Leaving a Legacy: How to Be Remembered for Generations
- Steven Heumann
- Mar 21
- 9 min read
By Heidi Westfall and Steven Heumann
"The greatest purpose of life is to live it for something that will last longer than you."
William James said that.
It’s a quote that inspires many of us every day as we seek to make positive impacts that will reach well into the future.
Seeking ‘legacy’ is a natural human urge. We instinctively know we’re not making it out of here alive, but we long to have our footsteps remembered, nonetheless. Some leaders have built statues or monuments, others have written tomes that continue to inspire hundreds of years after their deaths.
Legacy isn’t just about wealth or material possessions; it’s about the impact you have on the world and the stories you leave behind. Whether through your actions, values, or the lives you touch, creating a lasting legacy means ensuring your influence continues long after you’re gone.
But how do we do it? How de we leave behind a legacy that lasts?
We have a few ideas we’d like to share that in our experience, truly set you on the path of true legacy and remembrance.
1. Live with Purpose and Integrity
One of the most powerful ways to leave a legacy is to live with intention. Align your actions with your values and lead by example. The way you treat others, the principles you uphold, and the choices you make all contribute to how you’ll be remembered. A legacy of kindness, honesty, and perseverance is more valuable than any material wealth.
Invest in relationships. The people whose lives you touch will remember you more than any achievement. Build strong, meaningful connections with family, friends, and colleagues. Be a mentor, a source of support, and someone who lifts others up. A legacy rooted in love and encouragement has immeasurable value.
When you look back at the people who impacted your life for the better, rarely will they have been brutish authoritarians who tried to force their ideals on you. No, we’re willing to bet they were kind individuals who inspired not by fear or force, but by compassion and love. Even when they were tough with you and held you to high standards, you still knew they were advocates for you at every turn.
Think of mentors you’ve had, grandparents, coaches. These are the people who helped you become who you are today.
You are their legacy.
Imagine future generations who can say the same thing about you.
That’s a legacy worthy of commemoration.
2. Share Your Knowledge and Experiences
Passing down wisdom is one of the oldest forms of legacy-building. Whether through mentoring, teaching, or simply sharing stories, your experiences can inspire and guide future generations.
The knowledge you've accumulated throughout your life is invaluable—both life lessons and financial insights. Consider the wisdom you've gained about relationships, the career decisions that shaped your path, and yes, the money lessons you've learned along the way. These diverse experiences are treasures that can benefit others. When you share your expertise about navigating life's challenges, building meaningful relationships, and managing resources wisely, you're giving others a piece of yourself that will stay with them forever.
Teaching doesn't have to be formal. You might volunteer at a local school to share your professional journey, become a mentor to young people in your community, or simply take the time to teach your grandchildren both how to bake cookies and understand the value of saving. Each lesson, whether about life skills or financial concepts, creates ripples that extend far beyond your lifetime.
Document your knowledge across different domains. Perhaps you've developed unique approaches to balancing work and family, discovered better ways of resolving conflicts, or gained insights about building security for the future. Consider writing articles, creating videos, or speaking at community events to share what you've learned through your life's journey.
Remember that the stories of your struggles and failures—in relationships, career choices, and yes, financial decisions—can be just as impactful as your successes. Sharing how you overcame challenges provides others with a roadmap for resilience and perseverance. Your vulnerability in sharing these moments creates authentic connections and demonstrates that growth often comes from our most difficult experiences.
3. Leave Behind Your Story for Future Generations
Your personal story is one of the most unique and valuable gifts you can leave behind. Documenting your journey, challenges, and triumphs helps future generations understand where they come from and learn from your experiences.
Even 30 years ago, publishing a legacy book or business manuscript was difficult. Today though, with ghostwriters and independent publishers, you can get your book out quickly and easily, with all the professionalism of Random House or Penguin. Imagine passing out your book that focuses on what you learned during your struggles and trials in business, or how you balanced financial success with family.
Books like that have a huge impact.
Writing a book (or paying someone to help you write it) is only one way to tell your story though. Here are a few others that allow you to share who you are and inspire others to follow your lead:
Write a journal or autobiography – Capture your thoughts, dreams, and reflections over the years. If you’ve already been writing in a journal, those pages are windows into your hidden self. Sharing them can be scary. At the same time, journals uplift the people around you as they see past the walls we erect around ourselves and reveal the true person underneath.
Record videos or audio messages – A more personal way to connect with future generations is to simply sit in front of a camera and talk about your life. You can pay a professional to interview you and edit something beautiful together or simply turn on your phone and start talking. This is an easy way to share your memoirs.
Create a family tree with stories – Preserve family history with detailed narratives and links to the past. Most of us don’t pay enough attention to our ancestry, let alone the individual stories of our grandparents and beyond. By creating a family tree that lists preceding generations, along with snippets about what we know or have recorded about these ancestors, we can begin to appreciate their lives more fully.
Pass down traditions – Family customs, recipes, and rituals help keep your spirit alive. Do you have beloved Christmas or vacation traditions? Document them and share your personal experiences. The joys they have given you are likely shared by your family, and those experiences can continue for decades to come.
