March 2, 2025 • 22 mins
Let me know your thoughts on the show and what topic you would like me to discuss next.
This podcast challenges men to redefine their understanding of legacy, shifting from focusing on wealth to the values and impact we leave behind. Key insights include the importance of daily choices in shaping our legacy and the relational aspects that define a lasting imprint on others.
• Every man builds a legacy, whether by design or default
• The myths surrounding wealth vs. impactful legacies
• The essence of integrity and character in lasting memories
• The ripple effect of small, daily decisions in legacy building
• Overcoming barriers like fear and procrastination in legacy pursuit
• Practical steps to start defining and building your legacy today
Take action today toward building a legacy you’ll be proud of!
Key moments in this episode:
02:51 Defining Legacy Beyond Wealth
04:00 Building Legacy Through Relationships
08:53 Daily Choices and Mentorship
10:53 Overcoming Barriers to Building a Legacy
18:42 Practical Steps to Build Your Legacy
21:17 Conclusion and Call to Action
Thanks for listening to the Revolutionary Man Podcast. If you want more information about our programs, use the links below to check us out. It could be the step that changes your life.
Want to be a guest on The Revolutionary Man Podcast? Send Alain Dumonceaux a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/revolutionarymanpodcast
👉To join our movement:
⛰The Integrity Challenge
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome everyone to the Revolutionary man Podcast.
This is the show where wechallenge men to redefine their
success, lead with integrity andcreate a lasting impact in
their lives and the lives ofothers.
And so I'm your host, alanDeMonso, and today we're gonna
talk about something that everyman, whether he realizes it or
not, is building every singleday, and that's his legacy.
(00:20):
You see, we all leave somethingbehind, whether we plan for it
or not.
So the question isn't if youwill leave a legacy.
The question is will it be theone that you intended?
Too many men go through lifefocused only on the immediate
chasing success, wealth andstatus, without ever considering
what will remain when they'regone.
(00:42):
But here's the truth Our legacyisn't just about what we
achieve.
It's about who we become andthe impact we have on others.
And so, in today's episode,we're going to break down the
myths of legacy, identify thepillars of lasting impact and
give you a practical steps tostart building a legacy that
truly outlives you.
(01:02):
And so, if you've ever askedyourself, what will I be
remembered for, this episode isgoing to be for you.
No, but before we dive in, Ijust want you to take some
action right now, and if youcare about the legacy that you
leave behind, hit that likebutton, subscribe and drop a
comment telling me what legacyyou hope to build, because the
more men who engage with thisconversation, the greater impact
(01:24):
we can create together.
So take a second hit likesubscribe and let's get this
conversation going.
With that let's get on withtoday's episode.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
The average man today is sleepwalking through life,
many never reaching their truepotential, let alone ever
crossing the finish line toliving a purposeful life.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind, misguidedbeliefs and values that no
longer serve him.
It's time to align yourself forgreatness.
(01:58):
It's time to become arevolutionary man.
Stay strong, my brother.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So let me ask you a couple of questions.
If your life ended today, whatwould people say about you?
Are you intentionally buildingyour legacy or are you leading
it to chance?
And when you consider that,here's one more question for you
what's one change you couldmake today that would strengthen
the legacy you're leavingbehind?
(02:28):
You know, these aren't easyquestions, but they're going to
be necessary ones, and we'regoing to dig in today and really
unpack this.
And so we've established thatevery man leaves a legacy,
whether it's by design or bydefault, whether it's by design
or by default.
And so now let's break down howto build a legacy that reflects
the values, impact andinfluence that you truly want to
(02:49):
leave behind.
So the first thing I want totalk about is how we define
legacy, and what does that trulymean?
Because legacy isn't alwaysgoing to be about building
wealth.
It's about building impact thatwe leave behind, and so legacy
for many of us, when I thinkabout it initially, is, yes,
it's to be about some wealth,something I can leave back to my
(03:10):
kids, but many folks and manymen think that when we focus on
wealth, that that is all thatwe're here to do, but it's more
about wisdom and character,values that we impart in others,
more so than just the wealthyou know.
Financial wealth that caneasily fade and many times it
(03:31):
can be squandered, but legacythat's rooted in values and
relationships that's going tolast for generations.
And so a great leader isn'tgoing to be remembered for the
size of his bank account, butfor the principles that he's
lived by and the lives that he'stouched.
So think about it as a fatherwho teaches his children
(03:51):
integrity and resilience.
He's a much stronger legacythan one who simply leaves them
with a bank account full ofmoney.
How about legacy in ourrelationships?
You know, the stories of ourloved ones tell us about who you
are, and the lessons that theycarried forward are a reflection
of what our legacy is.
