August is “what will be your legacy” month. A legacy is something that is handed down from a previous generation or what you leave your next generation. What you leave and what is left for you may be two entirely different things. A legacy does not necessarily involve material goods, but may revolve around behaviors, values and beliefs. Quite often it involves an occupation or a business.
It is fairly common to see a family that yields multiple generations of politicians. The same holds true for lawyers, police and military officers, teachers and so on. It is also traditional in family-run businesses to pass them on to the next generation and the next, whether it’s a bakery, mortgage company, restaurant or electronics firm, etc. It is also fairly common in network marketing for the generation that starts a successful organization to recruit the entire family into the organization.
Regardless of the type of business that’s passed on as a legacy, there is something crucial to remember: People’s behavior may not always represent their beliefs or values. Have you heard parents admonishing their children to “do as I say, not as I do?” The truth is, it’s not always easy to practice what you preach, but in terms of a legacy, it’s prudent and wise.
No one wants to be remembered as someone who asked one thing of others but did the opposite personally. Parents have the potential to influence generations to come — what is taught and emphasized versus what is neglected may all become part of their legacy. So, when conducting business, it’s important to honor commitments and be a role model for positive behavior. The good behavior may actually be the more important part of the legacy that is passed down the generations.
Examples of behavioral legacies are:
What will be your legacy?