Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy New ... Legacy
Happy New Year everyone! I decided to delay this posting until a few days after the New Year actually started in order to give us all time to "settle in". Flush with the excitement of champagne corks popping and fireworks lighting the sky, it is a bit too easy to make resolutions based only on emotion.
For instance, how long does the average diet last? Until we get hungry, of course.
What we really desire (this time of year especially) is to make a decision with lasting results—a decision that actually changes our life and our legacy.
So, if you died today ... what would your legacy be?
On April 13, 1888, a man named Alfred woke up early that morning in Paris. While eating breakfast, he began to read the newspaper and was astonished to discover his own obituary on page 3. Naturally, it was a mistake, for in fact it was Alfred's brother Ludwig who had died.
As a result of this error, Alfred was afforded a rare opportunity—a chance to see how he would be remembered. And he didn't like what he saw. As David Zacks writes in An Underground Education:
"Alfred was shocked to see himself portrayed as the Merchant of Death, the man responsible for escalating the arms race. Even though he had made high-powered explosives much easier to use and was proud of how this power had been unleashed to mine precious minerals and to build roads, railways, and canals."
The obituary portrayed him as a "monster" whose discoveries "had boosted the bloody art of war from bullets and bayonets to long-range explosives in less than 24 years."
Stunned, but propelled into action, Alfred hatched a shrewd plan. Determined to change his current image and future legacy, he used his time and profits from the explosives to create an annual prize—for peace.
Today, few of us connect the creator of that prize to "the art of killing". And that, my friend, is just what Alfred Nobel intended.
Again ... if you died today, what would your legacy be?
How would you be described physically? Would anyone mention a specific habit or addiction in connection with your life?
Whether today, next month, or years from now, your legacy will one day be set in stone. What will we say you did? Who will we say you were? What difference will we celebrate that you made?
Your legacy is what you make it.
And the most important part of your life ... begins now.
Yours,
Andy
23 Comments
1. ken wallick:
January 8, 2009 @ 12:30 PM
"Paraphrasing, someone wrote that the dates on the headstone are meaningless, it is what you did on the dash in between."
2. Bonnie Bartel Latino:
January 8, 2009 @ 1:14 PM
"Andy, you've written yet another thought provoking blog. How odd it would be to read our own obituary.
The word legacy came to mind yesterday in regards to your Cows for Christmas campaign.
I think part of your legacy will be that you challenge people to be better than they are . . . and you do it with humor and grace.
I must go now to think about what MY legacy would be were I to die tonight . . .
Thank you, my friend.
Bon in Atmore"
3. Roger Osborne:
January 8, 2009 @ 7:43 PM
"Thank you for another thought-provoking article, Andy. You continue to impress me with your ability to make us look a little deeper into who we are and can be."
4. Chrysty in Nashville:
January 8, 2009 @ 8:42 PM
"Just the shot in the arm I needed...already blown my "don't eat nutty bars" anthem...this was a better, broader way to look at the rest of my days...with or without chocolate. Thanks, as always, for making me think. C."
5. Shannon:
January 8, 2009 @ 9:18 PM
"How odd. I have been thinking about my legacy a lot lately and have actually wondered what people might say about me at my funeral. I want to ask people what they might say but I fear they will interpret it as me looking for compliments, not honest feedback. Has anyone ever done something like this>
SJ"
6. Andy Andrews:
January 8, 2009 @ 9:48 PM
"Shannon!
I'm not sure...
But at my funeral, I think I'd like people to say this about me: "Hey look! He's breathing!"
Ha!
AA"
7. Renee Badertscher:
January 8, 2009 @ 9:49 PM
"When I was in training to be a Hospice volunteer, one of the activities we did was to write our own obituaries. It was very instructive--and thought provoking. A good exercise to repeat now and then."
8. Bobbie Ashley:
January 9, 2009 @ 11:57 AM
"I'd like someone to say that she never failed to laugh at a good joke, cry when the moment called for it, and sang out loud when her heart felt it!