And so ask yourself what arethe most important lessons that
(04:15):
I want my family, my friends, mycommunity to learn from my life
, you know?
And then there's the legacy ofcontribution.
You know.
Think of a difference that youcan make if we go beyond our
immediate circle.
You know, our legacy can includeeverything from mentoring
others, you know, contributingin our community, you know, or
(04:37):
leaving a mark in your work withyour work.
Maybe you're an artist and youdo other things.
I know for me, volunteering anddoing that at a local soup
kitchen and homeless shelter isreally important, to be able to
give something back to mycommunity.
You know, some of the greatestlegacies come back from giving
back, as I just mentioned, andit is through mentorship and it
(05:00):
is through service, and it isgoing to be about leaving a
meaningful impact.
And so what can you do greaterthan than what you're doing
today?
And so there's going to be someskills that maybe you need to
develop some knowledge, andthere's going to need to also
have fine, have and find sometime to invest so you can
improve the lives of others aswell as yourself.
(05:20):
But listen, I'm not asking youto do all of this and not take
care of yourself and yourfamilies.
It's just the smallestcontributions.
You know, thinking about more sothan just mentoring your
children, but mentoring othersand supporting causes.
And so what are the differentways that you can look that you
can contribute in your life?
You know there is an impact inour daily decisions that really
(05:44):
helps build and define ourlegacy.
See, our legacy isn't built injust a single moment.
It's going to be moments builtupon moments, and it's the sum
of all of these and these dailychoices that really ultimately
define the kind of legacy thatwe leave behind.
Legacy that we leave behind,and so consider the way that we
(06:07):
treat people and how we handleour adversity, the causes that
we support.
All of these things, the thingsthat we do, how we show up, are
ways that are forming ourlegacy.
And so think about it.
If our children, or even ourcolleagues, watched us every day
for a year, what lessons do youthink they would learn from our
actions year?
What lessons do you think theywould learn from our actions?
What is the legacy do you thinkthat they would have about you?
(06:29):
And I really love StephenCovey's book, the Seven Habits
of Highly Effective People, andhe always says begin with the
end in mind.
And what he's really talkingabout is our legacy starts with
defining the impact that we wantto leave with others.
So what are the building blocks, then, of legacy?
We've talked a little bit aboutit, but it's really built on
(06:50):
some core pillars that stand thetest of time that we can truly
build a lasting legacy.
The first ones, I consider,would be integrity and our
values.
You see, living with integrityand aligning our actions with
our principles is the foundationof a meaningful legacy.
And so, if I think about for amoment, when our character is
(07:11):
being tested, these are theopportunities for us to solidify
the values that we hold dear,not just for ourselves, but in
the eyes of those who will carryour legacy forward.
How about relationships as ourcornerstone?
We are a species ofrelationships, and so our
interactions with others,whether that's with our families
(07:32):
, our colleagues, our communityor anyone, they really form a
lasting impact of who and whatour legacy is.
And so small, consistent actsof kindness, support and
presence leave a lastingimpression on others.
And so I want you to considerare you present with your loved
ones?
Do you feel valued and inspiredafter being around you?
(07:56):
Or do they, I should say, arethey feeling inspired and valued
after being around you?
You know, I think of men likeNelson Mandela and Martin Luther
King Jr had left lastinglegacies, not because of their
achievements, but more sobecause of the relationships
they built and the communitiesthat they uplifted.
(08:17):
So the word I'm really talkingabout here, I'm really talking
about our legacy, of ourcharacter.
You see, our integrity andhonesty and values are going to
define how people remember us.
Success without character leadsto forgotten legacies, and
history remembers men ofprinciple, not just men of power
.
So are you a man today that youhope your children and mentees
(08:41):
will look up to for tomorrow?
That's a heavy question andsomeone we need to truly
consider.
So what's our role on takingsome action and how we can build
legacy?
We've already mentioned a fewthings here, and really it's
about daily choices, and ourlegacy is going to be shaped by
the habits that we make and thatwe cultivate and the decisions
(09:03):
that we make, whether those arebig decisions or small decisions
.
And so ask yourself am I livingtoday in a way that aligns with
the legacy that I want to live?
How about the power ofmentorship?
I've mentioned this over andover again in this episode.
Passing down our knowledge andour wisdom is going is a direct
(09:34):
way that we can impact not onlyour current generation, but the
next generation to come.
So think about the times whenyou were mentored and how you're
carrying forward some of thosethings and how those can be
passed on, because if it wasn'tfor their guidance, the lives
and decision you'd meet you'remaking today would be vastly
(09:55):
different and create.
