An Organic Legacy

“The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” – William James, 19^th Century philosopher

Here I am, 25 years old and about to graduate with my MBA. You would expect my mind to be swirling with thoughts of the future and the vast array of opportunities to come as I seek to start my professional career in a less-sheltered environment. You would think me thrilled, excited, and terrified. There shouldn’t be any energy left in this head of mine for anything other than finishing strong with school and seeking how to best navigate the treacherous waters of the job market to find my dream job. And you would be correct to think all of that. However, I find myself constantly reminded of the future in a different light – that of which I am leaving behind.

Last week I sat in a room with thirteen officers from one of the world’s largest organizations. They were participating in a multi-day training and on-boarding program for their new roles as officers for the organization and had come together on this evening to hear a man talk about his passion, his joy, and his challenge. This man was Don Soderquist. If you have ever heard Don speak, it is incredibly difficult not to share his excitement and feel inspired after you leave. Therefore, this night was special for me; and I think it was special for these newbie officers in the room as well.

We sat and listened as Don told stories from his days at Walmart and his interactions with Sam Walton, and all the many factors that led to his personal success and the success of Walmart. Here is a simple, humble man who is known as the “Keeper of the Culture” for the most successful retailer of all time! How on earth does that happen?! I can’t help but wonder everything that was going through Don’s head as he climbed the corporate ladder over the years. Was legacy his dominating thought or concern? Was he doing everything intentionally for the sake of his legacy? Did he even realize he was leaving a legacy at all? Knowing Don, I must consider that legacy was not the first thing on his mind as he built his career and his reputation, though I’m sure he was aware of its significance.

Don had integrity, which drove him to work with excellence and treat others with respect. So I wonder; what if Don had been intentional from day one of his career to do everything as a means to building his legacy? Personally, I don’t think he would have had as great an impact as he has. Legacy should be organic, the natural result of a life lived with integrity, humility, and wisdom, not something that is forced. The quality person you are will ultimately determine your legacy, not the strategy of your career and professional interactions with others. Don has simply lived his life in the best way which reflected his personal values and moral beliefs, with a little business savvy thrown in along the way. Now this man has one of the greatest and far-reaching legacies I have ever witnessed.

So my advice to myself (and others) is to live life with integrity, guided by values, and let legacy be organic.

by Nolan Thomas