Connect with us

Professional Development

The DNA of A Legacy

Published

9 years ago

on

BY KEISHA JOHNSON 

As a youngster, I remember being mesmerized by a statement Bob Marley made in an interview at the height of his career. He had simply said this, “If my life is just for me and my own security, I don’t want it.” His precursor to that statement was, “My life is for people.”

I did not understand the depth of that conviction to Bob at the time, but his words and the matter-of-fact manner in which he said them pierced me.

On every continent, in every postmodern generation, Bob Marley is synonymous with reggae music. He is the Father of Reggae. The pulsating sounds of Bob’s reggae pulls you into a groove and his signature lyrical parables stir you to rethink the seemingly obvious. Rich with social commentary that gives a voice to the marginalized, Bob’s repertoire remains current even in the ebb and flow of pop music trends today.

He was only thirty six when he died thirty four years ago. Yet his legacy is as alive today as if he were still with us. In fact, just this October, passengers stuck underground in a New York disabled E-train, chanted tunes of Bob alongside current chart toppers, The Weeknd and Drake as they encouraged themselves in the circumstances. A few days earlier, Marlon James became the first Jamaican to win the Man Booker Prize for his novel on the attempted assassination on Bob’s life.

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing,” Benjamin Franklin once said.  Bob’s life epitomized this charge and encourages us to believe that legacy is not an elitist construct for a select few.

We all have creative power. Which means we each have ability. The ability to contribute and make a difference.

So what legacy are you now creating? What do you want to be remembered for?  What contribution will you make in your lifetime to transform or just touch the life of others? What is your passion? What are your strengths? What do the people who know you, say you are good at? What are you doing with it and about it?

These are some of the questions legacy evokes.

Zero in on your ability and your strengths and pursue them. Build on them and identify how you can use your unique gifts or talents and personal strengths to serve others.

This is the key. Service to others.

My mentor Alvin Day suggests a good place to start is to find a void in people’s life that you can identify with and fill it.  Then proceed with the end in mind. In other words, know the impact you want to make or the outcome you want to achieve. Put that in one simple statement. I want to … Let that impact guide your actions when you set out each day.

If you don’t, life can become adrift much like a ship set to sail with no specific destination in mind and no captain at the helm. Where that ship goes is wherever the wind and current takes it. It is at the mercy of whatever conditions it finds itself in.

What’s so wrong with that? You may ask.

My grandaunt often cautioned, “A rolling stone gathers no moss”. Drifting implies you are existing without purpose, you’ve yielded control to whomever, whatever. You’ve personally checked out and very little of you if any is personally invested in what you do or where you are or are going. How then can you find fulfillment or any satisfaction or sense of worth or pride in something if it means nothing to you? And if you don’t, what will inspire others to value you?

Reflect for a second on some of the most enduring brands in any industry. Among those, pick the ones you trust or prefer. The fact that you and I and our neighbors choose one brand without a second thought over another is not by default. The creators behind those brands, whether it be pop stars, smartphones, household products or automobiles, were intentional to meet a need, satisfy a want, serve a niche, and constantly surpass their own highest standards to ensure they remain yours and my first choice among the competition.

Their success suggest it is folly to leave legacy creation to chance. If we do, it makes room for the old adage to reign true, ‘if you fail to plan, then plan to fail’.

To stay on track ask yourself often, how is what I am doing now helping me to make that impact? Find an accountability partner and check in with them regularly and honestly. Keep positive reinforcement before you. One of mine is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept were toiling upwards through the night.”

The death trap that catches many of us off guard is spelt d.i.s.t.r.a.c.t.i.o.n. It makes you lose traction. It derails you, delays you, frustrates you, robs you and takes you off course.

How many companies have suffered for over diversifying their core business? How many people do you know who are frustrated and unfulfilled from pursuing dreams that were someone else’s or from lingering in misfit careers or relationships?

Find your course, your fit, so you will have the passion to thrive even in the tough times.

Two days after Bob was shot in the arm and chest in the 1976 assassination attempt on his life, he appeared on stage for a live concert and later reportedly said, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”  

Challenges and setbacks are inevitable. They are your stepping stones.  Presidents and Prime Ministers have said it this way, “success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” Ancient wisdom encourages us to consider it pure joy when we experience trails of many kinds because tests and trials build patience. Patience builds maturity to continue the race and finish it strong.

Legacy is within your DNA. But it is an intentional pursuit. It is a lifestyle. It must come natural. Its fuel is passion, and its mission is service to others. Let your efforts count for more than a pay check or financial gain and your life will outlive you. Live your legacy.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Kerine

    November 11, 2015 at 7:19 am

    Excellent thought provoking article with good, practical advice. Thank you for reminding me that service to others is most important when one is fulfilling purpose. This was a great reminder that legacy is in my DNA.

    Reply

    • Keisha

      November 16, 2015 at 4:13 pm

      Thank you for your comment Kerine. Indeed it is for all humanity. It’s latent power within relying on us to be activated and bring our wealth to the world.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

Published

3 years ago

on

February 9, 2022

By

Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

Continue Reading

Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

Published

3 years ago

on

November 24, 2021

By

Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

Continue Reading

Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

Published

5 years ago

on

June 3, 2020

By

BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

Continue Reading

Trending