Think about how, when we do this, in our character is really
creating a ripple effect, aren'twe?
Because it isn't just about theimmediate results that we're
going to see in an action.
When I work at the soup kitchenon a saturday or sunday morning
, it isn't so much about thatserving of those individuals at
that moment, but it's thelasting impact, the ripple
(10:18):
effect that allows anorganization like that to
continue to provide services fora community of the most needed
here in our cities, and I'm sureexists in your cities as well.
So think about the influencehow just one act of kindness or
one person can have.
They can inspire others to comeand do the same thing.
(10:38):
And I think about Maya Angelou,and she said your legacy is
every life you've ever touched,every interaction you have and
every lesson that we teachcontributes to our legacy.
So what stops us from building alegacy?
You know, I think that's areally important question for us
to consider, and I thinkthere's some barriers that we
(11:01):
need to overcome to ensure thatwe leave with an intentional
legacy.
You know, one of the things Iused to believe a lot for a long
time was that there was thisfear of me really of trying to
leave a legacy, was really aboutmy insignificance, it's that
belief that the actions that Ido or I take really don't matter
(11:21):
.
But many people struggle withthat idea, and it's their
contributions might not be thatmeaningful in the grand scheme
of things, but it's a self doubtthat can prevent us from taking
steps towards building a legacy, and so we've got to reframe,
reshape our mindset about this.
It isn't about changing theentire world.
It's about leaving a positiveimpact in the lives that are
(11:44):
those that are truly around us,and when we take care of those
folks around us, those smallacts of kindness, the
consistency, care of those folksaround us, those small acts of
kindness, the consistency, doingit with integrity, then we're
already building a foundation oflegacy that resonates much
further than we can ever imagine, and so I want you to focus
back on that ripple effect.
(12:04):
Right, it's the small decisionsthat create this ripple that
allows us, allows things to growand change over time, and so
helping one person today meanscan be starting to help more and
more down the road, because wetruly don't understand or know
the impact of helping that oneindividual.
You know, the other myth that wehave to look at breaking is
(12:26):
this idea.
It's really aroundprocrastination.
Is that this someday syndromeyou know.
Many of us and I was one ofthose for sure would fall in the
trap of thinking I'll startbuilding my legacy when I'm
older, when I'm more successfulor when I have more time.
Legacy isn't something that werush or that we create at the
(12:46):
last minute.
It's going to be built overtime, whether we like it or not,
and so start with where you'reat today.
Building legacy means you needto make different choices today,
so every interaction or adecision, regardless of what
you're doing, is building thatlegacy.
So start where you are today.
Remember, the power comes insmall steps.
(13:10):
It's not the gigantic leap itgets you over the grand Canyon,
it's the small steps across itthat allow you to get to that
other side.
And on the other piece on myththat we may struggle with about
building legacies is it's justthat we're lack some clarity
about what our core values areand what vision that we have,
(13:31):
and so when we have unclearpriorities in our life, it's
going to be hard to build legacy, because we don't know what we
stand for and so we don't knowwhat we want to leave behind,
and so many people and I was oneof those as well, it would
drift through life, reallywithout defining what my core
values were, and when I did that, that meant that I felt, more
(13:52):
often than not, disjointed andfelt aimless.
But if I took the moment, andif you take that moment, to
reflect and define exactly whatit is that you're willing to
stand up for, and take anunderstanding of what your core
values are, then you can startto formulate the decisions that
you'll make on a daily basis,that allow you to make ones that
(14:13):
will leave a legacy that youintend to leave, not the one
that is just happening.
And so you need to live withintention, because once that
occurs, then the legacy that'shappening is one that you'll be
proud of.
And we have to remember, justbecause we're working towards
things and we may have some corevalue and we have our core
(14:33):
values defined, there may betimes where we're not in
alignment with others and wemight be criticized, and so we
may have this fear of failure,because we don't want to be
criticized for the things thatwe're doing.
And so forget about thejudgment, because many of us
will hesitate with this idea oftrying to leave a legacy,
because we're going to worrythat we're going to fail or that
(14:54):
we're going to be criticized.
But this is fear.
It's just.
All it's going to do is preventyou from doing anything.
And so, again, I suggest it's areframe, a redistribution of our
thoughts of how it is.
What is it that we're trying toleave behind?
Because failure, if you fail onsomething, it's not the end.
It's the end if you choose itto be.
Instead, it's just part of theprocess.
(15:15):
What's a different way that youcould approach something?
And so look at these setbacksand look at the opportunity for
you to learn and grow and change, so that you can adjust the
legacy that you're trying toleave behind.
And so I, you know, always likeSimon Sinek and he's famous for
talking about know your why.
