What Legacy Do You Want To Leave The World?

This past Saturday, February 2nd I had the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech at the Sigma Chi fraternity regional conference at the University of New Haven.  A lifetime ago I, too, was a Sigma Chi at the University of Connecticut.  So in a sense this was my homecoming, and they encouraged me to talk about my story as an author.  But I was eager to try and deliver a message of inspiration to these 250 impressionable and eager undergrads, something far more important than just books.  As I tried to write my speech I often stalled, stuck in reflection.  So I brought it back to the simplest common denominator; if I were sitting in the audience with them twenty years earlier, listening to my own speech, what advice would I give myself?  And conversely, if those kids are going to be up on stage twenty years from now, what wisdom will they want to offer themselves? 

That made me focus on the word legacy – that which we'll leave the world long after we’re gone.  “What will be your legacy?” I asked the students, “That you had a lot of material things?  A lot of money?  You were a “fun” guy?  Or that you helped those around you, made everyone in your life feel loved and cherished, and offered some service to humanity?"  

Everyone has a special gift that they are here to give the world, I explained.  Your job is to find out what your special gift is and then give it to the world.  That is your true path, your purpose for being on earth.  No matter how you find it, how many detours you take and how many times you stumble and fall along the way, make sure you keep searching for that special gift that only you possess.  Giving it to the world will be the greatest gift you can give yourself and the world.

I hope I reached them, gave them even one koan of wisdom that will help them navigate their own truth north a little easier.  There were some great guys in there – eager soldiers of compassion and character, ready to serve humanity as our future leaders.  I can honestly say they are far more conscious and mature than I was at their age.  The future appears a little bit brighter after yesterday’s event, for even though I was the speaker, it was their collective spirit which spoke volumes to me. 

So what advice did I give them as I flipped through my power point presentation and stood under the big lights with a microphone?  There were slides covering topics as eclectic as “The career opportunities that await them in emerging global markets,” or “Everything we do is either rooted in love or fear,” and “Don’t ever pull out a coupon on a date.”  However, as I told them, there are only two things I would absolutely need to tell my younger self if I were sitting in the audience.  "You’ll make a lot of mistakes, go through a lot of struggle and also have many wonderful, happy times," I told them, "But always remember these two things on your journey through life:"

Always believe in yourself,

and…

Laugh more.  

That’s it - everything else will work itself out.  Oh, and good luck with your speech twenty years from now.  If you’re smart you’ll start taking notes now.       

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This is a short excerpt from the full 45-minute speech, which will be available on YouTube shortly.

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