Creating Authentic Influence
Legacy has long been thought of as how much money or power you can leave behind for your loved ones. You work hard to build up your business. In the end, it has equity that can be sold or continued for further generations. In Japan, there is a business that has been family-owned since 705. All 52 generations of one family have run the family hotel of Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan. That’s quite a legacy. Is this the kind of legacy you wish to leave, or is it something else?
While it is nice to leave financial security for our loved ones, does it give them the sense of pride that they will share these stories of generations to come? Or is this a narrow way of thinking about what a legacy is?
The word legacy originated in the late 14 thcentury from Medieval Latin, and meant “body of persons sent on a mission.” Legacy in these terms gives us something different to think about. When the work we do feels like we have set out on a mission, then the legacy could extend far beyond just leaving financial security for your family.
The stories that are shared with me on my podcast, Social Mission Revolution, speak of these far-reaching legacies. These businesses are living a legacy that changes lives and changes the world. Some businesses have taken on projects that impact the lives of others. Their purpose is not to make money from these projects, but to serve their communities. They do it alongside their daily business. For some, it is a once-a-year project, for others, it is a part of their mission, and they employ someone specifically to make sure that they continue this legacy.
Social Missions through business come in all shapes and sizes from raising money, collecting donations, volunteering time or services (pro-bono work). For others, it is the impetus to start the business in the first place, as a Social Enterprise. What they all have in common is the lives they touch are greater in number and the impact is profound. They change lives and they change whole communities, filling the empty spaces and empowering people along the way. This is the legacy of authentic influence that creates ultimate impact.
Wherever we see a gap in the world, wherever we see an injustice, wherever we think something should be different, it is up to us to be at the forefront of these places. As businesses and organisations, we have the infrastructures, the contacts, the opportunities to make this difference in the world. You, as a business owner, Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director have the power to make a difference while improving your business. When you take action on what speaks so strongly to your heart that you can’t not do it, you are having authentic influence and leaving a legacy worth living.
This is an excerpt from Andrea’s soon to be published book, CollaborativeProsperity. The Power of Aligning Business with Social Mission
.Andrea Putting is a Speaker, Author and Trusted Advisor in Authentic Influence. She guides leaders to achieve a powerful, strong, loyal team and community by building a Social Mission to have authentic influence and unleash their ultimate impact on the world. Connect with her now
Originally published at https://andreaputting.com.au on October 8, 2021.