And so remember that legacy isreally about impact, it's not
(15:39):
about perfection.
And so when you focus on yourpurpose and not the opinions of
others, their opinions are goingto hold a lot less water.
And so we talked a little bitabout, you know, really having a
lack of focus, and and that'sbecause we become distracted, we
don't know our core values,that we have to have to consider
that eliminating the noisethat's in our life and can
(16:00):
really help us to get get muchmore clear, and so setting
boundaries around things likeour time and our attention help
us to prioritize what's trulyimportant to us, and then when
we we're doing those things,we're being much more
intentional.
And so one of the things that Ido on a regular basis is I
schedule time for my family andfor my spouse so that we can
(16:22):
have time to connect, becausethose are important things to me
.
And so when you determine whatare those core values, those
core things in your life, thenyou can start to set time with
that.
You know, and I like whatViktor Frankl talked about in
Man's Search of Meaning.
He said when we are no longerable to change a situation, then
we are challenged to changeourselves.
(16:44):
And boy doesn't that resonatein today's environment that we
need to focus on what we can doto change for ourselves, because
building legacy often requiresus to confront not only our
fears but also look at wherewe're focusing our energy and
embrace a growth in face of whatmay seem like insurmountable
(17:05):
obstacles.
So let me tell you a littlestory about David.
He's a successful businessentrepreneur.
He's in his 50s and he hadbuilt this thriving business
admired by many, but at home hisrelationship with his children
was restrained and his wifeoften felt like a second
priority.
So one day his youngest sonasked Dad, why are you always on
the phone when we're together,you know?
(17:26):
And that single question madeDavid stop and reflect on the
legacy he was leaving or failingto build.
And so David began to realizethat, while his career was
flourishing, his personal lifewas crumbling, and he started to
ask himself some pretty hardquestions what will my kids
remember about me?
Will they know me as a presentfather or just a busy
(17:48):
businessman?
And so the thought of leavingbehind a legacy of distance and
disconnection quite honestlyscared the crap out of David.
He was pretty determined tochange and he committed to
making family his priority.
And so he started scheduling aweekly, tech-free family dinners
and attended his kids' soccergames and carved out time for
(18:10):
meaningful conversations withhis wife.
Games and carved out time formeaningful conversations with
his wife.
These were just small actions,but they slowly began to rebuild
trust and connection with hisfamily.
And so it was years later andDavid was finally at his
retirement and his children gavespeeches that left him in tears
.
They didn't talk about thefinancial success that they had,
and he spoke about the lessonshe had taught them, the time he
(18:31):
invested in them and the valuesthat he modeled.
David created a legacy of love,presence and integrity that
would outlive him.
And so what are some practicalsteps that we can take that I
want to leave you with today soyou can take in your life to
start living and leaving a lifewith integrity and a legacy?
(18:53):
And so you need to define yourlegacy vision.
So write down what you want tobe remembered for.
You know what values, lessons,contributions do you want to
leave behind.
And then, once you've writtenthat down, start living them.
Align your actions with yourcore principles.
Every decision that contributesto your legacy will come from
(19:14):
these two pieces.
And then you need to invest inthe relationships.
If we spend quality time withfamily and friends and our
relationships are going to beprobably the most enduring part
of our legacy and a mentor andto teach, you know this goes
beyond just our children, asI've talked about throughout
this episode.
It's about also mentoring andteaching family and neighbors
(19:38):
and friends and other groups,and if you have an opportunity,
I really encourage you to dothis as a document.
Keep a journal, gentlemen,whether that's a voice journal
or a written one, handwritten,or you want to use an electronic
document, keeping a journalabout these different aspects of
your life, maybe even justwriting letters to loved ones.
(20:02):
These become the treasuredmoments in the lives of many of
the people that we come intocontact with, and so I've
mentioned a few differentresources, places that really
gave me some inspiration andcoming together and putting
together today's episode, andone of them is Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People, stephenCovey and Legacy.
What All Blacks Can Teach UsAbout the Business of Life and
(20:26):
that's by James Kerr and theObstacle is the Way, by Ryan
Halliday.
Legacy isn't built in a moment.
It's built in the small,consistent choices that you make
every day.
The question is are youbuilding a legacy you want, or
are you leaving it to chance?
So your challenge today is towrite down one action you can
(20:47):
take right now to strengthenyour legacy and go ahead and do
it.
So, if you're serious aboutbuilding a legacy that lasts,
the other action I want you totake is I want you to go to
memberstheawakenedmannet.
This is our membership site,and we have a free integrity
challenge there for you to take.
Take this challenge.
It's an opportunity for you tobuild a roadmap for living with
(21:08):
purpose and living with impact.
