Yearly Archives: 2011

What Kind of Legacy Are You Leaving the World?

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Have you ever thought about the legacy you’re leaving your family, your community, your world? Most people never give it a second thought. But a legacy is something you’re creating every day, whether you realize it or not.

What exactly is a legacy? Webster’s Dictionary defines “legacy” as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” Some common examples of legacy are:

  • She left us a legacy of a million dollars.
  • He left his children a legacy of love and respect.
  • The war left a legacy of pain and suffering.
  • Her artistic legacy lives on through her children.

So what do you want your legacy to be? In my work as a life coach to Hollywood celebrities and CEOs, I help people overcome the mental blocks and get them thinking about what they wish to leave behind. Regardless of where you are in life, you can clear away the clutter and start creating your legacy.

Two Types of Legacies

Everyone has a choice between leaving a positive legacy or a negative one. Most people never consciously choose one or the other — it just happens. But the goal for you is to make a conscious decision about the legacy you’ll leave. So let’s start with what a positive legacy looks like.

Oprah Winfrey has lived most of her adult life from her Authentic Soul. She has been a pillar of kindness and has stood for truth, education, and giving back. She’s one of a kind. Millions of people tuned into her show for over 20 years. During her farewell show, Jada Pinkett Smith said, “Oprah, you never had children but you mothered millions.” Madonna said, “People always ask me who I admire. I always say, ‘living or dead?’ There are many diverse dead people I admire. Alive? Just one person–Oprah Winfrey.” Why does everyone love and respect Oprah Winfrey? Because Oprah has introduced us to many experts and experiences that have transformed our lives. For example, she…

  • Created the webinar with Eckhart Tolle through SKYPE so the world could participate and learn from the man who changed lives through his books
  • Gave us Dr. Phil who has helped many create a better life
  • Introduced us to Dr. Oz who has helped us live a healthier life and examine subjects that many were afraid to address
  • Led us to many other experts who helped us with fashion, clutter, weight, and other topics to help us live a better and happier life

Oprah has made a lasting, positive imprint on the world, helping to introduce millions of people to their Authentic Souls. Through the many lives she has changed and touched, her legacy will live on forever.

That’s a positive legacy. Now let me share the heartbreak that accompanies a “negative” legacy.

A fifty-something year old client of mine, whom I’ll call Sarah, was the antithesis of Oprah. She was from England and had a troubled childhood. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father was absent from her life. She ended up having three children out of wedlock and felt she had to somewhat abandon her children in order to make a living.

To hide her pain, Sarah couldn’t help but give unsolicited advice to everyone she came in contact with. I’m talking everyone…cashiers at grocery stores, salespeople in the mall, and strangers she’d meet at events. Yet, she couldn’t get her own life together. She hid behind criticizing others and focusing on what the world wasn’t accomplishing so she wouldn’t have to look herself in the mirror.

Every area of her life was unfulfilled. Out of need, she entered into a marriage of convenience. She had no close friends. She was a hoarder, she was depressed, and she suffered from low self-esteem. She couldn’t trust others, so her business ideas could never take off. She couldn’t stay connected to her kids because she felt ashamed of her lack of money and success. She desperately wanted to create a life she could be proud of before she died, but she didn’t know how to make that happen because of all her internal pain and her internal dialog telling her how stupid and worthless she was.

Sarah ended up passing away in her early sixties. Her legacy was an unfulfilled life, without ever being able to give herself or her children the love they needed because she was so stressed out, sad, and ashamed of her lack of money and success.

Often, when we think of legacy, we think of things–material possessions. But as both of these examples illustrate, your legacy isn’t always about things. Usually, it’s about who you are and how you touch people’s lives.

Know What Matters

To start purposefully creating your legacy, think about the following three questions. I’ve used these questions myself and have given them to my clients to think about and answer. They will rock you to your core. Answer them honestly to create a legacy that matters and endures.

1) Twenty-five years after my death, what, if anything, will those beyond my family remember me for?

2) If I had to give everything I own to a cause (not a person), what cause would that cause be?

3) If I could snap my fingers and acquire an experience or talent, it would be ___________ because ___________ .

While on the surface these questions may sound simple, when it comes time to answer them you’ll realize that each question requires much thought. In fact, most people have to think about the questions for days before really knowing the answers.

Remember, it’s not what we leave FOR others that matters; it’s what we leave IN them that matters most. Possessions and wealth do not a true legacy make. It’s about leaving behind the essence of your Authentic Soul. That’s what the world needs from you. So serve others by leaving behind the best and most beautiful parts of you. Today, and every day, create your legacy.

Images from Tanzania

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Hello, Friends,

The Tanzania trip was such a magnificent adventure – I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you. My videographer, James, who was with me every step of the way, is working on a video that I can’t wait to share with you, but meanwhile, here are a few photos that give you a taste of the amazing experiences we all had.

And if you’re not doing so already, I invite and encourage all of you to follow me on Facebook and on Twitter.

We're sponsoring these orphans so that they can have shoes and jerseys to play rugby.

In the bush with a Maasai woman

Spending time with the Maasai children

The Maasai tribe receiving our gifts of pens, paper, and cash.

With James, my videographer, and a few Maasai tribesmen

On Safari

My Bedouin tent in the Bush

Invitation to Spiritual Growth in Tanzania

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It was so wonderful to be able to share my story of my Tanzania journey with you, and I thank you for all your responses – I’m so glad that so many of you were moved by the account. Now, I have the opportunity to invite you to join me on the same trip this year, July 3rd through 10th, 2011. Please watch the video to learn more.

