Have an Impact Today....

Have an Impact Today...

...Create a legacy for tomorrow.



You've got one life to live. Do it right, and when you're gone, your legacy may continue to benefit those who come after you.

So how do you ensure your legacy is a positive one that impacts future generations? By taking action today! Here are a few steps to have an impact today that will leave a lasting legacy that does not only benefit your good name.

Step 1: Stop Waiting

Want to help others live better lives? The first thing you're going to have to do is to stop waiting around and start acting now. While you may think helping others and building your legacy can wait until you retire or the kids move out of the house, think again. Every day of your life, there are things you can be doing to make a difference in your community and working on your legacy. Only when you're ready to take the bull by the horns today will you be ready to move on to the next step.


Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. - Horace Mann


2: Get Hunting

Once you're ready to help others, you'll need to find appropriate ways to make it happen. Instead of forcing yourself to do something you despise, think of your strengths. If you enjoy visiting with elderly people, call local nursing homes to find out when you can visit and if there are particularly lonely individuals you should visit. Prefer helping kids? Get plugged in with your local Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, or other like-minded organization. Good with a hammer and saw? Seek out local non-profit organizations that build or repair homes for less fortunate individuals and get to work.

Step 3: Make and Keep Promises

It's not uncommon for people to get excited about helping non-profit organizations, only to forget about their initial excitement a short time later. Don't let that happen to you. Find an organization you believe in and promise to yourself to spend a certain amount of time helping the organization each week. Then grab your calendar and write down when you're going to help your organization of choice. By noting it in your calendar, you're more likely to fulfill your promise, as it goes from being something extra to get done to something that a regular part of your life.

Step 4: Bring a Sidekick

Like many things in life, helping others is often done best alongside likeminded individuals. Know someone who is interested in helping others? Don't let him or her stand on the sidelines looking in. Take your family member or friend along on your outings and get him or her involved by your side. Or talk with a likeminded individual before committing to an organization and choose one together. Either way, you'll have more staying power if you help others with others by your side.

Step 5: Don't Sweat the Legacy

Think helping others and putting yourself last will ensure your legacy? Think it will encourage future generations to speak your name in awe and respect? Hopefully it will. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. But your generosity and selfless acts will be noticed by those you directly affect. To them, you will be the superhero you hope to be remembered as. So instead of worrying about the entire world knowing about what a wonderful person you, focus in on the people around you. Let their gratitude be enough to tide you over. And if you find yourself impacting people who don't seem to care about the work you're doing, suck it up and find satisfaction knowing you're doing the right thing.