It's the strongest men whodon't wait.
They decide, they lead with alegacy, so they get started now.
I just want to say thank you somuch for joining me on the
Revolutionary man podcast.
Remember legacy isn't just whatwe've left behind, it's how we
live our lives every day, and sothank you very much for taking
action and enjoying this episode.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Join the brotherhood that is the Awakened man at
theawakendmannet and startforging a new destiny today.
Welcome everyone to the Revolutionary man Podcast.
This is the show where wechallenge men to redefine their
success, lead with integrity andcreate a lasting impact in
their lives and the lives ofothers.
And so I'm your host, alanDeMonso, and today we're gonna
talk about something that everyman, whether he realizes it or
not, is building every singleday, and that's his legacy.
(00:20):
You see, we all leave somethingbehind, whether we plan for it
or not.
So the question isn't if youwill leave a legacy.
The question is will it be theone that you intended?
Too many men go through lifefocused only on the immediate
chasing success, wealth andstatus, without ever considering
what will remain when they'regone.
(00:42):
But here's the truth Our legacyisn't just about what we
achieve.
It's about who we become andthe impact we have on others.
And so, in today's episode,we're going to break down the
myths of legacy, identify thepillars of lasting impact and
give you a practical steps tostart building a legacy that
truly outlives you.
(01:02):
And so, if you've ever askedyourself, what will I be
remembered for, this episode isgoing to be for you.
No, but before we dive in, Ijust want you to take some
action right now, and if youcare about the legacy that you
leave behind, hit that likebutton, subscribe and drop a
comment telling me what legacyyou hope to build, because the
more men who engage with thisconversation, the greater impact
(01:24):
we can create together.
So take a second hit likesubscribe and let's get this
conversation going.
With that let's get on withtoday's episode.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
The average man today is sleepwalking through life,
many never reaching their truepotential, let alone ever
crossing the finish line toliving a purposeful life.
Yet the hunger still exists,albeit buried amidst his
cluttered mind, misguidedbeliefs and values that no
longer serve him.
It's time to align yourself forgreatness.
(01:58):
It's time to become arevolutionary man.
Stay strong, my brother.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So let me ask you a couple of questions.
If your life ended today, whatwould people say about you?
Are you intentionally buildingyour legacy or are you leading
it to chance?
And when you consider that,here's one more question for you
what's one change you couldmake today that would strengthen
the legacy you're leavingbehind?
(02:28):
You know, these aren't easyquestions, but they're going to
be necessary ones, and we'regoing to dig in today and really
unpack this.
And so we've established thatevery man leaves a legacy,
whether it's by design or bydefault, whether it's by design
or by default.
And so now let's break down howto build a legacy that reflects
the values, impact andinfluence that you truly want to
(02:49):
leave behind.
So the first thing I want totalk about is how we define
legacy, and what does that trulymean?
Because legacy isn't alwaysgoing to be about building
wealth.
It's about building impact thatwe leave behind, and so legacy
for many of us, when I thinkabout it initially, is, yes,
it's to be about some wealth,something I can leave back to my
(03:10):
kids, but many folks and manymen think that when we focus on
wealth, that that is all thatwe're here to do, but it's more
about wisdom and character,values that we impart in others,
more so than just the wealthyou know.
Financial wealth that caneasily fade and many times it
(03:31):
can be squandered, but legacythat's rooted in values and
relationships that's going tolast for generations.
And so a great leader isn'tgoing to be remembered for the
size of his bank account, butfor the principles that he's
lived by and the lives that he'stouched.
So think about it as a fatherwho teaches his children
(03:51):
integrity and resilience.
He's a much stronger legacythan one who simply leaves them
with a bank account full ofmoney.
How about legacy in ourrelationships?
You know, the stories of ourloved ones tell us about who you
are, and the lessons that theycarried forward are a reflection
of what our legacy is.
And so ask yourself what arethe most important lessons that
(04:15):
I want my family, my friends, mycommunity to learn from my life
, you know?
And then there's the legacy ofcontribution.
You know.
Think of a difference that youcan make if we go beyond our
immediate circle.
You know, our legacy can includeeverything from mentoring
others, you know, contributingin our community, you know, or
(04:37):
leaving a mark in your work withyour work.
Maybe you're an artist and youdo other things.
I know for me, volunteering anddoing that at a local soup
kitchen and homeless shelter isreally important, to be able to
give something back to mycommunity.
You know, some of the greatestlegacies come back from giving
back, as I just mentioned, andit is through mentorship and it
(05:00):
is through service, and it isgoing to be about leaving a
meaningful impact.
And so what can you do greaterthan than what you're doing
today?