***Thanks for the inspiration Andy!"
9. Linda Moore:
January 9, 2009 @ 2:26 PM
"Andy,
I have been teaching GED prep and a variety of Adult Ed courses through the Department of Social Services in Harford County MD for years. I always begin my first class of a new year with a talk about "beginning with the end in mind" an idea I learned in Bible College and re-learned from Covey. When I was a young college freshman the professor had us write our obituary. Sounds morbit but it caused me to think how I wanted to live my life. Funny how most essays I forgot but I NEVER forgot that one! I use your 7 Decisions with my students every 2 weeks and find those who re-enter my welfare to work class ask me first for another print off of those POWER-Packed Principles. Blessings! In the journey together...leaving a footprint in the sands of life. Linda"
10. jan burch:
January 9, 2009 @ 2:51 PM
"Andy,
Hobe and I have discussed this very thing many times - think our advanced years promotes this kind of thinking. I only want one thing thought of me - that I was a kind person. Guess I better get to work on that!!! Thanks for ALL your blogs. jan burch"
11. Wayne:
January 9, 2009 @ 6:29 PM
"When You're Down to Nothing, God's up to Something'
Worry looks around, Sorry looks back, Faith looks up.
This is sent to you.
Have faith."
12. Keith:
January 10, 2009 @ 6:31 PM
"Hi Andy,
I want to quickly take this opportunity to thank you for speaking at Softchoice's Sales Conference this past week.
It was one of the more inspiring events I have been a part of and can't thank you enough for your words and perpective. i wake up each day and ensure I smile at least once to one person when talking...the rest just flows from there.
Thank you Andy. God Bless"
13. Dixie:
January 10, 2009 @ 11:22 PM
"We wake up to a new day in which God has given us the opportunity to do something great...either in our lives or someone's elses. I'd like to think that when I died, people would say, I cared for my family, my friends, and the world around me.
Makes me really think....am I just living like I'm dying...or am I living like I'm living. I know this past year, I was going through the motion of getting through the day. This year is different, I wake up, thanking God for a wonderful day and that I am still alive. This year, I'm gonna live like I'm living!"
14. Joshua Morrell:
January 11, 2009 @ 6:23 AM
"andy - thanks so much for your 'blog" and your books. you have helped me out tremendously in my life. i wish you can advise us to have a "year long" news fast - instead of just a couple of days. i hate the electronic news - but that is probably for another blog.
i do not know what my legacy will be. good guy. helpful. spiritual...very friendly - but, gosh darn it - did he smoke a lot...
i have too quit smoking - so tough. another aspect of my life i might be remembered for is - well, he was always changing careers, and never made too much money for such a smart fella'. well - i am going to school fulltime - working 36 to 41 hours a week - with NO health insurance - i have to buy my own from the state of new york...i am taking school all the way - i just turned 37 years old. i earned a 3.7 gpa this semester - and i figure i will get my ba and masters in social work in about 3 years or so...
anyway - sorry for the rant. to andy and everyone - bless you and thank you so much...josh"
15. Carole:
January 11, 2009 @ 3:45 PM
"What would you say to a team of elem. teachers to inspire them to excell for the next 5 months?"
16. Andy Andrews:
January 11, 2009 @ 9:37 PM
"Carole...
The quality of your answers can always be determined by the quality of your questions. We want good answers...so lets ask good questions!
When you were most excited about teaching, what were you reading?
What is the greatest success you have had as a teacher?
What is the greatest success a teacher can have?
Who was the greatest teacher you ever had and how did they challenge you or change your thinking?
If you could have any wish come true in your classroom tomorrow, what would it be?
How do you want your slowest student to remember you?
If you could wave a magic wand and impart one thing to your class during the next five months that they would remember for the rest of their lives, what would it be?
Now, Carole...you add five more questions and go for it! The teachers are fortunate to have you in their lives!
