“You should never be defined by what you do, by the things you have; you’ve got to define yourself by who you are and who you impact and how you impact people.”
–Tony Dungy
I look sometimes to quotes for inspiration. “Legacy” came to mind. I expected to find quotes from noteworthy leaders. Instead, the vast majority of the quotes were pop stars and athletes—celebrities. It occurred to me that “legacy” is of little importance. It is impact that makes us (extra)ordinary.
Legacy is being remembered for something you did in the past. Impact, on the other hand, is the lasting effect of what you are doing now. Impact has a compounding effect.
Being defined by what we do and the things you have is “legacy”. Legacy is shallow. It is the façade of success. Being defined by who you are, moreover, who you impact and how you impact others, is “impact”—it is Purpose. Legacy is self-serving. Impact is other-centered.
Legacy will fade or fall victim to the realities of our humanness. Impact grows and changes the world. If given a choice (and, by the way, we are given a choice), choose to be impactive!
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!