Whether in my classes at Kellogg or when speaking to companies, organizations, and schools around the world, I’m often asked to explain one of my core principles: self-reflection. As I tell people, this principle is foundational to being a values-based leader because if we don’t know ourselves, we cannot possibly lead ourselves; and if we cannot lead ourselves, how can we lead others?
Now, I’ll take it even a step further. Self-reflection is also the foundation of building a values-based legacy.
A legacy is not a goal or aspiration to be put off for “one day”—after you’ve advanced in your career, after you’ve bought a house or had children, when you have more money, when you retire… A values-based legacy speaks to how you live your life—right here, right now. You strive to make a difference, whether that means supporting a cause or volunteering in your community. Small actions can make a big difference. (You can read more in my new book, Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life.)
This brings us back to self-reflection. By taking the time to block out the noise and distractions, we can focus on our own thoughts and feelings. We recall when and where we’ve given our time and talent in the past—perhaps volunteering at a soup kitchen or collecting for a food pantry. Maybe we mentored others, pitched in for a community project, or rolled up our sleeves to help clean up a neighborhood park. As we look back, how do those experiences inform and inspire us as we explore what we might do today? The more we self-reflect, the more we will connect the dots between our family influences, our own past experiences, and how and where we can build a legacy.
But, Harry, who has time for all that?
It’s a question I hear all the time. Some people believe that self-reflection involves a huge amount of time and work. To them I say, it only takes 15 minutes a day.
I am not a morning person, so I do my reflection around midnight. I ask myself: What did I say I was going to do today? What did I do? What am I proud of? What am I not proud of? How did I lead people? How did I follow people? If I lived today over again, what would I have done differently? The last one is, if I have tomorrow—knowing full well that, sooner or later, I won’t have tomorrow—based on what I know today, how will I operate differently tomorrow?”
This is all food for thought for the legacy you’re living and building today.
Your Values-Based Legacy
The more time I spend in self-reflection, the more I see just how fortunate and blessed I’ve been in my life. At the heart of even of those blessings are other people—family, friends, students, colleagues, and those who crossed my path each day.
When I was CEO and chairman of Baxter International, I took the time to get to know everybody, from people in the mailroom to cafeteria workers. That enabled me to figure out who the good people are so that, as a leader, I could create an environment where the very best people wanted to work with me and for me.
That’s the essence of building a legacy. You want to do good in the world, especially in your own corner of it. Where there is a need, you find a way to extend a helping hand. No one can do everything, but we can all do something. Self-reflection can help each of us find that place to start. In that spirit, we ask ourselves:
- What talents do I have that I can share with others?
- What life experiences have prepared me to give of myself in a unique or meaningful way?
- Whom do I know among my connections or within my community who is currently involved in a cause or philanthropic project that speaks to me?
- How and where can I raise my hand and make the choice to become more involved by giving of my time and talent?
If we want to build a legacy, 15 minutes a day is a small investment that pays big dividends in personal growth and satisfaction.
