Legacy – It’s not what I thought it was, Part-1

For years, I’ve been thinking of my legacy. I’ve thought about it as—

• Breadcrumbs or seeds that I’m leaving behind.

• Mostly my IP—writing, videos, books, blogs, podcasts, etc.

• It’s an accumulation of my learning and, dare I say it, accumulated wisdom.

• In a word, it’s artifacts.

But I read this post the other day, and the reflection changed my view.

First, I LOVE the show Shrinking on Apple TV. Simply love it. The casting is a masterstroke of composition.

Here’s the entire post from Margit Novack—

As a former business owner and founder, this scene from Shrinking hit home. Paul wants to bequeath his Cognitive Behavior Therapy practice to Gaby so she can continue his legacy, but Gaby’s dream is to open a Trauma Center. In time, Paul realizes that his legacy is not the continuation of his practice, but the people he has impacted during his career. A good lesson for all of us leaving long-term careers.

And here’s a comment from Janine Vanderburg—

A former client and mentor of mine talked about this when I was considering stepping away from the consulting firm I’d started and run for over 3 decades. She reminded me that my legacy was not only in the people we had impacted, but also in the organizations that we had helped to start and grow, allowing them to have an impact on our communities. Such important insight. Still miss you every day, Lucille.

My subsequent reflection made me agree with Paul’s revelation. My legacy is, first and foremost, the people I’ve impacted in my career—everyone that I’ve helped, touched, or influenced in some way.

Sure, the publications and organizational coaching results matter, but it all boils down to me reaching other humans, one-on-one, and the impact I have had on their lives.

That’s my legacy.

I’ll never know how much of one I’m leaving behind, but that I’m leaving one behind, I’m sure of.

Stay agile, my friends,

Bob.

Here are some of my previous writings on legacy. I thought you might find them a useful backstory to this one…

2019 – https://www.agile-moose.com/blog/2019/4/7/what-is-your-legacy

2023 – https://www.agile-moose.com/blog/2023/11/18/what-would-i-tell-my-younger-self

2025 –

• https://bobgalen.substack.com/p/passing-the-torch

• https://bobgalen.substack.com/p/more-then-meaning-then-lifting-up

• https://bobgalen.substack.com/p/never-stop-growing-your-soul

Bob.

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