What’s your legacy?

What are you

leaving behind?

Lots of entrepreneurial-minded people end up leaving their business ventures behind when they leave life on Earth, but most –it seems to me– never give it any thought while they’re here. How many business owners do you know who actually take time out of their lives to do estate planning and succession planning?

Cartoon character Ziggy’s philosophy is probably about as much of a guiding light as the majority of entrepreneurs are willing to accept and practice:

We should enjoy here while we’re

 here ’cause there’s no here there.”

And, hey, far be it from me to suggest anything other than living for the moment. Being focused on the present, here-and-now moment, as much as possible, breeds success at every level. It is the fuel for achievement.

But, you know what? Let’s be honest about this: Most entrepreneurs, I’m quite sure you’ll find, barely take time out to eat or use the bathroom until they’re half-starved or busting at the seams. “Trial-and-error” still outperforms formal research studies and assessments. And most are unlikely to plan much beyond next week!

Entrepreneurs. They want what

they want when they want it!

A burning desire to make their ideas work is what drives the spirit, soul, and passion of every entrepreneur. In fact, contrary to popular opinion and stereotypes, the pursuit of “making big money” is secondary, if it’s even on the same wish list, which is rarely the case.

How would you like to get a complete –and guaranteed to be illuminating–  picture of your real self for free, no strings attached? How about if I can vouch for it being completely honest, and perhaps the most insightful summary of what you are all about that ever existed?

Are you ready to spook yourself out while you learn? Okay, here it is:

• Set up a one-page (8.5 x 11) Word document, or work with a pen and notebook page.

• Put your name and birth date at the top followed by a dash and today’s date

• Write your own obituary.

Don’t laugh, cry, shake uncontrollably, throw up, or think you have to be maudlin, guilty, or gushy. Simply the facts. Just the highlights. Give it a try. You will be amazed at how enlightening it will be for you to see what you actually write down or don’t write down, as the case may be. Clean it up. Polish it. Edit.

Read it back to yourself out loud.

Then, before you shred it, burn it, bury it, or lock it in a time capsule, ask yourself what you just taught you about you that you have been overlooking.

Decide what if anything you might want to follow through with that your obit page brought to light. Then, unless you’re completely satisfied with what you’re leaving behind (or the legacy track you’re on), do it! Attack that missing hunk. Get on with it. You will feel pleased, proud, happier and healthier for the effort. Pretty good ROI, eh? 

# # #

Your FREE subscription: Posts RSS Feed

Hal@Businessworks.US or 302.933.0116

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!” [Thomas Jefferson] 

Thanks for visiting. Go for your goals. God Bless You.

Make today a GREAT day for someone!