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Ten8 Fire

Legacy of Influence

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

 

Last month, we focused on the naturally occurring opportunities we have to influence people. This month, I wanted to touch on the legacy of influence. You may not often think about your legacy, but we will all have one. When we are gone, the people in our lives will be left with the good and bad outcomes of our decisions and actions. The impact of our legacy will greatly depend on our focus throughout life.

 

I am always intrigued by a single person’s ability to influence a large group for a common purpose. A good example of leadership and influence can be found in Joshua 24:31, “Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.” Joshua is widely recognized as a great leader that led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua was not always at the top of the organizational chart. In fact, he spent many years serving under Moses, before having the opportunity to be the leader of the nation. Joshua’s journey was not easy. In fact, he spent some of his life in slavery. However, Joshua 24:31 explains that the nation continued to serve the Lord long after Joshua died. What a legacy of influence! You see, they were not just remembering Joshua’s leadership, decisions, and actions. They were applying the values, principles, and priorities they learned from Joshua. Joshua’s life was so impactful that it caused a whole nation to follow God long after he was gone.

 

I am often reminded that no matter what position you hold, the occupation you chose, or what you may aspire to be, you are going to influence people. While our circles of influence may fluctuate in size, they are no less important. Joshua did not start off influencing thousands. He started one person at a time. His patience, persistence, and faithful service established a path of success in which God was able to use for the greater good of a nation.

 

When people think about a legacy, they often think about money and material possessions. Peter Strople once said, “Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people. As a true servant leader, it should be highly encouraging for you to see people you have had the opportunity to influence experience success in all aspects of their life. It is certainly not all about what you get in life, rather what you have the opportunity give. Here is one last quote that summarizes my thoughts on having a legacy of influence.

 

“Please think about your legacy because you are writing it every day.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

 

Challenge: Remember, regardless of who you are, where you come from, or what decisions you have made, you are contributing to your legacy each and every day. Never underestimate the value of investing in people.

 

Published: October 1, 2019

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