And so there's going to be someskills that maybe you need to
develop some knowledge, andthere's going to need to also
have fine, have and find sometime to invest so you can
improve the lives of others aswell as yourself.
(05:20):
But listen, I'm not asking youto do all of this and not take
care of yourself and yourfamilies.
It's just the smallestcontributions.
You know, thinking about more sothan just mentoring your
children, but mentoring othersand supporting causes.
And so what are the differentways that you can look that you
can contribute in your life?
You know there is an impact inour daily decisions that really
(05:44):
helps build and define ourlegacy.
See, our legacy isn't built injust a single moment.
It's going to be moments builtupon moments, and it's the sum
of all of these and these dailychoices that really ultimately
define the kind of legacy thatwe leave behind.
Legacy that we leave behind,and so consider the way that we
(06:07):
treat people and how we handleour adversity, the causes that
we support.
All of these things, the thingsthat we do, how we show up, are
ways that are forming ourlegacy.
And so think about it.
If our children, or even ourcolleagues, watched us every day
for a year, what lessons do youthink they would learn from our
actions year?
What lessons do you think theywould learn from our actions?
What is the legacy do you thinkthat they would have about you?
(06:29):
And I really love StephenCovey's book, the Seven Habits
of Highly Effective People, andhe always says begin with the
end in mind.
And what he's really talkingabout is our legacy starts with
defining the impact that we wantto leave with others.
So what are the building blocks, then, of legacy?
We've talked a little bit aboutit, but it's really built on
(06:50):
some core pillars that stand thetest of time that we can truly
build a lasting legacy.
The first ones, I consider,would be integrity and our
values.
You see, living with integrityand aligning our actions with
our principles is the foundationof a meaningful legacy.
And so, if I think about for amoment, when our character is
(07:11):
being tested, these are theopportunities for us to solidify
the values that we hold dear,not just for ourselves, but in
the eyes of those who will carryour legacy forward.
How about relationships as ourcornerstone?
We are a species ofrelationships, and so our
interactions with others,whether that's with our families
(07:32):
, our colleagues, our communityor anyone, they really form a
lasting impact of who and whatour legacy is.
And so small, consistent actsof kindness, support and
presence leave a lastingimpression on others.
And so I want you to considerare you present with your loved
ones?
Do you feel valued and inspiredafter being around you?
(07:56):
Or do they, I should say, arethey feeling inspired and valued
after being around you?
You know, I think of men likeNelson Mandela and Martin Luther
King Jr had left lastinglegacies, not because of their
achievements, but more sobecause of the relationships
they built and the communitiesthat they uplifted.
(08:17):
So the word I'm really talkingabout here, I'm really talking
about our legacy, of ourcharacter.
You see, our integrity andhonesty and values are going to
define how people remember us.
Success without character leadsto forgotten legacies, and
history remembers men ofprinciple, not just men of power
.
So are you a man today that youhope your children and mentees
(08:41):
will look up to for tomorrow?
That's a heavy question andsomeone we need to truly
consider.
So what's our role on takingsome action and how we can build
legacy?
We've already mentioned a fewthings here, and really it's
about daily choices, and ourlegacy is going to be shaped by
the habits that we make and thatwe cultivate and the decisions
(09:03):
that we make, whether those arebig decisions or small decisions
.
And so ask yourself am I livingtoday in a way that aligns with
the legacy that I want to live?
How about the power ofmentorship?
I've mentioned this over andover again in this episode.
Passing down our knowledge andour wisdom is going is a direct
(09:34):
way that we can impact not onlyour current generation, but the
next generation to come.
So think about the times whenyou were mentored and how you're
carrying forward some of thosethings and how those can be
passed on, because if it wasn'tfor their guidance, the lives
and decision you'd meet you'remaking today would be vastly
(09:55):
different and create.
Think about how, when we do this, in our character is really
creating a ripple effect, aren'twe?
Because it isn't just about theimmediate results that we're
going to see in an action.
When I work at the soup kitchenon a saturday or sunday morning
, it isn't so much about thatserving of those individuals at
that moment, but it's thelasting impact, the ripple
(10:18):
effect that allows anorganization like that to
continue to provide services fora community of the most needed
here in our cities, and I'm sureexists in your cities as well.
So think about the influencehow just one act of kindness or
one person can have.
They can inspire others to comeand do the same thing.
(10:38):
And I think about Maya Angelou,and she said your legacy is
every life you've ever touched,every interaction you have and
every lesson that we teachcontributes to our legacy.
So what stops us from building alegacy?
You know, I think that's areally important question for us
to consider, and I thinkthere's some barriers that we
(11:01):
need to overcome to ensure thatwe leave with an intentional
legacy.
