Your legacy transcends your lineage.
Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert, attended Harvard and became a successful lawyer, yet he remains a minor footnote in Lincoln’s biography. Why?
Because Lincoln’s legacy wasn’t his lineage – it was saving the Union, abolishing slavery, and redefining American democracy. We remember his actions, not his bloodline.
Your children are your responsibility, not your immortality project.
If that last sentence made you bristle, a gentle look in the mirror may be warranted. Being a kid is hard… Do they really need the added weight of being their parents’ eternal legacy? Sounds heavy!
Hypothesis: Perhaps your legacy emerges from what you create, elevate and transform:
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The organizations you purposefully build
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The wisdom you codify for its own sake
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The values you instill through parenthood—for those who find this their highest calling
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The lives you influence beyond your immediate circle
You’re capable of huge impact… but what will it be? Will your legacy be wealth accumulated or solutions created? Buildings branded or minds transformed?
Society may tell us that lineage and landmarks should be your legacy, and maybe they’re right. But your legacy is 100% your business. Don’t default to what’s expected. Choose and contribute wisely.
Warmly,
Navin
P.S. Am I biased because I don’t have kids?