The word legacy is thrown around in some circles. It means different things to different
people, however, we can all agree that it relates to what to pass on. Another way of
looking at it is what will endure when one is no longer there. So, we can then look at
what can be passed on. It’s about passing on things of lasting value to those who will
live on after us. We can then try and qualify the things that can be left behind.
It involves living intentionally and aiming to build into the next generations for their
success. The Bible says a wise man will live a legacy for his children’s children. So,
whether it’s a trust fund that is left behind, some trust funds come with age
requirements, for example, it can start at an age when the beneficiaries are starting a
new chapter i.e. college, moving out of the family home, or starting a business. So, the
forefathers would have known the challenges that they faced at these stages of their
lives and they want it better for the generations that come after them. Another
condition that is set may be that the beneficiaries should be married at the next stage
where they can access the funds. Marriage is that institution which is regarded to
ground any person and make them more responsible as the assumption is that it comes
with children who need more funds in terms of maintaining them- and they are wholly
dependent on their parents up until they are at the age where they can fend for
themselves.

A good name can also come into effect among these items, they say a good name is
more important than rubies. Your network is your net worth, this loosely translates that
you may be an expert in your field but if you don’t associate with the correct people
who can appreciate your talents you won’t go far in that field. So, it is imperative that
we are cognizant of this fact as we go about living our lives. A bad reference can close
potential doors of opportunity and cost you millions in potential revenue. Hence the
notion that integrity is a currency on its own and it helps in building a legacy.

So, a whole generation can have weaving as family
business and it will part form of their means in their livelihood. On the flip side of this,

there is also a legacy filled with bad deeds which can be passed on to the future
generations and it need to have one person who can break this generational curse by
intentionally making different and better choices.

There is a quote that is rather offensive but speaks of the truth but to a lesser extent
which says “The best way to hide something from black people is to put it in a book”.
It’s true because most people in Africa read, let me rephrase that even, they cram for
exams and they pass. After that the information flies away from their brains like and
they start operating with the basic education passed on to them in whichever form. So
instead of copying this method of learning, people should read to learn and understand.
Reading is also a form of entertainment as it exposes you to fields and countries that
you would have never gone to. It lets the mind imagine all sorts of possibilities.

In this modern era where information has been digitalized and its accessible across the
globe, leaders should consider documenting their legacies. I say leaders because its not
a position but a choice to have leadership qualities wherever you are, that’s the
definition of a leader. This can be done on social media and other electronic media
forms like websites, vlogs, blogs etcetera2. The idea is even after a person has passed
on people who come after can see how they started their business, ministry or
whatever talent or profession that they would have majored in and the legacy that they
would have left.

The way is putting it into a book, which can be a memoir detailing their life from when
they were born and the stages they would have gone through. Some can do it in
magazines, which can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or annually. There are
publications which focus on particular subjects and this is critical as the readership will
be skewed towards that area and it will ensure that the content will be consumed by
the correct target market.

There are many methods of doing this and we appreciate
that not everyone has the gift of writing, so you can always engage professionals in
those specific areas. Ghostwriting is a method used by most leaders, this entails a
freelance writer who pens a text that is credited to someone else, among the works
that they can write include nonfiction books, public speeches, online content and book
proposals.

I hope that I have debunked the notion that living a legacy is for specific people, it
pertains to everyone. Wherever you are, in whichever lane, do things right and even if
you make mistakes, you can always then tell others to be careful when it comes to that
specific area.

What will your legacy be like? Are you recording it or you are just blowing through life like

the wind. The current and future versions of you deserve some intentionality in documenting

your legacy for yourself and also for the people who will come after you.