Your Living Legacy

Sometimes I think that people need to step back from their jobs, and realize the actual impact they are having on society, and I mean this in a positive way. We are often so caught up in day to day work, that we miss out on the bigger picture, unable to see the forest from the trees.

For instance, let's say you are a mechanic. Sure, you are fixing cars, and making a living, but you are also helping people. You are making sure that someone else is able to get to work, or get their kids to school; you are making a huge difference in their lives. What about those people that are working on the new Renaissance building in downtown London right now, do you think they stop and realize that they will be reshaping London's skyline even after they are gone? For as often as people worry about the legacy they are going to leave, it is so rare that they stop to realize the impact they are having every day.

I know that for many people they see their job as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. There is nothing wrong with this, but I've always believed that it doesn't matter if you helped the old lady cross the street to impress a pretty girl, because the fact is that you still helped an old lady cross the street regardless of your motive.

For many companies I think that they forget why they started in the first place. As businesses grow, and CEO's become more distant from the product they create, they forget what a difference their company can have to someone's life. Not only is their product helping people, but they are employing people. They are giving people the opportunity to provide for their families. A lot of times I feel thankful to be in the communications field, because I get to look at these companies from a fresh set of eyes. I get to see what it is that they haven't seen in so long.

I am often times reminded of what Jennifer Jones said at a Rotary function last year concerning their role with social media, "Rotary is already doing good things, this is just about spreading that message to the world". This is something that has often stuck with me. I find with communications, there are times when you get that special client that it is simply a matter of spreading the word about incredible work that they do.

What I am saying is maybe just take two seconds to step back from whatever job you have, and think about the impact you made on someone's life. Maybe you are making pizzas which will be dinner for a family, selling a car to someone so they can get to work, building a house that will be filled with memories, designing a website so that someone can take their small business  to the next level; whatever it is, you are making an impact on someone else's life for the better, whether you are getting paid for it or not.