Your Legacy is Now
Life is not a search for meaning from others, it’s about the creation of meaning for yourself.
For over 30 years Alan Weiss has consulted, coached, and advised everyone from Fortune 500 executives, state governors, non-profit directors, and entrepreneurs to athletes, entertainers, and beauty pageant contestants. That’s quite an assortment of people, and they run into the thousands. Most of them have had what we euphemistically call “means,” and some of them have had a lot more than that. Others have been aspiring and with more ends in sight than means on hand.
Alan Weiss states:
I’ve dealt with esteem (low), narcissism (high), family problems, leadership dysfunctions, insecurities, addictions, and ethical quandaries. And I’ve talked about them through the coronavirus crisis. But don’t get the wrong idea. About 95% of these people have been well-meaning, honest (to the best of their knowledge), and interested in becoming a better person and better professional. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be talking to me.
I found the equivalent of the “runner’s wall” in their journeys, where they must break through the pain and the obstacles and then can keep going with renewed energy and spirit. But runners know how far they must go after the breakthrough, be it another half lap or another five miles. There is a finish line.
I’ve found that people in all positions, even after the “breakthrough,” don’t know where they are in the race, let alone where the finish line is.
They do not know what meaning is for them. They may have money in the bank, good relationships, the admiration of others, and the love of their dogs. But they have no metrics for “What now?” They believe that at the end of life there is a tallying, some metaphysical accountant who totals up their contributions, deducts their bad acts, and creates the (hopefully positive) difference.
That difference, they believe, is their “legacy.”
But the thought that legacy arrives at the end of life is as ridiculous as someone who decides to sell a business and tries to increase its valuation the day prior. Legacy is now. Legacy is daily. Every day we create the next page in our lives, but the question becomes who is writing it and what’s being written. Is someone else creating our legacy? Or are we, ourselves, simply writing the same page repeatedly?
Or do we leave it blank?
Our organic, living legacy is marred and squeezed by huge normative pressures. There is a “threshold” point, at which one’s beliefs and values are overridden by immense peer pressure. Our metrics are forced to change.
In an age of social media, biased press, and bullying, we’ve come to a point where our legacy, ironically, is almost out of our hands.
Yet our “meaning”—our creation of meaning and not a search for some illusive alchemy—creates worth and impact for us and all those with whom we interact.
Mellow218
What an awesome way to use this man’s death as an opportunity to express your negative philosophy about hardworking people who just want to support their families, rather than critique Wall Street. Lest you forget that some of these people work hard each day so their companies can afford to hire consultants like you and I. I’m surprised by this post from you.
Jeffrey Summers
What I’m never surprised at are anonymous, ad hominem attacks by people like you, who couldn’t hold two simple thoughts together in one mind. It’s perfectly legitimate (I can’t believe I’m writing this) to hold Jobs up as an example of a man who delivered (undeniable legacy), and who’s ideas will continue to deliver, well into the future. As opposed to people who like to complain that the world is not devoting itself to improving their lot in life.
Mellow218
Mr. Summers, no need for the insult. You make an assumption about me and my mindset based upon a single comment on this blog. Perhaps I should make an assumption about you as well. Apparently you are unable to state your point without resorting to such tactics. I respect Alan Weiss as a professional as well, and own a couple of his books. However, I refuse to be a member of anyone’s Mutual Admiration Society. Perhaps these protests are part of these people’s process for creating change. It is wrong to assume that they are doing nothing else as individuals to better their lives. As expected, my comment will generate numerous comments in his favor from his colleagues. It is understood.
Alan Weiss
Whoever you are, and I agree about disliking anonymous posts, please don’t assume people in my communities are Kool-Aid drinking, brainless acolytes. They are among the best and brightest around, and we argue all the time on AlansForums.com, a more private part of my communities. So let’s not assume that anyone agreeing with me is brainwashed, okay?
As for your points, and I tried to be very polite, I repeat: Protesters in this instance just seem to be “against” and not “for” anything. The teachers union is apparently joining them, and there’s a group that refused to apply performance standards to their members and believes the longer you live, the more you should get. Imagine corporate managers, after a couple of years of tenure, impossible to remove for incompetence and even illegal activity. We’d have some economy then, right?
