Super Legacy - By Paul Wilson, Jr.

The hype machine is being cranked up to a fever pitch. The players are antsy. The coaches are irritated. The reporters’ questions are getting redundant and annoying. All the TV commercials somehow relate their product to football. It must be Super Bowl Week.

For most football fans, Super Bowl Week is one of the best weeks of the year (maybe not the whole week, but at least the weekend), especially if you like pre-game drama. And this year’s game is no exception. The team picked as this year’s version of “Goliath” is 5-time Super Bowl winner, Pittsburgh Steelers. The role of “David” in this year’s football spectacular is being played by the Arizona Cardinals, who hadn’t won more than one playoff game in their entire history before these playoffs.

One of the most intriguing story lines is that of the coaches of the two teams. The coach of the Arizona Cardinals is Ken Whisenhunt, who was actually an assistant coach for Pittsburgh when they won the Super Bowl three years ago. The coach who will be on the opposing sidelines is Mike Tomlin, the guy the Steelers chose over Whisenhunt two years ago after then-head coach Bill Cowher retired. Wow, talk about intrigue.

There have been and will be many stories written about these two leading up to Sunday. So, I’m not going to regurgitate what others are already writing. Instead I want to discuss the legacy of the retired coach, Bill Cowher.

As you can see, the fingerprints of Cowher’s tenure are all over this game. His former assistant is leading one team and many of his former players (and coaches) are playing for the new coach of the other team. This speaks volumes to Cowher’s legacy of leadership, i.e. what he left behind after he retired.

It’s an incredible testament to one’s leadership abilities to be able to lead their organization to become the best in its league, country, industry, etc. It’s even more compelling when those left behind are able to rise to the top years after that key leader has gone.

Although the concept of legacy is often discussed when someone retires (or dies), I don’t think it’s talked about enough by those who are in the position and have the power to create a legacy now. In order to leave a legacy, you first have to live a legacy.

As you think about what your legacy might potentially be, here are some questions that you can ask yourself to see what is the current state of your “legacy-in-process”:
- Was the last organization that you departed from better off because you were there?
- How are you developing the people around you now to carry forth your vision?
- Who have you led in the past that is now leading his/her own team, department, business, etc?
- How are you equipping the people around you for their future success?
- What are you building that people will be talking about 10 or 20 years from now?

Personally, I didn’t put a lot of time into intentionally planning my legacy until after the death of my dad, Paul J. Wilson, Sr., about two years ago. As I absorbed the countless words of affirmation that were showered on him during that time by young and old alike, I had my epiphany about the importance of living and leaving a legacy.

That principle was driven even deeper in me when my father-in-law passed away about a month ago. Although they may not have been famous or rich, these two men left behind incredibly invaluable legacies as men of godly character. I have a high bar to reach to produce a similar impact with my life.

What about you? How often do you think about your legacy? Well, right now is the best time to start. What I’m about to ask you to do may sound strange. I encourage you to write your eulogy. Yes, your eulogy – all the things you want people to say about your life at your funeral. Once you have written it down, then purpose to live that way every day, so all the stuff that you wrote will come true (and they won’t have to lie or stretch the truth).

Don’t settle for what you have become. Strive for all that you can be. Leave a super legacy.

Thrive on Purpose,
Paul Wilson, Jr.

About the Author:
Paul Wilson, Jr. is the founder, President and Chief Inspiration Officer of Biznovations, LLC. They design innovative strategies and solutions that equip individuals and organizations to maximize their financial and social profitability. Paul also authors the blogs, Thrive B.I.G.! and Biznovations.net, leadership catalysts for those who want to live more purposeful, passionate, and prosperous lives. To learn more about Paul, visit www.paulwilsonjr.com.