Feeling Philosophical

I have been thinking about a lot of things the past few days, so this blog post will be more philosophical than most. When I started my blog, I titled it The Legacy that Endures because it was an interplay of two very important concerns in my life at the time: the legacy that I leave behind and the fact that I was running marathons. I thought that the title was a clever play on the fact that you want your legacy to live on long after you've departed and the fact that marathons required endurance. Even though I'm not running much anymore, I still like the title and think that it's very felicitous considering how I approach life.

Lately, I have been ruminating about my legacy and I am somewhat bothered about a few things. First, I don't feel that I'm doing enough really important things in my life. I feel that I have many talents that are just not being utilized. The worst part is that I'm not really sure how to remedy the situation. I guess I always thought that what I did in my career would help me to build my legacy, but so far, that hasn't really happened the way that I've expected. Most times, I don't feel challenged intellectually or creatively at work. It just isn't really that stimulating. I guess maybe I should have expected that all along, but what can I say, I set the bar high. When I started my current position a few months ago, I really thought that I would be able to come into the role and make a significant impact on the way things were done. I was really looking to come in and help to make improvements. Thus far, the going has been a lot tougher than I had anticipated. It has been an uphill battle against the wind. The only differences day to day are how steep the hill is and how hard the wind is blowing. Don't get me wrong, I have made some improvements concerning items directly within my control, but while noticeable, they don't seem to have the huge impact for which I was hoping.

I know as time goes on that I need to continue to try and find a niche job that will allow me the creative freedom, influence, and opportunity that I crave. I'm hoping that someday I will find myself in that ideal job, but for right now, I just need to continue learning and growing so that I don't become stagnated in work and in life.

Last night, I finished reading Authentic Leadership by Bill George - the former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic. The book is all centered around being a true leader; not just in your job, but also in all other aspects of your life. In one of the final chapters of the book, he talks about leaving a legacy and I felt as if he had written that chapter to me personally. It really made me think and stop to assess where I am in life. There were many passages in that chapter that really resonated within me, but this particular excerpt is what really prompted my current state of self-realization, "What will be your legacy? At the end of your days, what will you tell your grandchild you did to better humankind? No matter how large or small a difference you make, it will become the legacy that you leave the world." He then calls out all of the problems and challenges currently facing humankind: poverty, discrimination, abuse, health care, etc. He later goes on to say, "As an authentic leader, you can change these things. You only need to be your own person, lead in your own style with purpose and passion, be true to your values, build your relationships, practice self-discipline, and lead with your heart.

It's funny, but I've never really thought of myself as a leader. I tend to be mostly quiet and reserved; especially at work, but I have come to realize that a person doesn't need to be vocal and outspoken to be seen as a leader. When I first became a supervisor, I did it more as a developmental tool rather than through any real desire to influence, inspire, and develop others. I have been in a supervisory position for almost three years now, and I've had as many as twenty-two people who have reported to me. I've learned a great deal about my leadership style and personality along the way, and I've also gotten much better at communicating with people and understanding the best way to motivate my employees. Bill George's book as a whole inspired me, but that last chapter made me realize that I want to be a leader. I am quiet, but very passionate, and I truly care and sincerely want to make a difference both at work and in life. As I read those passages I mentioned earlier, it became clear to me that I have the tools to lead and I need to build my legacy through my leadership.

The legacy that I leave behind when I'm gone is of utmost importance to me. I want to be remembered as a person who cared and made a difference. I want the things I do in life to have a lasting influence on the lives of others. I recently saw the following quote by Benjamin Franklin about being remembered posted on a person's cube, "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." I actually want to do both. Wish me luck.