Leaving a Lasting Legacy: Authentic Leadership for a Better Future

In today’s political, corporate, and personal spheres, the phrase “leave a legacy” is gaining traction. More people are asking: what will I be remembered for?

Legacy means the impact you leave for future generations—your enduring contribution to society.

James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of A Leader's Legacy (Jossey‑Bass), explain: “By asking ourselves how we want to be remembered, we plant the seeds for living our lives as if we matter. By living each day as if we matter, we offer up our own unique legacy. By offering up our own unique legacy, we make the world we inhabit a better place than we found it.”

There are two distinct approaches to legacy: the self‑centered pursuit that harms others, and the self‑less commitment that uplifts the organization and community.

The Wrong Way

When leaders prioritize personal acclaim over the organization’s well‑being, their legacy is tainted. I have witnessed this in several boardrooms where initiatives are launched solely to ensure they finish under a leader’s tenure, rather than to advance the company’s long‑term mission.

The Enron scandal exemplifies this pitfall. Executives built a sprawling energy empire on fraudulent accounting, prioritizing personal gain over shareholders, employees, and the public. Enron’s collapse in 2001 left thousands unemployed, eroded investor confidence, and reshaped corporate governance worldwide.

The Right Way

A meaningful legacy emerges from daily, principled decisions that serve the greater good. Leaders who act with integrity, empower others, and invest in collective success are remembered for the positive change they foster.

Benjamin Franklin offers a timeless model. His inventions—lightning rods, bifocals, the Franklin stove—and civic initiatives, such as America’s first volunteer fire company and public library, demonstrate a lifetime of service that continues to benefit society.

The Challenge

As a leader—whether in business, community, or personal life—your mandate is to create value for others. By mentoring, collaborating, and prioritizing the organization’s mission, you lay the groundwork for a legacy that endures beyond your tenure.

Tim Goshert is the worldwide reliability and maintenance manager for Cargill, one of the world’s largest food and agricultural processing companies (over 1,000 facilities worldwide). He is responsible for the company’s global reliability and maintenance initiatives and serves as chairman of the Worldwide Reliability and Maintenance Steering Committee. Tim is an active member of the Society of Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and serves on its board of directors. Contact him at tgoshert@hotmail.com or Timothy_Goshert@cargill.com.