What George Clooney Can Teach Us About Gratitude

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Most people would love to have the bank accounts of today’s A-list celebrities. Earning millions of dollars while doing work you love sure has appeal. But before you let jealousy set in or criticize others for having money, answer this: “Why aren’t more ‘average’ people able to emulate the success of celebrities?” No, it has nothing to do with acting talent or singing ability (you can earn millions doing virtually anything). The real reason why most people aren’t earning what they want is because they don’t have the correct money mindset — the mindset that many celebrities seem to have mastered.

Contrary to what you might think, at the core of this money mindset is the concept of giving. And if you think about it, this giving concept makes perfect sense. After all, when a natural disaster hits or when an organization is in need, we often hear stories of celebrities coming forward and donating money, doing performances for charity, or giving of themselves in some way. And it’s no coincidence that the celebrities we hear doing the most are also the ones earning the most. These celebrities prove that the more you give, the more you get. You can easily follow their lead.

For example, Richard Branson is doing what he loves. As a child, he wanted to be a mogul. Today he is and he loves it. In my work as a life coach, I find that he is the exception to the rule. He decided up front to make his work fun and he committed to giving back. As he says, “With extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.” For over 40 years, Branson has been creating new business ventures and has stayed on top.

George Clooney is another example of a “mogul” who knows how to give back and have fun. He has one of the most charitable hearts in Hollywood, and, alongside his current mission to stop the human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan, Clooney has been known to give generous donations to homeless people, is a supporter of Bono’s poverty-fighting ONE Campaign, and is also on the Board of Trustees for the United Way.

So take a lesson from these celebrities, because when you understand the importance of giving back, it will literally change your financial life. But does this mean you have to give away every cent you earn to attract more money into your life? Of course not. It simply means you need to start looking at money and why you want it in new ways.

Know What You Want and Why

Can you imagine yourself a millionaire? Of course you can. There are millions of millionaires. In order to build your fortune, you must have desire. But desire alone is not good enough. You also have to know what outcome you want to have, why you are doing whatever it is you are doing, and why you want the money. Once you can answer those questions, you can get started on wealth creation.

To that end, I want to share with you a simple, five-part goal mindset, which will help you get clear on what you truly want (even financially) and why you want it. Whether your goal is to become a millionaire, open a business, or just become a better person, this is how you turn your dream into an actionable goal.

Complete each of the following sentences:

  • I want…
  • I want it because…
  • The outcome will be…
  • My action steps are…
  • My gratitude for the journey and what I’m GIVING to the world…

While these statements may seem simple, your answers will profoundly affect your results. For example, I don’t think anyone ever imagined that one day we would be spending most of our time on the computer, talking with people we’ve never met, answering emails from all over the world, and posting pictures of events and family on a web page for the world to see and comment upon — but one person did and now he’s worth billions. He had an idea and turned it into his passion. He knew what he wanted his outcome to be and why he wanted it. I don’t think even Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, knew how big a dream he was creating, but the universe did. When you have a big dream that is coming from a good place and you take action each day, the universe will conspire to help you.

But in order for the money to come, you must tame your impostors — those false sides of you that cause you to sabotage your efforts and repeat negative behavior patterns. When most people come up with their “next big idea,” their impostors start immediately building a case against them. Suddenly, your thoughts turn into a negative campaign that you are fighting against. Unfortunately, most people can’t take the negativity, and so they quit. The ones who do the internal work reap the rewards.

By curbing the negative talk diatribe by your scared Impostor, you will soon be aware of increased creativity and productivity on a daily basis. Understand, this won’t be easy. Breaking a pattern is hard. But stay on it, and your bank account will grow. It goes back to the old saying, “Change your thoughts, and you change your life.”

Right now, I want you to write down your top ten strongest negative statements your impostors are screaming in your head about money, and then I want you to write your authentic soul’s reply. For example:

When your Impostor says… Your Authentic Soul replies…
I can’t. I can.
I’m too old. I am the perfect age.
I fear that… I am fearless.
It’s too risky. If I can dream it, I can do it.
I don’t have the time. I have all the time I need.
It’s too challenging to… It’s a great opportunity to…
I’m sure someone else is doing it already. I have my unique angle.
I’m too fat. I’m a perfect weight & getting thinner each day.
I don’t have the energy to… I am filled with an abundance of energy.
I’m not smart enough. I am smart and resourceful.

You Are Worthy of Wealth

It’s hard to talk about money without mentioning Donald Trump. Mr. Trump is a good example of someone who not only has a millionaire mindset, but a billionaire mindset. He has lost and made millions of dollars in business. Defeat is not an option for him. He has set a standard for himself and he works hard to stay focused on his goals.

When you want to manifest money, it’s important to know that the money and opportunities are right in front of your face. In order to see them, you have to believe you are worthy of wealth.

Are you worthy? Answer these questions:

1. What do you think money can give you?
2. Why are you not worthy of it?
3. Now write why you ARE worthy of it.

When you adopt the money mindset many celebrities have–namely living by the concepts of giving to others, knowing what you want and why, and believing you are worthy–you can attract wealth into your life. Remember that celebrities are regular people just like you. And if they can earn millions, you can too.