When you leave the arena will your story be dazzling and spectacular like the general who became a slave? Will you be as brave as the slave who became a gladiator and as gallant as the gladiator who defied an emperor.
Can life imitate art like in the movies? What kind of legacy will you leave behind? It takes a lot to become a general and it does not happen overnight. You must survive a lot of battles. It takes a lot to become a captain of industry. You must out maneuver all your foes. America is still the place where you can start off with nothing and become something that people will talk about long after you are gone.
During the American Industrial Revolution there were people like Henry Ford who set the stage for the magical city called Motor City. People gathered, and flocked from around the nation during those boom times. He didn’t invent the first car but he became the king of mass production.
Beside the sound of metal being made into cars was the sound of music from the urban side of town, it was called Motown. I worked on the assembly line during the boom times and I visited where they made the hits in a little building called Hitsville USA. The first time I saw this two story house I couldn’t believe I was at the right place.
I was looking for a high rise office building and the name Motown on the top of the building. The little sign Motown, was not in the window and I thought I was lost.
This was in the early 1960’s and I had heard all the hits, and seen all the acts in person at the “Motown Review” at the Fox theater. Detroit Michigan was the home of Motown and I lived on the East side of town. I had rode for blocks and blocks on my bike, by myself, to discover the magical place where Motown was creating hits and I found this little two story house.
I laugh at myself for being so foolish, but now, that I think about it, maybe it was an indication of things to come. The “spirit of adventure” took me to Disney World in FL, Disney Land in CA, and the castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria Germany . The idea for the magic kingdom came from Germany. My time in the military just expanded my world view.
When it’s all said and done, what will they say about you? What will be your legacy? I was working my grind in the Matrix for a mighty long time. I saw daylight from time to time but didn’t disconnect. I was always searching for the right opportunity.
We really don’t have much time here on the planet. We need to do, what we need to do, to leave a mark. It’s really not about how much money you made, but how many people you touched.
Today we live in a world in which your influence can be felt globally. Today’s heroes are people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and a host of others you may not heard of yet. They have prospered from technology in the information age. Plus they are leaving something behind.
If you can learn to operate in this sphere you can build a legacy with world wide influence. I have been to seven different countries on three separate continents while serving in two branches of the military. It takes time to rise through the ranks and I know it takes time to become a military general or a captain of industry.
I write, I blog, not to brag but to encourage you do more by getting started on your story now. If all you have is your job and you work everyday I salute you. If you are doing what you need to do to support your family, I salute you.
I was raised by a mother on welfare then sent to live with my father, who was a WW II veteran. First nine years with mom the the next nine with dad. Then Sam took over; Uncle Sam. Who will know what you did while you were here, beside your family. We all have a story to tell. What is yours?
What is your purpose, why are you here? We humans were created to do something with the seasons, the soil and the seed, the sunshine and the rain. If you get a chance go to the “Success Store”, read about Jim Rohn and the Seasons of Life. And listen to “Challenge to Succeed” because it is a challenge and we must move in the right direction every day.
Skilled young athletics go from high school to the pros and make millions of dollars. What do they do with their money beside spent it all on bling? Talented young people come up with the beats and a song to sing or rap but what is the message for the next generation? Legacy is more than how much you got, but what you left.
We have become a consumer nation where it’s not “what we produce” but “what we buy” that people think is all important. I think young folks should attend college if they get a chance. But gain some kind of work experience beyond high school to mature and grow before you go. We could all use a little coaching.
Mind set is important no matter what you do. Community also plays a major part in your personal development. If you have a chance to join a community that is doing something positive attend their next event. This has been straight talk, no chaser.
H.G.M.
Hackett Global Marketing 