Yours,
Andy"
17. Joshua Morrell:
January 14, 2009 @ 6:52 AM
"hi andy - how about that newsfast for a whole year? how about rejecting the whole thing - as far as "electronic media" and read instead? i think it is awful...love ya - josh"
18. David Allen:
January 14, 2009 @ 12:39 PM
"This comes back to the Law of the Harvest in that what we sow today we will reap much later. For this reason one must live each day with purpose and passion. By the time that we know what will be said, it's too late! You must hold fast to a Vision of what you want your life to be. Though there may be many course correction along the journey, the Vision or destination won't change. Andy, thank you for your leadership and wisdom."
19. RJ Stevenson:
January 15, 2009 @ 12:49 AM
"You are very thought provoking. I just finished listening to your book "The Lost Choice". I think it's a great book, but where it is really tugging at me is the last story about Alfred Vanderbilt and his legacy. You had me gripped all the way through to the letter that his wife read to his two boys at the end. You wrote an incredible letter. It really struck a cord in me that I am still trying to sort out. What I am really trying to make some sense of is that Alfed Vanderbilt died at the age of 38 and was born on October 20th and you had written the letter directed towards his two sons. I am currently 38, born on October 20th, 1970 not 1877, and have two young boys, who I cherish deeply and believe that there is great purpose in their life. So, I'm not sure what I am trying to say, just that I greatly enjoyed your book, and that I am taking what I learned and experienced from it and make choices for my life, for my sons and wife, and those I come in contact with, and By my Hand, By Gods hand, be used.."
20. Andy Andrews:
January 16, 2009 @ 8:05 AM
"RJ!
WOW! That is quite a connection. I remember feeling the same way as I was writing it because of my two young boys. Lets keep rolling. We have a lot to do. And it ALL matters!
Yours,
Andy"
21. Donna Calm Spirit Spector:
February 6, 2009 @ 9:57 AM
"Hi Andy
I met you at a Medical Group Managers Association conference in Lake Ozarks, Missouri a few years back. I had the opportunity to assist you with your audio book sales during the conference. In return you gave to me a set of your audio books and I then passed one of the books on to a young man in S. Carolina that was in need of guidance at the time. You changed my life and I thank you. 2008 was a difficult and life changing time for me so I pull out my audio books and thanked you again. Beginning of 2009 was the most drained of life that I ever remember feeling. I am a very healthy 53years young person with a very successful past 30 years. I mention this to make the point that happy, grateful, healthy, successful people can get into very low emotional places when loss of loved ones and loss of careers take place. Now to the point...2009 needed something new for me to get back on track and not give up. I came up with my 2009 terms "not today" & "not right now". This says to myself and others that I will do the things that need to be done; just not at this exact moment. I'm offering myself permission to have a little more time to get to everything that I need to do and think about. Most things in life are not emergencies and do not have to be done immediately even if someone else thinks so. Unless a human or animal will suffer if I don't jump and help, I will continue my journey in 2009 with my personal right to tell myself "I'm going to take care of .... just not this very second". Then back on track with more mental and physical energy. So here's to 2009! May we all have the energy, wisdom and support systems to help each of us make the best of this year and do what we can to help others in need.
Thank you for my books.
Donna Calm Spirit Spector"
22. Richard Alker:
February 25, 2009 @ 12:10 AM
"Andy,
It's great to see you are doing well...I hope Polly and the kids are great. I wonder if you still think about how different your legacy might have been if you had not walked out of that Organic Chemistry class at Auburn to chase your Dreams.
I'm in my 24th year of Private Practice and still chasing new Dreams...but I'm glad you did what you did...no way you could have inspired the millions you have doing what I do everyday.
Thanks for the inspiration all these years,
Richard in Panama City"
23. Urailak:
April 17, 2009 @ 7:08 AM
"I've told my family that I would like this on my tombstone: She lived for God; now she lives with God.
I hope to leave a Godly legacy by teaching and training our children to love the Lord, serve Him, and to live by the Book (His Word).
"I am not afraid of failure. I am afraid that I will succeed in things that matter not to God." Anonymous
Soli Deo Gloria,
Urailak"