The 6 Things That Directly Contribute To Your Legacy

What if you are competing with someone else doing the same thing? Do you stop it? It think the answer is simple here. First off, we cannot rule out competition and copy cats. However, like I shared earlier in this article, what matters is “Why are you doing what you are doing?” Towards what end? For what purpose? One of my favorite authors Dutch Sheets says it perfectly this way:

“The why of doing something can be a great motivational force”

In other words, the reason behind a thing is the most important thing. I read that this quote is attributed to Dr. John Maxwell:

“Those who know how to do things will always have a job. Those who know why it’s done will always employ them”

However, it can be pretty discouraging when you are starting out doing the very same thing that titans in the industry are doing. For example, there are multiple social media platforms out there. Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat and Instagram have massive market share. And then here comes and obscure innovator pitting himself against these massive titans. Is he mad? Should he even dare? Could he do it? These are massive questions because some people have been discouraged smack out of their life purpose because someone else has already done what they feel that they wanted to do. 

I am here to encourage us as concerns our Legacy in life. There are 6 things that you need to take a look at and internalize in your spirit. One thing always follows the other progressively. So let’s dive in and see.

1. What Really Matters To You?

I will give you my example. People matter to me a lot. People’s potential is my occupation, to see it come to fruition. To me, purpose in life dictates everything else. In other words, it matters less that someone else is doing exactly what I am starting off to do. You see, [ictt-tweet-inline]I cannot be locked out of my purpose by a patent! No one can patent purpose.[/ictt-tweet-inline] That is why a few months back, I wrote about how to up your brand by standing on the shoulders of the titans of your niche. You see, for as long us it matters to you and you feel it deep within your sanctified should that it is your calling and purpose, do not be discouraged by what has already been established in the niche. Buckle up and go to work, worry not that someone will call you a copy cat.

2. What Systems Will You Put in Place?

TD Jakes, in his book “Instinct” makes a massive statement that is worth of a double take and reflection. He says:

“If we are to find alignment between the external career and the internal call, we are going to have to navigate through the maze of low hanging opportunities offered to sustain us and fulfill the open door area of need that awaits us”

What the Bishop is saying here is that once your have realized what matters to you, chances are that it will not be the only thing that is available to you to do. Chances are that you will face myriads of “shiny objects” that will seek to derail you from your purpose in life. And I can assure you that this is the greatest hazard that all of us will have to navigate. Thankfully, there is a way out…and No, it is not goal-setting. The way out is to sit down and create a system through which you can start bringing out the best of what matters to you. This system should be cognizant of the fact that it is going to take a lot of time, sweat and tears to build what matters to you. Without a system though, you will get lost in the maze that Bishop Jakes is talking about.

3. What is your Difference?

Perhaps this is one of the greatest questions posed by my mentor Dr. Mike Murdock. What a powerful question to answer. He gives an example of fast food chains in America: MacDonalds, Burger King, KFC etc. They are doing more or less the same thing in the same niche yet each of them have found a twist, some kind of special attention and deliver that they give to their service. In turn, each of them are profitable and have a market share. Creating your difference is what comes after you have put the functional systems in place to run your purpose. For the most part, our legacy is built on our difference. That is why we have several heavy weight boxing champions throughout the years, but each had a difference. Ali, Tyson, Mayweather, Holyfield, Lewis etc. Same sport, different legacies. So [ictt-tweet-inline]find your voice by finding your difference.[/ictt-tweet-inline]

4. What will you do about Excellence?

“OK plus one” is the highlight of exemplary customer service. But excellence is what delivers it. Excellence is not an appendage or some kind of addition or afterthought to your delivery. Excellence is in fact a spirit that you nurture and instill in the minutest details of your purpose. The best example for excellence will always be for me, Steve Jobs. You remember how he cared just as much for the excellence of the internal circuits placement of the Apple computer as he did the outside features. That fact alone has bought fanatics to Apple who are always assured of Excellence in every product they churn. To be honest with you, there are not so many people who have good legacies that lacked the spirit of excellence. So be keen to build it, you are nearing the epitome of it all. Like I said some time back,

[ictt-tweet-inline] “Excellence is not going to cost you alot, it is in fact, going to cost you everything”  [/ictt-tweet-inline]

Ask God about it and come tell me.

5. How Badly Do you want it? Persistence

Well, it is a fact of life that you fill face discouragement, fear, failure and massive disappointments along the way. We have already hinted about that here. This is why step 1 is absolutely critical. If what you are engaged in is not really what matters to you, then you will bet off your own bandwagon when the going gets tough as it usually does. You need to make a decision before hand that this is worth dying for as MLK told us:

“No man is fit to live until he has discovered what he is willing to die for”

When you discover it, you build your level of persistence than the average spectator. [ictt-tweet-inline]Persistence is a paramount ingredient for anyone building a legacy[/ictt-tweet-inline]…even Jesus Christ had to count on it.

6.5 Whom Can you Collaborate with?

If it is big enough, there is no way that you will do it alone. Jesus Christ Himself still banks o this point even today. The fact is that there are very many people who are doing so much that you can join with and make an even greater impact in society. We started by asking about competition, and we are finishing by talking about collaboration. Collaborators are people who see the much greater and bigger picture. People with massive legacies did not do it alone…they got help.

6. What Is Your Contribution?

You see, legacy is built on selflessness. It is built on bringing something spectacular to fruition for the benefit of other people other than yourself. Now, this might seem like I am saying that the one creating the legacy is sacrificing his life and not getting anything in return. But you would be wrong. There is nothing as satisfying as being on your deathbed and knowing that the way you lived will positively impact many lives after you. Knowing this before you die and dedicating your life to it…that is just the very reason why you were born.