You own my books, and you’re not brainwashed, so extend the belief in being an adult to others. We disagree. No need to call anyone names or make unfounded assumptions.
What you’re seeing in these very small protests is closer to nihilism than reform. Let’s tear something down, it’s “them” against “us.” But there is no “them.” WE are them.
Mellow218
Alan, I will keep this brief since this is indeed your blog. This person in your community made assumptions about me from a brief post, and I merely replied. My defense was to give him a taste of his own medicine. We do indeed disagree, and I will respectfully refrain from posting on your blogs in further and risk offending anyone, though that was not my intention. Good day.
Mellow218
Alan, I will keep this brief since this is indeed your blog. This person in your community made assumptions about me from a brief post, and I merely replied. My defense was to give him a taste of his own medicine. We do indeed disagree, and I will respectfully refrain from posting on your blogs any further and risk offending anyone, though that was not my intention. My best to you and your community here. Good day.
Mellow218/Shannon
Last post. If it’s that important, my real first name is Shannon. I am a woman and I live alone. I tend to post anonymously for that reason alone. A relative of mine was a victim of intense stalking a few years ago, and her information was retrieved from a single social media profile. She did not know the person, yet he managed to learn her daily activities at one point. Thanks!
Alan Weiss
Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for your views, I appreciate it.
I feel this juxtaposition is ironic. There is no such thing as “Wall Street” or “corporate America” (or a “war on terror”) in that these are people, good and bad and in between, doing what they do. Many of these protestors, in interviews, sound as if they have no idea about what they’re protesting or in the streets about. We are too apt to blame someone else—anyone else—instead of taking responsibility for our own lot in life. The harder I’ve worked, the “luckier” I’ve been.
My philosophy isn’t negative. My observation is that when people stop trying to find an “enemy” to blame their problems on, and take the accountability for their own lives, we’ll all improve. I abhor the philosophy of “victimization.” Get an education, work harder, try harder, take prudent risks, spend less than you make. Some people are treated unfairly, but too many expect better treatment without better performance. Only 40% of eligible voters vote. If you don’t vote, I’m not terribly interested in your political opinion.
Nhat Pham
Like to preface, I’ve only known Alan from afar, while I don’t always agree with him, I don’t find this as a negative jab from Alan at all.
I believe he’s just saying, look at how one man’s focus can create such abundance instead of worrying and complaining about things you can’t understand or necessary control.
Jobs create some of the most significant tools we use during the toughest time of his life…use it to inspire us through these times to learn, grow and prosper from it.
Mark Cioni
On Steve Jobs, whose life and legacy may likely be over-analyzed but I believe rarely overstated: I felt a numbness on the order of John Lennon’s death at the news, as well as the same overwhelming sense of gratitude for living with and benefiting from his achievements. I also recalled immediately the quote from Arthur Schopenhauer: “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.” Jobs had both, and much more, along with succeeding “in concert with” his very human strengths and (some might argue) weaknesses.
I’ve got to agree with Alan, and Steve Jobs, on the larger lessons: Define your own vision of success, do the things needed to achieve that vision intelligently and ethically, and persevere. Too many of us “want” success, too few of us have the volition to “do” success.
Len
“…innovation is applied creativity. Genius in the abstract is relatively abundant; idea people abound. But practical genus, which is the difference between the Dick Tracy wrist radio and the [insert Apple product here], is a much rarer quantity.” ~~Alan Weiss, Ph.D.
Apple I, Apple II, Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad.
Who will be the next American innovator to do so much to change the world?
Amy Farrell
It’s very interesting and amazing to me that Steve Jobs had perhaps his most creative and impactful period while he was battling such serious ill-health. It’s a phenomenon I’ve noticed before. George Orwell wrote 1984 – his most impactful work – while he was dying from TB.
Alan Weiss
When the horizon is suddenly shortened, you get to work.
George
I am with the first poster, to some extent, perhaps for different reasons.
