Legacy vs Resume
A few weeks ago, I drove to Ohio to visit my mentor, Keith. We first met when I was 14, and we have stayed connected ever since, now almost 45 years, and he has without a doubt been the biggest influence on my life.
Over the past few years Keith has been batting some health issues including the onset of dementia. Recently, he went for a drive but got lost which turned into a state-wide search. Thankfully he was found safe and returned home...this was when I decided to visit to check in with him.
As I surprised Keith walking through the door, and after a long embrace, I scolded him for going on a joy-ride without me. (Over the years we have driven thousands of miles together) He laughed but acknowledged that he didn't remember any of it, which may be a blessing.
We enjoyed a few days together and one night after dinner we went through some pictures on a digital frame we had set up for him and his wife Lois. They are Opa & Oma to my kids and so I took it upon myself to share some stories and updated them on their grandchildren and now great-grandchildren.
As we talked and laughed and shed a few tears, I wanted to ensure Keith and Lois knew and understood the legacy they made possible. As some of you may know, I was a lot of trouble in my younger years and I may not be writing this today without Keith's influence.
But more than that, now I have adult children who are raising children, and I wanted to ensure they knew the legacy they were leaving behind.
Now Keith had been a pastor for over 50 years and has impacted thousands of people through his life and ministry, but maybe no one more than me. I gave him a lot of credit for my family and grandchildren and explained that this is his legacy too. He has influenced generations in my family which would have not even started without him.
I know Keith struggles with not being as productive as he once was, but one thing he can rest in, is that he made a difference. Not just in my life but the life of my family.
That's his legacy.
And you want to know something? His legacy is way more important than his resume.
We all know what a resume is. It's a document that highlights our experiences, skills, education, and past jobs, usually with the hope of landing a new one.
Resumes are valuable and we should be able to create one when needed. But I would like to suggest that our resumes are not nearly as important as our legacy. And I'm not talking about money.
While in Ohio, we went for a drive, ( I was behind the wheel, just like I usually was) and I decided to pass by the few churches in the area that he had pastored. It was a walk down memory lane, but not so much to celebrate the different roles he had, (his resume), but to remind him of the many people he influenced through those roles.
Legacy is so much more than leaving money behind in a will. It's about influence and it's about impacting others so they will impact others after them.
Keith certainly has done that, and I want to do the same.
What about you?
So what do you think, resume or legacy?
What will your legacy be? Have you even thought about it? Or are you focused more on building your resume. Hey, I get it. I agree our work is important, but I also believe our work is a means to an end, not the end itself. The end is more about our legacy...who we will influence and impact.
After all, the people that matter the most to you, probably care very little what degrees you have, the titles you've earned or whether you secured the corner office with a view, that you pursued for so long.
Next week I'm going to talk about how we can make an impact and ensure our legacy.
How I can help...
- Download your free chapter of "Vantage Point: Five Perspectives to Live a Better Story" Click here Vantage Point
- Schedule a free call!