You know, one of the things Iused to believe a lot for a long
time was that there was thisfear of me really of trying to
leave a legacy, was really aboutmy insignificance, it's that
belief that the actions that Ido or I take really don't matter
(11:21):
.
But many people struggle withthat idea, and it's their
contributions might not be thatmeaningful in the grand scheme
of things, but it's a self doubtthat can prevent us from taking
steps towards building a legacy, and so we've got to reframe,
reshape our mindset about this.
It isn't about changing theentire world.
It's about leaving a positiveimpact in the lives that are
(11:44):
those that are truly around us,and when we take care of those
folks around us, those smallacts of kindness, the
consistency, care of those folksaround us, those small acts of
kindness, the consistency, doingit with integrity, then we're
already building a foundation oflegacy that resonates much
further than we can ever imagine, and so I want you to focus
back on that ripple effect.
(12:04):
Right, it's the small decisionsthat create this ripple that
allows us, allows things to growand change over time, and so
helping one person today meanscan be starting to help more and
more down the road, because wetruly don't understand or know
the impact of helping that oneindividual.
You know, the other myth that wehave to look at breaking is
(12:26):
this idea.
It's really aroundprocrastination.
Is that this someday syndromeyou know.
Many of us and I was one ofthose for sure would fall in the
trap of thinking I'll startbuilding my legacy when I'm
older, when I'm more successfulor when I have more time.
Legacy isn't something that werush or that we create at the
(12:46):
last minute.
It's going to be built overtime, whether we like it or not,
and so start with where you'reat today.
Building legacy means you needto make different choices today,
so every interaction or adecision, regardless of what
you're doing, is building thatlegacy.
So start where you are today.
Remember, the power comes insmall steps.
(13:10):
It's not the gigantic leap itgets you over the grand Canyon,
it's the small steps across itthat allow you to get to that
other side.
And on the other piece on myththat we may struggle with about
building legacies is it's justthat we're lack some clarity
about what our core values areand what vision that we have,
(13:31):
and so when we have unclearpriorities in our life, it's
going to be hard to build legacy, because we don't know what we
stand for and so we don't knowwhat we want to leave behind,
and so many people and I was oneof those as well, it would
drift through life, reallywithout defining what my core
values were, and when I did that, that meant that I felt, more
(13:52):
often than not, disjointed andfelt aimless.
But if I took the moment, andif you take that moment, to
reflect and define exactly whatit is that you're willing to
stand up for, and take anunderstanding of what your core
values are, then you can startto formulate the decisions that
you'll make on a daily basis,that allow you to make ones that
(14:13):
will leave a legacy that youintend to leave, not the one
that is just happening.
And so you need to live withintention, because once that
occurs, then the legacy that'shappening is one that you'll be
proud of.
And we have to remember, justbecause we're working towards
things and we may have some corevalue and we have our core
(14:33):
values defined, there may betimes where we're not in
alignment with others and wemight be criticized, and so we
may have this fear of failure,because we don't want to be
criticized for the things thatwe're doing.
And so forget about thejudgment, because many of us
will hesitate with this idea oftrying to leave a legacy,
because we're going to worrythat we're going to fail or that
(14:54):
we're going to be criticized.
But this is fear.
It's just.
All it's going to do is preventyou from doing anything.
And so, again, I suggest it's areframe, a redistribution of our
thoughts of how it is.
What is it that we're trying toleave behind?
Because failure, if you fail onsomething, it's not the end.
It's the end if you choose itto be.
Instead, it's just part of theprocess.
(15:15):
What's a different way that youcould approach something?
And so look at these setbacksand look at the opportunity for
you to learn and grow and change, so that you can adjust the
legacy that you're trying toleave behind.
And so I, you know, always likeSimon Sinek and he's famous for
talking about know your why.
And so remember that legacy isreally about impact, it's not
(15:39):
about perfection.
And so when you focus on yourpurpose and not the opinions of
others, their opinions are goingto hold a lot less water.
And so we talked a little bitabout, you know, really having a
lack of focus, and and that'sbecause we become distracted, we
don't know our core values,that we have to have to consider
that eliminating the noisethat's in our life and can
(16:00):
really help us to get get muchmore clear, and so setting
boundaries around things likeour time and our attention help
us to prioritize what's trulyimportant to us, and then when
we we're doing those things,we're being much more
intentional.
And so one of the things that Ido on a regular basis is I
schedule time for my family andfor my spouse so that we can
(16:22):
have time to connect, becausethose are important things to me
.
And so when you determine whatare those core values, those
core things in your life, thenyou can start to set time with
that.
