Legends. Mohammad Ali, Amelia Earhart, Katherine Hepburn, Hercules, Zelda.

We often consider folks who have done something grand or otherworldly to be legends. They are the ones who have left behind a legacy so memorable that generations later still talk about them. What about us regular folk who aren’t going to fly solo across oceans or create the next iPhone? What kind of a legacy can we leave behind? Many of us spend decades working and working, and towards the end of our careers, we look back and ask, “what have I done?” We wonder how to stay motivated until we are able to or want to retire. We question if any of our hard work will have a lasting impression or be remembered. We ask if it was all for naught. However, leaving a legacy is not something reserved for the bigger-than-life; it is a process by which we can be more mindful, deliberate, and proactive in crafting. It can also help us be more mindful, deliberate, and proactive in the actions we take now.

Motivation

Too often we think of leaving a legacy in terms of an estate, a will, or financial rewards. Yet as Daniel Pink discusses, the traditional way to motivate people with money is short-sighted. Rather, it is about doing things that matter and to be part of something in which they believe. He identifies three key areas to build strong organizations: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. He notes that these three things can help people to be more creative and open to creating opportunities that leave a legacy (i.e., Gmail was created during “free time” at Google). Applying these concepts to every part of our lives, we can also see how autonomy, mastery, and purpose can help us to leave a legacy beyond dollars, but rather, one that holds a deeper level of meaning and investment.