“How do I want to be remembered?”

You know, the older I get, the more I linger on this question.

And it’s not because I’m intentionally looking for ways to gain notoriety.

Instead, I’ve come to realize that I only have a finite amount of time to get done what I was put on this earth to do.

The reality is that, over time, my priorities have changed.

You know, the motorcycle life that I once was so fond of in my youth is now long gone.

And today, when I think about working out, it’s more about staving off heart disease than it is toning down my waistline.

But when it comes to how I want to be remembered, I’m reminded of a truly impactful quote that I recently came across that said, “In 100 years, no one will remember who you are.”

It’s shocking to think about, right?

In a way, I’m sure you likely already knew that intuitively.

I mean, can you remember your great-grandfather’s name without looking it up or asking a relative?

I start getting depressed just thinking about it!

But here’s the thing: instead of looking at this quote as being a cause for disappointment, I’ve used it as my inspiration to purposefully write my life’s story.

You see, in 100 years, few people will care about what corporate title I earned, how much money I made, the square footage of my home , or all the toys I’ve owned.

But they’ll likely be interested in my legacy, or rather, the story of what I did with my life.

Have you thought about your legacy lately?

Have you thought about what folks will say about you in 100 years?

And no, I’m not talking about the monetary inheritance that you could leave behind.

Instead, your legacy is the story that you want people tell about you when you’re not here to tell it yourself

But here’s the thing though: your legacy can only be as solid as the vision for the ideal world that you’re trying to bring into reality in the right here and now.

It’s something that you can make happen right now; it’s not something that magically happens in the future.

That’s why, if you want to create a story worth remembering, then you need to prioritize daily activities that are aligned with your legacy-building vision.

Because if you don’t, in 100 years, someone else will write your story.

What’s Keeping You from Writing Our Story

So then, what does it look like when someone else writes your story?

Well, consider the story of Nikola Tesla.

Now, as you’ll likely recall, Tesla was an inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the development of many things you use today.

These include things like alternating current (AC) electricity, wireless communication, and a number of other innovations that you can look up on the web.

Here’s the thing, though: Tesla’s legacy has been shaped by historians in ways that emphasize certain aspects of his life while leaving out others.

How so?

Well, many times, historians will portray Tesla as an eccentric genius who struggled financially and was overshadowed by Thomas Edison.

In other words, he failed because he didn’t get rich like Edison, right?

Now, the trouble here is that this portrayal of Tesla’s legacy has created a narrative that often focuses on his rivalry with Edison and his financial difficulties instead of his genuine passion for science and innovation.

That’s because, by many accounts, Tesla was deeply dedicated to advancing technology for the betterment of humanity.

And this dedication is evident in his numerous patents and contributions to various fields, including electricity, radio, and wireless communications.

Ultimately, Tesla had a visionary approach to his inventions and was more focused on their potential societal impact than his own personal gain.

In other words, he wasn’t as concerned about the money as he was about the work, but the story that was written about him put the emphasis on money.

And that likely came from the comparison between him and Edison.

Now, had Tesla been able to shape his narrative more effectively, he might have been remembered differently.

He might have been remembered not only for his scientific genius but also for his integrity and commitment to making the world a better place through his inventions.

Maybe, had Tesla been a little more thoughtful with his finances, he’d have been better known today as a visionary who made a big impact, instead of the guy that got beat out by Edison, right?

Indeed, your legacy goes beyond how you want to be remembered. It’s about the impact you make through every little daily choice you make today.

Daily Distractions

Now, the trouble is that so many of us want to do good.

We want to make an impact in our families, in our communities, and in the world around us.

And now, certainly, you likely want to make an impact and do the right thing on a daily basis, right?

The trouble is that outside obstacles often distract you from focusing on your long-term goals.

Indeed, in the context of building a legacy, you’ll likely face a host of daily distractions like emails, social media notifications, and urgent but not important tasks that compete for attention.

And these distractions tend to pull you away from activities that would otherwise contribute meaningfully to your vision for the future.

In fact, these external distractors are relentless and seemingly everywhere.

And you know, the trouble is that they make it very hard for you to stay focused on what truly matters because your attention is constantly being pulled from one fire that you need to put out to another.

You’re doing busy work, but you’re not making any progress.

And so, all those well-intentioned plans that you had laid out with your family or the time you planned to contribute to your local non-profit are once again put on the back burner.

