If I were to ask you, what do you want your legacy to be, what would you say? Have you even put any thought into that? And I don’t mean some unrealistic contemplation of what you wish it would be. I want to know if you’ve put any real thought into that.
Having spent time in classrooms, on stages, and working with clients and people of all ages, I’ve realized that most people can’t answer that question. At least not with much substance and without hesitation.
When I talk about what it means to be UNCOMMON, hopefully you can see by now, that I’m talking about people who want to live their lives in a different way and for something much bigger than themselves.
UNCOMMONERS don’t want to fit in. They don’t want to play it safe. And they definitely don’t want to look back on their lives and wonder, what if?
A key factor in becoming UNCOMMON and living your life in that way, is knowing and being aligned with why you want to. I’ve said it before, this isn’t a goal, it’s a way of life. And, I’d actually even take it a step further, and say that it an identity.
My way of life is no better than anyone else’s, it’s just the way I’m meant to live based on who I am. And one of the most important elements of me living this way, is knowing what legacy I want to leave.
How it all started
If I’m being 100% honest with you, I had so many reservations about even putting the whole “UNCOMMON Life” thing out there. I had all the normal fears and anxieties about it. Will people think I’m dumb? What if it comes across wrong, and people think I’m arrogant? What if no one else resonates with it?
Just like with any other area of our lives where we make ourselves vulnerable, I was scared. But, it was in those moments of doubt and questioning that I looked forward to my legacy, and knew that I had to do this.
You see, for me, my legacy has always been simple – I want people to know when I die.
Arrogant? Some would assume so. But, I don’t mean it in the way you might assume.
I don’t care to ever live the celebrity lifestyle. Cameras in my face all day, constant demands on my time, and not being able to go to the bathroom in peace, no thank you!
When I say that I want people to know that I die, I mean that I want to know that I spent my life helping as many people as possible, and that I did my part to leave this world better than how I found it.
I think about the Mandelas, Kings, and Grahams of the world, and the impact they had on people’s lives outside of their comfort zones or immediate circle of influence. These people dedicated everything they had to making the lives of others better, and they were beloved for that.
That’s the impact I desire. That’s the legacy I desire. I know that, and I own that.
Putting it all together
God willing, we’ll all have the opportunity, when we’re old and grey, to reflect back on our lives. Allow yourself to go there. Picture yourself sitting in a rocking chair on a beautiful fall day, and you’re reflecting on a life well lived. What does it look like? What are the key elements or things you accomplished? What do people say about you? (Comment below) That, my friend, is your legacy. UNCOMMONERS don’t leave life to chance – that’s the common thing to do. UNCOMMONERS are intentional about designing the lives they desire. If you want to be UNCOMMON, I challenge you to have the courage to stop accepting life as it is, define your legacy as you desire it to be, then spend the rest of your life making that your reality.