4. Make a Difference in Your Community
Acts of service and generosity shape the world you leave behind. Get involved in community projects, donate to causes you believe in, and use your unique skills to address local needs. The impact of community service extends far beyond the immediate benefit—it creates a culture of giving that inspires others to follow suit.
Start by identifying issues in your community that spark your passion. Is there a need for mentorship programs for at-risk youth? Could your neighborhood benefit from a community garden? Are there seniors who need companionship or assistance? When you address these needs using both your heart and your skills, you're strengthening the fabric of your community for generations to come.
Consider establishing a scholarship fund or community initiative that reflects your values. Even a modest contribution can make a significant difference in someone's life, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. Your investment—whether financial or of time and expertise—can transform lives and create opportunities that ripple outward for decades.
Strategic volunteering allows you to make the most impact. Match your unique talents with community needs—if you're good with numbers, perhaps offer financial literacy workshops alongside general mentoring. If you're a skilled crafts person, teach both practical skills and responsible resource management. The connections you make through service create a network of relationships that can sustain your memory long after you're gone.
Corporate and professional leadership is another avenue for community legacy-building. If you own a business or hold a position of influence, establish practices that benefit your community while also being financially sustainable. Create a culture that values both giving back and responsible stewardship, and you'll inspire others to carry these values forward.
Even the smallest acts of kindness matter too. The neighbor whose garden you helped plant, the colleague whose career you mentored, the local school where you taught a special workshop—these seemingly minor gestures often have the most profound impacts on others' lives and contribute significantly to your lasting legacy.
5. Create Something That Lasts
Whether it’s art, music, literature, a business, or a foundation, creating something with enduring value ensures that a part of you remains in the world. Your work can continue to inspire and make an impact long after you’re gone.
Look to your talents and hobbies and find things of great personal worth that you can create. Many of us have items in our homes that were built or crafted by parents, grandparents, even great grandparents. These works of art or functional pieces of furniture link us to the past. You can have that same impact on your own posterity by creating something physical. It might be a painting, or a desk, or model of a ship, or a song. Whatever it is, that item will have value to your posterity.
Foundations are another great way to leave a legacy of giving. What causes are close to your heart? How would you like to help people after you’re gone? Ask yourself these questions and start talking to the right people now. Foundations serve communities in everything from grants for public works, scholarships, food banks, and museums. They can be set up to renew and last for many decades.
Your impact won’t end with the date on your tombstone. Start thinking now and plan for what you want to leave behind.
6. Plan for the Future
A thoughtful legacy plan encompasses both your values and your resources. While a well-structured Estate Plan can help ensure your material assets are distributed according to your wishes, the most meaningful legacy planning addresses how you want your life's purpose and principles to continue influencing the world.
Legacy planning goes beyond just distributing assets—it's about continuing your impact. Work with advisors who understand both your financial situation and your personal values. This might include setting up structures that support causes you care about or establishing ways for your life's work to continue. Consider both the tangible resources you've accumulated and the intangible values you want to perpetuate.
Create a legacy letter or ethical will to accompany your legal documents. Unlike a traditional will that distributes material possessions, this deeply personal document shares your values, hopes, and life lessons. Include your perspectives on what truly matters—relationships, personal growth, contribution to others—alongside any financial wisdom you've gained. This powerful document can provide guidance and comfort to loved ones for generations.
Be intentional about meaningful possessions and family treasures. Don't just leave items behind—leave the stories that go with them. Create an inventory of special pieces and document both their practical value and their emotional significance. That handcrafted table becomes more than furniture when the recipient knows you built it during a pivotal time in your life.
Prepare thoughtfully for your end-of-life arrangements. Consider how your memorial might reflect the values you've lived by. Some people choose to establish memorial funds that continue their work in areas they cared deeply about, ensuring their passion for education, the environment, or community development lives on through dedicated resources.
Digital legacy planning is increasingly important in our connected world. Consider what will happen to your online presence, digital photos, important documents, and electronic financial records. Designate someone to manage these aspects of your legacy and provide them with necessary information and instructions.
The most important aspect of legacy planning is open communication. Have meaningful discussions with loved ones about both your practical wishes and your deeper values. These conversations, though sometimes difficult, ensure that both your material resources and your most cherished principles will be understood and honored by those who matter most.
Final Thoughts
Leaving a legacy isn’t about being famous or having your name etched in history books—it’s about making a difference in the lives of those who come after you. By living purposefully, sharing your story, and investing in relationships and community, you can leave behind something truly meaningful.
What kind of legacy do you want to build?
If you need help answering that question, feel free to reach out to us and gain some insights. If you’re interested in telling your story in published books or documentary video, Steven can point you in the right direction. For legacy planning and everything that entails, Heidi is the master. With a bit of guidance, you will be able to discover exactly what type of legacy you want, and how to achieve it.
We all want to leave something behind.
There’s no reason we can’t, so long as we start thinking and acting now.
And who knows? Your name may be spoken of a century after you’re gone in whispers of gratitude and reverence.
Now that’s a legacy!
Feel free to get more info here:
SPECIAL GUEST CO-AUTHOR: Heidi Westfall
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