You know, and I like whatViktor Frankl talked about in
Man's Search of Meaning.
He said when we are no longerable to change a situation, then
we are challenged to changeourselves.
(16:44):
And boy doesn't that resonatein today's environment that we
need to focus on what we can doto change for ourselves, because
building legacy often requiresus to confront not only our
fears but also look at wherewe're focusing our energy and
embrace a growth in face of whatmay seem like insurmountable
(17:05):
obstacles.
So let me tell you a littlestory about David.
He's a successful businessentrepreneur.
He's in his 50s and he hadbuilt this thriving business
admired by many, but at home hisrelationship with his children
was restrained and his wifeoften felt like a second
priority.
So one day his youngest sonasked Dad, why are you always on
the phone when we're together,you know?
(17:26):
And that single question madeDavid stop and reflect on the
legacy he was leaving or failingto build.
And so David began to realizethat, while his career was
flourishing, his personal lifewas crumbling, and he started to
ask himself some pretty hardquestions what will my kids
remember about me?
Will they know me as a presentfather or just a busy
(17:48):
businessman?
And so the thought of leavingbehind a legacy of distance and
disconnection quite honestlyscared the crap out of David.
He was pretty determined tochange and he committed to
making family his priority.
And so he started scheduling aweekly, tech-free family dinners
and attended his kids' soccergames and carved out time for
(18:10):
meaningful conversations withhis wife.
Games and carved out time formeaningful conversations with
his wife.
These were just small actions,but they slowly began to rebuild
trust and connection with hisfamily.
And so it was years later andDavid was finally at his
retirement and his children gavespeeches that left him in tears
.
They didn't talk about thefinancial success that they had,
and he spoke about the lessonshe had taught them, the time he
(18:31):
invested in them and the valuesthat he modeled.
David created a legacy of love,presence and integrity that
would outlive him.
And so what are some practicalsteps that we can take that I
want to leave you with today soyou can take in your life to
start living and leaving a lifewith integrity and a legacy?
(18:53):
And so you need to define yourlegacy vision.
So write down what you want tobe remembered for.
You know what values, lessons,contributions do you want to
leave behind.
And then, once you've writtenthat down, start living them.
Align your actions with yourcore principles.
Every decision that contributesto your legacy will come from
(19:14):
these two pieces.
And then you need to invest inthe relationships.
If we spend quality time withfamily and friends and our
relationships are going to beprobably the most enduring part
of our legacy and a mentor andto teach, you know this goes
beyond just our children, asI've talked about throughout
this episode.
It's about also mentoring andteaching family and neighbors
(19:38):
and friends and other groups,and if you have an opportunity,
I really encourage you to dothis as a document.
Keep a journal, gentlemen,whether that's a voice journal
or a written one, handwritten,or you want to use an electronic
document, keeping a journalabout these different aspects of
your life, maybe even justwriting letters to loved ones.
(20:02):
These become the treasuredmoments in the lives of many of
the people that we come intocontact with, and so I've
mentioned a few differentresources, places that really
gave me some inspiration andcoming together and putting
together today's episode, andone of them is Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People, stephenCovey and Legacy.
What All Blacks Can Teach UsAbout the Business of Life and
(20:26):
that's by James Kerr and theObstacle is the Way, by Ryan
Halliday.
Legacy isn't built in a moment.
It's built in the small,consistent choices that you make
every day.
The question is are youbuilding a legacy you want, or
are you leaving it to chance?
So your challenge today is towrite down one action you can
(20:47):
take right now to strengthenyour legacy and go ahead and do
it.
So, if you're serious aboutbuilding a legacy that lasts,
the other action I want you totake is I want you to go to
memberstheawakenedmannet.
This is our membership site,and we have a free integrity
challenge there for you to take.
Take this challenge.
It's an opportunity for you tobuild a roadmap for living with
(21:08):
purpose and living with impact.
It's the strongest men whodon't wait.
They decide, they lead with alegacy, so they get started now.
I just want to say thank you somuch for joining me on the
Revolutionary man podcast.
Remember legacy isn't just whatwe've left behind, it's how we
live our lives every day, and sothank you very much for taking
action and enjoying this episode.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Join the brotherhood that is the Awakened man at
theawakendmannet and startforging a new destiny today.
Popular Podcasts
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Betrayal: Season 4
Karoline Borega married a man of honor – a respected Colorado Springs Police officer. She knew there would be sacrifices to accommodate her husband’s career. But she had no idea that he was using his badge to fool everyone. This season, we expose a man who swore two sacred oaths—one to his badge, one to his bride—and broke them both. We follow Karoline as she questions everything she thought she knew about her partner of over 20 years. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-3 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.