Now, here’s the thing: this constant tug-of-war between the immediate demands of life and your long-term goals can lead to a disconnect.

That is, it inflames those feelings of frustration and a sense that the demands of everyday life are diluting your efforts.

But, where you give your time and energy is your choice.

Because, if you don’t write your story, someone else will.

Internal Struggles

Now, oftentimes, those daily distractions aren’t a cause but an effect.

In other words, what if you’re staying busy because you want to avoid thinking about the bigger picture of life?

Let me tell you what I’m talking about here: You see, in the early 1970s, there was this psychologist by the name of Wayne Oates, who found himself grappling with his own relentless compulsion to work.

He found himself distracted by external things, or so he thought.

Now, this wasn’t just about being sucked into the nine-to-five grind.

In reality, Oates was dealing with an internal struggle and he couldn’t understand his compulsion to work so much.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt the need to be the one to turn out the lights in the office at night?

And so, he did some digging. He looked internally and used his own professional observations to eventually give a name to his struggles, which he called “workaholism.”

And so, as part of this discovery process, Oates ended up writing a book called, “The Confessions of a Workaholic: The Facts About Work Addiction.”

Now, the book starts off with an account of Oates’ own life experiences and offers an inside look at how his work consumed his life, including how it cost him his personal relationships and his health.

But here’s why this all matters. Oates helps give us a modern-day definition of workaholism.

He helps us understand how our own internal struggles often manifest as external issues that distract us from doing the essential things in life.

Now, you likely already have your own definition of workaholism.

But let’s go back to the original definition as Oates describes it, because it’s quite telling.

Now, Oates defines workaholism as an uncontrollable need to work incessantly, where an individual is internally compelled to work hard, often exceeding what is required.

But the big question here is, “why?”

What would compel an individual to behave this way, right?

Well, that’s what Oates talks about in his book.

And so, Oates goes on to talk about how traits like perfectionism, a need for control, and fear of emotional intimacy can drive a person deeper into the arms of their work.

But the big takeaway here is that the struggles that individuals face internally, often lead them to mask their problems with external solutions.

That’s why, ignoring the internal struggles of doubt and uncertainty when it comes to writing your life story can result in a lack of decisive action towards building your legacy.

So what happens if you don’t do anything?

What if you think you’re doing something, but in reality, you’re just engaging in busy work?

Well, there’s a cost.

And the emotional toll can include a persistent sense of dissatisfaction and the haunting question of “what if?” when it’s too late, like:

What if I had started that side hustle?

What if I made it to my kid’s ball games more often?

What if I took more time with that precious relationship?

What if?

What if…

You know, if you don’t write your story, someone else will.

How to Write Your Own Story

So then, what can you do to move past the internal and external struggles and get to a place where you can begin write your own story and building a legacy you want to leave behind?

Step #1: Identify Your Values

Well, the first thing you’ll want to do is to take the time to identify and get to know your values. Now, you’ll likely recall that your values are not the things you aspire to be, but rather, they’re the things that are important to you right now.

Now, this distinction between aspiration and actuality is crucial because aspirations are often externally influenced, while what you really value is often something internally important to you.

In other words, you’re born with it.

Indeed, these are things that you would genuinely care about if no one was standing around watching what you’re doing.

But for now, what you need to know is that gaining clarity on what is truly essential allows you to filter out the noise and focus on what genuinely matters to you and to the legacy you’re creating.

And so, by defining your core values and the ultimate impact you want to leave behind, you can prioritize the actions and decisions that align directly with your life’s purpose.

And how exactly do you go about doing this work?

Well, you can start by asking yourself, “Do I truly understand what’s essential in my life, and if not, how can I find out?”

One thing you can do here is to take the time to complete a values assessment.

At the very least, review resources like James Clear’s Core Values List.

Either way, I’ve covered the topic of values discovery in previous posts and episodes, so be sure to check out those resources at https://legacygenone.com.

But doing this work will give you a solid base from which to make your decisions.

Step #2: Practice Deathbed Meditation

Now, the next thing you’ll want to do visualize what happens in your world after you’re gone.

And one helpful approach to this end is to practice Maranasati meditation or otherwise known as deathbed meditation.

And what exactly is Maranasati meditation, you ask?

Well, Maranasati meditation is a type of meditation that helps you not only think about but also accept the idea of death.

And so, why would you want to take the time to think about dying?

