How to Position Yourself to Be a Legacy-Maker
/It’s a time when many of us are searching for meaning, rethinking our purpose in life and in our work, and to do good for people around us: Realizing that we could be living with some form of the pandemic indefinitely, that the future work and personal circumstances are constantly changing:
Are you looking for a way to assure you make a lasting mark?
Do you ask yourself, “ How will I be remembered for my work? Did I make a positive difference?
Values, purpose, how to make a lasting difference - It’s time for all adults, in mid-career, especially Gen Xers and older Millennials) by your 40’s or even sooner, to think about and take action on our legacy at work. The current social, economic, political and cultural environment calls to many of us to stop putting this off. As Bill Gates said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.”
And waiting ‘till you hit your 60’s wastes time and perhaps risks dwindling of your potentially most valuable networks. Ignoring this leaves many ambitious people stuck and lacking enthusiasm for their future. The pandemic we are indefinitely living through can provide both obstacles to the way we previously would approach this and new opportunities.
I’m well into my personal journey implementing my legacy as an “uniter” and “cross-generational voice.” Continuing my programs (now online and happily some in-person again) I’m in the process of launching mastermind groups. A podcast with the Legacy-Makers@ Work name was launched over a year ago with a co-host to help others, especially mid-career aspiring leaders, to identify, plan and start implementing their work legacy. Over the last 10 years, I have helped others who often don’t know where to begin or how to let go of the (possibly false) security of their past and present position but feel something is missing.
If this resonates with you, you are not alone. Together with my co-facilitator, Liz Stern, our unique Legacy-Makers@Work Impact Collectivemasterminding has now taken form. It’s a new, informative, supportive process where you can work with the support and guidance of both two accomplished facilitators and with “peers” on legacy-making objectives over 6 months to accomplish for both yourself and your employer organization:
Determining the nature and shape of your desired work legacy
A plan to achieve it
Methods to become an impactful change-agent
Ways to measure your progress and achievements
Accountability
While fitness and opportunity to work longer has increased, forces and generational competition can present challenges to staying in place and to your continual relevance.
You could also be an Intrapreneurial Legacy-Maker
You don’t have to be a business owner to be an “entrepreneur.” You can play that role even if you are employed inside an organization. It’s a mindset and a purposeful endeavor to innovate and/or create change.Established organizations also need this kind of thinking and commitment, especially now when the world of work is changing so dramatically.
Think of it as a great way to be a legacy-maker for the organization as well as your own career opportunity to have broader influence and be intentional about your own work legacy.
I’ve led other mastermind groups with a different focus for over 10 years and favor their added value beyond coaching to:
Provide an intellectually challenging but non-competitive and supportive environment
Spark new ideas and options for you to generate excitement
Help clearly define your values and ways to implement actions to demonstrate them
Build in accountability to yourself as well as fellow masteminders
You’ve heard this before: One thing the pandemic has made clear is that none of us can effectively go it alone. Consider the beauty and power of masterminding to accelerate your intentional work legacy.
Call to Action: Don’t delay any longer! If you’ve reached mid-career (or even sooner for the ambitious), it’s time to plot and execute your chosen lasting impact. Contact me at pwhaserot@pdcounsel.com and I’ll send “7 TIPS FOR BUILDING A LEGACY AT WORK” straight to your inbox, And we can set up a call as well so you can learn, more.
Phyllis Weiss Haserot, 2023
