Leaving a Legacy

 A legacy, by definition, is “a gift.” I looked it up! When you lead, you’re providing a gift to your followers. If you’ve done it right, you’ve given them a gift that they will, in turn, pass on to THEIR followers. That’s the value of leaving a legacy. And we all do...leave a legacy. I’m convinced that most of us, if not all of us, would prefer to leave a legacy of being good leaders.

The other day, I was walking the halls when I noticed a young captain leaning against a wall, looking at his cell phone, probably texting. As I came upon him, he acknowledged me by saying good morning and as he did so, he noticed who I was and smiled as he almost proclaimed, “Chief Vásquez!” People do that! Often, with the expectation that I remember them. I’ve met a lot of people in my short time on this earth. I can’t remember them all. It ain’t old age…it’s the altitude! Anyway, I said hello and, not being able to help myself, I stopped to chat with him. Yeah, I know that not everyone has time to listen to my stories, but most people respect me enough to humor me. I appreciate that.

 

The captain reminded me that he’d been one of my students about seventeen years ago. Man, I REALLY don’t remember that far back! We talked about the workshop he’d attended with me. I asked him if he remembered what I attempted to teach him. He did! Not everything, but some things, which is, I think, enough. What he recalled most was how I made him feel, which was “good.” Empowered is what he described. Empowered to strive to be a better person daily. That’s my legacy.

 

As I said before, we all leave some kind of legacy. What will yours be? When you leave the team, group, organization, that you’re a part of now, what gifts will you have left those who remain? What will they say about you? You know they will, right? What would you LIKE them to say?

 

A decade-and-a-half ago, a good friend and colleague rushes into my office, a concerned look on his face, and proclaims, “Chief!” “Sir,” I reply as I stand for him. He sighs with relief and looks me over as he says, “I just got an email from a friend who told me that Bob Vásquez had died! So, I came in as fast as I could to make sure it wasn’t true!”

 

Now, THAT’S never happened! Plenty of stories about me have been told, but I’ve never known THAT story to circulate! I immediately looked myself over to ensure I truly WAS still alive. I even pinched my arm, just to make sure. Interestingly, a gentleman by the same name HAD passed away. I know because I went over to the library and found the man’s obituary in the local newspaper. He was my age, had two daughters, was originally from New Mexico...there was an uncanny resemblance, not physical, but in life events. I bought a copy of the paper and cut out the obit to look at once in a while to remind me of the inevitable course of life. What’s NOT inevitable is my, your, legacy. I’ll ask again. What gifts will you leave behind? What will they say about you? You can control that to some degree, you know, by your behavior. If you want people to remember you as kind, be kind! Loving? Love! You catch my drift.

 

In my life, the measure of success, especially as a dad, which is one of my most important roles, is that my daughters know that I love them. The test is when I tell them that I love them and they respond with, “I know.” One of my favorite maxims is, “When you came into this world you cried, and the people rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you leave this world the people will cry, and you will rejoice.” Strive to leave a legacy that people will appreciate. Start now!