If you had something nice to say about Steve Jobs, great – say it. But to use his death as an opportunity to lump a bunch of people together into a box with one heading and attack them, that is poor taste at minimum, and poorly informed at best.
While I am sure that some (or perhaps a lot, or even most) of the protestors in downtown NYC fit into your little box, some of them do not. Some of them are protesting the excesses and predatory behavior of the banks and their officers during the fleecing of America from 2001-2008.
No-Doc Loans….smart? Should have NEVER been legal. Banks screw up so badly that they are about to go under? If we learned anything from Darwin, it was “Let them die, they slit their own throats.” Yes? Bailing them out means that what should have been risky behavior was risk-free.
I am with Shannon – saddened that such a great man had to stoop so low.
Jeffrey Summers
So let me see if I understand this.
Holding Steve Job’s life up as an example of how we want more people to behave is not nice, since, Alan used it as simply cover to make a political point about a group protesting they’re not well off but other people are and it’s not fair. But then you use that same post to rant about your own political agenda and you think Alan has poor taste or is misinformed?
Seriously?
Jeffrey Summers
…and frankly I’m tired of the sophomoric idea that these people are trying to change anything (outside of their afternoon nap patterns). Did Steve Job’s set up a protest march against Atari or HP when they laughed at his ideas? Or did he do what all real change agents do, he set out to prove his idea could work and as a result practically put half the computer industry out of business?
Alan Weiss
Once again, George, I have more respect for full names and the courage of convictions. But even then you have to make sense, and you don’t. You attack the person instead of the point, yet you make my very point.
I’m not a great man—Jobs was—but I am well educated, well traveled, and very intelligent. I’m not misinformed, I’m listening to the protesters who have no agenda except to tear down. You, yourself, say that “most of them” I’m probably right about. So what the heck is your point?!
Some bank officers approved loans they shouldn’t have to people who never should have requested them. You and Shannon sound like people who have been personally hurt—laid off, poor credit, bankrupt, I don’t know what. But to think our problems are caused by some institutions “fleecing the country” and not take personal responsibility—”it’s the other guy”—is exactly the way this crisis will be perpetuated.
Letting the banks fail, of course, your idea, would have hurt tens of millions, and you more than I, by far. But no matter what you think, try to confine yourself to the ideas and merits, and not attack anyone personally who may point out on occasion that you have no point.
Alan Weiss
Mellow, you’re reached a terminal phase of coyness. A kibillion people post on the Internet without fear of their lives, but you’re afraid. You are afraid you’ve offended me or someone, which is ridiculous in a free expression of speech. In fact, your sort of whining approach—they are protesting injustice, I’m afraid of being stalked, I don’t want to disrupt the blog—is more than anything, boring.
You came here. Have the guts to disagree and state a case. “Giving a dose of their own medicine.” Did that go out in the 50s or 60s? If you have something to say, say it. All I hear now, by inference, is that you don’t feel fairly treated in life and the protestors have your sympathy. Great. They don’t have mine. Neither do you.
Alan Weiss
“Bad academia” could be redundant.
Rene' Vidal
“Leadership” professor chooses “path-goal theory” lecture (to satisfy personal longing to get through syllabus) over Steve Jobs conversation.
Bad choice. Bad “academia.”
Can an experience be an eye-opener and put you to sleep at the same time?!!
Craig Ellis
Though I’ve only had the pleasure and benefit of knowing Alan just a few short years, I’ve always appreciated and valued his integrity, astuteness and conciseness. This was highlighted in Alan’s blog regarding the passing of Steve Jobs, particularly the final comments,
“Jobs created life-changing devices while fighting cancer for eight years, perhaps the most creative period of product introductions in his life. There’s really nothing else you need to consider if you’re looking for lessons from life, and legacy in death.”
People such as Steve Jobs exemplify Orison Swett Marden’s comment on success,
“The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other.”
As for issues of life and death, I close with the following saying, “It is the very knowledge of death that gives life it’s meaning.”
Rene' Vidal
Ha! You are correct!!