People often seek me out when they’re dealing with particularly important transitions in their careers or lives. They’re seeking another point of view or a new skillset or they want to leverage something in a new way. Whether the client is 25 or 65, it’s common for the conversation to evolve beyond that particular period in time and we often end up talking about legacy.
Legacy is a heavy word, but the reality is we’re all leaving one, whether we’re thinking about it or not. If you are unclear about your legacy, creating a Vision is the place to start. Vision helps us get clear and articulate the legacy we want to leave versus waking up one morning and realizing the legacy we’ve created is nowhere near where our hearts want it to be.
Legacy has a wide range of possibilities… from global application to backyard functionality. From creating a game-changing technology to simply leaving people feeling a particular way whenever they encounter you.
One of the executives I work with loves to develop and mentor those that work for them. One dimension of his legacy is to meet with his people individually every month (yes, every month) and have a conversation about how they are growing in their careers.
Another one is passionate about model change and has been a pioneer in developing a new industry.
Creative Executives are a passionate bunch. You pour your heart and soul into your jobs, working long hard hours to sell great work. You often care so much about what you produce that it overrides the sacrifices you make to get it done. And even when you are burnt out, there’s a fire inside that makes it hard to leave what you’ve started. That’s the beauty and pain of being a creative executive, regardless of your industry.
The holidays are rapidly approaching. Before they do, turn some of that fire and passion on your own legacy. Seize the opportunity to think about the contribution you’re making. It’s one of the most generous things you can do this holiday season.
I invite you to take a few minutes this week to think about.
> What is the legacy I have created thus far?
> How do I contribute to those around me?
> What is the legacy I want to leave?
You have gifts to share. It’s never too late to start creating your lasting endowment. I’m always here to remind you of how great that difference can be.
In peace and gratitude for you,
jen
Additional Reads: The Simple Power of One a Day
As last week was the advertising mecca of Cannes where creative executives get acknowledged and handed gold lions for the best creative work in the world globally, it made me think of all the accomplishments they don’t had awards out for…
* The producer that put together the project players of a lifetime with a shoe-string budget.
* The manager whose employee got hired by one of the hottest companies in town due to their mentorship.
* The parent that had a sick kid at home, rocked a big client conference call, and peed all at the same time (not recommended but it does happen).
* A genuine heartfelt thank you from a normally miserable client.
The list could go on and on.
So look back at your last year. What are three things you thought were wins? I guarantee there are a plethora of accomplishments in there that are worth acknowledging.
When you’re managing a business or a team of people, you’re constantly juggling.
You are responsible for…
- The Day-to-Day. Getting the work done “in” your business.
- The Team. Fostering those who work with and for you.
- The Future. Getting the work done “on” your business
We live in a reactive world, so it’s not strange that we respond to what is most urgent. But when you forget about the non-urgent, they often become urgent after it’s too late.
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Filed under: Creativity, Growth + Development | Tags: Bond Influence, EyeWriter, Frank Warren, Lance Weiler, Man’s Search for Meaning, Mick Ebeling, SXSW, Tempt, The Not Impossible Foundation, Vikram Gandhi, Viktor Frankel
Over the smell of smoky meats and luminous red lighting, I joined over 200 people to watch Bond Influence host Frank Warren, Mick Ebeling, Lance Weiler, and Vikram Gandhi at the Art + Innovation event during SXSW.
Many of you may know Mick Ebeling. He and an army of folks created the EyeWriter through The Not Impossible Foundation. Inspired by Tempt, a famous LA graffiti artist with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), the EyeWriter is a device similar to glasses that allows Tempt to draw again using just the movement of his eyes.
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Filed under: Creativity, How-To's | Tags: doodle revolution, doodling, gamestorming, graphic recording, visual literacy, Visual thinking
I’m so excited to share this interview!
Sunni Brown is one of my favorite people on the planet – hilarious, direct, unbelievably bright, and incredibly talented at working with images and words.
Sunni’s spoken on the TED stage, co-authored GameStorming (one of Amazon’s Top 100 Business Books), been recognized as #56 of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and #5 on the 10 Most Creative People by Twitter, as well as traveled all over the planet, graphically recording world leaders in business and government.
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