here is what living with purpose means:
· Being clear about own’s values and beliefs
· Making decisions in life-based on values and beliefs
· Truly knowing what is important to oneself and not wavering
· Having clear desires for living or goals in life that reflect own’s values and beliefs
· Having a clear path or plan in life to reflect one’s true inner-self
“Living with purpose” is used interchangeably with “living a meaningful life.”
Why Is It Important to Live with Purpose?
To live with purpose, you must consider the following questions:
· Are you clear about our values? In other words, what are some things that you consider to be very important and some things that are not very important in life?
· Are you generally happy and content in your life? Does it feel like something is missing?
· Are you excited to get your day going when you wake up in the morning, or does it take a lot of effort to mentally convince yourself to get up and get going?
· Are you feeling stuck in life and somewhat hopeless?
If we answer yes to any of these questions, it’s time to think about ways to live with more purpose. If you are waking up, doing what you love, doing what is important to you as a human being, you are most likely living with purpose. People who live purposefully are generally:
· Happier
· Less stressed
· Nicer to others
· Easy and pleasant to be around
· Kinder
· Confident
· Well-planned
· Prioritized
· Grateful
People who do not live purposefully have the opposite characteristics and attitudes.
20 Specific Ways to Inspire Others and Make a Positive Impact
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
20 Specific Ways to Inspire Others and Make a Positive Impact
Introduction
Knowing that you are positively impacting someone’s life is one of the best emotions you can feel like a human being. The sense of joy, happiness, and contentment is delightful for the soul. It is the feeling a doctor feels when she saves a patient’s life. It is the feeling a teacher gets from a student who returns for a visit years later and tells him that he was the reason he made it into college. It is the feeling parents feel seeing their son or daughter return in military uniform after returning from active duty.
There are many different ways to inspire others. Whether you know it or not, your words, actions, and demeanor are being observed by others. The impact you make upon others is part of your legacy – what you will be remembered by as you get older and leave this world.
Questions
- Would you like to start inspiring more people or having a positive impact on others?
- Are you looking for some strategies and ideas on how to inspire?
- Do you want to serve as a source of inspiration more often?
- Do you want to have a system in place in your life to inspire and motivate others consistently?
If you answer yes to these questions and find them intriguing, keep reading! This article will give you some practical strategies and ideas on inspiring and consistently motivating others. You will give others the encouragement and insight they need to achieve in their lives, and you will get a tremendous sense of satisfaction knowing you made a difference.
Why Inspiring and Motivating Others is Important
· Motivating and inspiring others bring out the best in you. When you are doing something meaningful, your levels of self-confidence and self-esteem get higher.
· One act of inspiration opens the doors to more opportunities to inspire. In other words, if a person comes up to you and tells you that you were the reason for their success, you get so excited and so overwhelmed with joy that you want to inspire even more people.
· Inspiration gives your life and your existence meaning. Being a source of inspiration for others gives you satisfaction in knowing your life on earth was impactful. People who inspire report having greater levels of spirituality and meaning.
· As human beings rely on relationships with others to achieve major goals. Your inspiring words and actions are helping you pay back to society. You are giving back to others what you have received from other human beings who have impacted your existence.
· When you inspire others, directly or indirectly, you are exhibiting leadership skills. You are evoking feelings of awe and admiration in others, and therefore serving as a source of influence upon them as a leader.
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
Backstory
From the time I was about 31 to about 41 years of age, I did some pretty incredible things in my life. Here are some of them:
- Bought a house in an area my husband and I wanted
- Started a family (2 kids)
- Ran a small side business successfully
- Went from being a clerical employee in a school district to a teacher after earning a teaching credential and a master's degree
- Earned a second credential to become a school administrator and a second master's degree
- Earned a doctoral degree
- Got promoted to being an assistant principal
- Got promoted to being a school principal
- Wrote a book and got a publisher to publish it
- Started a second small side business (Efficiency and Organization)
The #1 and most asked question of me has been, "How do you manage to do it all?" The second most asked question I get is, "Can I know what you do so I can do the same things in my life?" These are the questions that led to me writing a book called Efficiency and Organization. I began to notice that I was inspiring people around me. I was an average person who came from NOTHING, being an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, to have realized what, in my opinion, is the American Dream. People in my circles - work, school, and beyond, also had significant life goals, dreams, and aspirations. They wanted to achieve, do, succeed. They just wanted some advice on what I was doing to help give them an edge in pursuing happiness.
Pursuit of Happiness
I had this dream of writing a book for a few years. I now had an excellent topic for it! If I had people around me asking me what I was doing differently to get so much done in short periods of time, then perhaps thousands of people out there were also wondering! The book would open doors and help many, many others. After writing the book, I started the website efficiencyandorganization.com. I am still a "beyond-full-time" public school principal, a parent, a homeowner, a small side-business owner, and an author. I am using the skills I have learned and the knowledge I have gained over the years to do it all the best way I can. Looking back at the 10-year timespan when those significant life goals were achieved, I can honestly say there were 12 things that I did to help me succeed and go beyond what I even thought I was capable of.
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals Over 10 Years
1) I woke up between 4 am, and 5 am every morning, including most weekends.
I used my time in those morning hours when my kids were in bed to get so much done! The only thing I have to say about waking up that early each day was getting up with a plan. For example, when I was studying for my CSET exams to get my math teaching credential, I knew exactly what book to study and what problems to complete.
12 Ways to Stay in Touch with Old Contacts and Why It's Necessary
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
12 Things I Did to Achieve 10 Huge Life Goals in a 10-Year Timespan
How and Why It Is Necessary to Build and Maintain Relationships with Contacts
If there is anything the Covid19 pandemic has taught us it’s been to live healthier and to stay in contact with friends. The more relationships we build and maintain in life, the more "rich" our lives can be. Our old contacts, friends, family members, coworkers, and team members will be the ones to lift us up when we are feeling down, when we need advice, when we need reassurances about decisions we are making, and more.
In life, we are constantly in search of 8 things:
1) Happiness
2) Money
3) Freedom
4) Peace
5) Joy
6) Balance
7) Fulfillment
8) Confidence
The number one item on this list is happiness. What brings us happiness?
- Practicing regular acts of kindness
- Spending time with family and friends
- Investing in experiences, not objects
In order to feel fulfilled and happy, we rely on our personal and professional relationships with others. The old relationships are the best relationships. We meet so many people throughout our lives who impact us in some way positively. We meet people at various locations, including:
- Churches
- Workplaces
- Schools
- Family gatherings
- Professional events
- Networking events
- Stores
- Libraries
- And even online
But yet, keeping and maintaining those contacts and relationships, as beneficial as they are for our overall happiness and success in life, is difficult to do.
The Epiphany:
When we were asked to stay home and stay away from social gatherings due to the Covid19 pandemic that I realized how important it was for me to stay in touch with people from the past and the present. I also realized how much my contacts that are part of my network have helped me over the years with my education, my career changes, my small businesses, etc. The way I have maintained my relationships - or my professional and personal network over the years, have propelled me to success tremendously over the years.
In order to stay in contact with friends and family members, I came up with a systematic process that worked wonders for me. I am hoping that this list works for you, also. As you build contacts and relationships, use an organized, systematic approach to keeping those for the long run - you never know what help and advice you can give to others, and what help and advice they can give you!
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