Well, this kind of meditation encourages you to think about how death is a natural part of life and to appreciate how everything in life is truly temporary.

That’s because, when practicing Maranasati meditation, you might imagine what happens when you die or think about the process of your body getting older and eventually not working at all.

The goal here isn’t to make you scared but to help you value life more fully and to worry less about minor problems.

So then, by frequently thinking about death in a calm way, what you’re actually doing is giving yourself the ability to enjoy your life even more.

And how exactly is this possible?

Well, that’s because you start to learn how to live in the moment and not get too upset about things that are impermanent or simply don’t matter.

Ultimately, this meditation can help you feel more at peace and ready to handle whatever life throws your way.

So then to do this, start by asking yourself, “In my final moments, who will I be surrounded by and how will they remember me?”

Then, consider all of the values you’ve identified in the previous step and find a quiet space to reflect on your life as if in your final moments.

Consider the alignment between your current path, or the daily choices you’re making today, and your deepest values.

Then, use this reflection to set intentions or goals that bring you closer to your ideal life vision, and keep track of these insights for future guidance.

Step #3: Take Daily, Incremental Steps

Now, the last thing that you’ll want to consider as you’re intentionally writing your story is to focus on your most important actions.

These are the things that you want to be doing each and every day to get you on your path and move you closer to your ideal version of your life story.

And so, what does this look like?

Well, consider the story of Mike Flint.

Now, Flint was Warren Buffett’s personal pilot.

And you remember Buffett, right?

The Oracle from Omaha?

The billionaire investor?

Well, before working for Buffett, Flint had flown for four U.S. Presidents.

And so, by many measures, he was an accomplished pilot. But he was looking for more.

So then, as Flint tells it, one day, he approaches Buffett looking for advice on furthering his career.

So, what did Buffett do?

Well, Buffett asked Flint to list his top 25 career goals and then circle the top five most important ones.

At this point, Flint thought that he would work on his top five goals immediately and then focus on the remaining 20 when he had free time, right?

Well, it didn’t work out that way.

That’s because Buffett gave Flint a surprising instruction: He told Flint he should avoid the 20 uncircled items at all costs until he had achieved his top five goals.

These uncircled items, Buffett explained, are not just distractions but also potential traps that could divert his energy and focus away from his most critical objectives.

Now, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

Not everyone can have a single-minded focus and achieve the top things in their life at the cost of other priorities.

But, Buffett’s advice not only highlights the importance of focusing on your highest priorities and also underscores the necessity of avoiding less critical tasks that can impede significant progress.

That’s why you’ll want to take the time now to think about the small steps you need to take each and every day to move you closer to the story you want to write.

With that said, I’m not talking about doing work for work’s sake.

More specifically, you’ll want to make sure that you match your actions to your values.

It’s about taking intentional daily steps.

It’s like making sure each puzzle piece fits so you can see the big picture of your dream life coming true.

So then, to begin, you’ll want to take the time to ask yourself, “What do I need to do today to live in alignment with my values?”

Then, every day, try to do one small thing that shows you what’s really important, whether that’s being more kind or more helpful to others.

Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes; the most essential part here is to keep trying to live by your own value system, not what you think others want for you.

Ultimately, the point here is to do one thing today that moves you closer to where you want to go.

So then, don’t let another day pass you by.

Go grab a pen, outline your vision, and commit to one small step today that brings you closer to the legacy you dream of.

If You Don’t Write Your Story, Someone Else Will

Remember, the story of your life is yours to write.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll likely want to be proud to hear what your family or loved ones have to say when they tell it.

That’s because if you don’t take charge and define the legacy you want to leave behind, you risk allowing life’s daily hustle and others’ agendas to shape your path and the steps you take.

Remember, each day spent without aligning your actions to your true purpose is a missed opportunity to forge a meaningful legacy.

Ultimately, the world will remember you not just for your good intentions but for what you did with your time.

So then, you’ll likely want to make sure it’s a reflection of your true aspirations. Because if you don’t write your story, someone else will.

But, what if you do end up writing your story the way you want it to be read?

Imagine what could unfold in your life today if you decided to prioritize what truly matters.

Picture a future where, each day, you commit to small, deliberate actions that align seamlessly with your deepest values and aspirations.

That’s why it’s crucial to not wait for another year to wonder what could have been.

Start now, start today so you can not only begin defining what’s truly important to you, but so you can write your own story by taking one step closer to becoming the master of your own financial independence journey.