Paying it back. Paying it forward. Helping others. Making a difference.

I hear these words every day in conversations with people who are serious about pursuing values-based leadership. It’s not just about their careers. Many of them have a sense of purpose to make the world a better place—starting with their small corner of it.

Reflecting on this common desire leads me to a conclusion about what the world truly needs now, perhaps more than at any other time in history: hope.

Hope reminds us that change is possible, that out of darkness can come light. We just need to believe and then take action to make it so—for ourselves and future generations. This perspective is especially powerful at Thanksgiving when we are naturally inclined to feel grateful.

Through self-reflection, we become more aware of the many blessings in our lives. We deepen our sense of gratitude and turn it into action for the benefit of others.

I am so thankful for each and every story I hear about people building bridges across communities and borders. Within my personal network is someone who leads an advocacy group for immigrants. At a time when immigration is cited as the biggest political issue on the national agenda, this group intentionally keeps a low profile. They don’t publicize what they do, so as not to draw unwelcome attention. Nonetheless, they bravely engage in advocacy by raising their voices for legislative changes in immigration, visiting immigrants and offering direct assistance, and praying for those at risk of deportation.

Within your own network, community, and even your neighborhood, there are people and projects that are making a difference. You don’t have to travel the world. You can start, literally, in your own backyard. The key word, though, is start.

Reflecting on Your Legacy

Often when I speak to young professionals, they tell me what they’d like to do one day—when they’re older and more established in their careers, after they’ve bought a house, after they’ve had children, after those children graduate from college, when they’re ready to retire. In other words, when they have more time and more money—that’s when they can really make a difference. At some future date on their bucket list, they will start building their legacy.

That’s not how I view legacy. It’s about the conscious choices you are making in your life right now. It may be a genuine commitment to show respect and kindness to others in your daily interactions with others. You may become a dedicated volunteer with an organization in your community. You may spend a certain number of hours every week or month supporting a cause that reflects your values, your sense of purpose, and how and where you’d like to make a positive impact. In time, your vision may even become a calling. Your focus may be local or global. Whatever it is, it’s all part of your legacy.

Here are three questions to help you reflect on where and how to start building your legacy, especially at Thanksgiving:

  • Who are you grateful for in your life? At the top of my list are family members, friends, and colleagues, as well as those who have directly and positively impacted my life. I am deeply grateful for the example and influence of William Graham, the long-time CEO and chair of Baxter, who taught me so much about leadership; the late Dean Donald Jacobs of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, who advised me throughout my career and then invited me to teach; and Frank Baird, an executive of Northwest Industries and my first boss after graduating from Kellogg. Inspired by their example, I try each day to offer students and professionals my support, encouragement, and opinions that I hope will guide them on their own paths. Ask yourself: How can I honor those who have helped me by extending a hand to others?
  • How can you express gratitude for what you have by helping others? The list of all we’re grateful for can be long—from the material to the spiritual. I can remember being in second grade in Catholic school and our teacher, who was a nun, passed out empty milk cartons to collect change to help feed children in developing countries. Deeply moved by images of children my age who suffered from malnutrition, I was on a mission to be the first one in the class to fill my milk carton with pennies, nickels, dimes, and the occasional quarter. Looking back on this early influence, it’s no surprise that one of the organizations I support is One Acre Fund, which seeks to eradicate poverty and hunger by increasing the productivity and profitability of farmers in Africa. Looking back on your life, where do you feel called to express your thankfulness?
  • Where can you make a difference? The problems of the world are so numerous and so complex, it’s easy to become discouraged or believe that we cannot make a difference. But we can all start right where we are. For inspiration, I share the story of Raul Raymundo, who is featured in my book, Your Values-Based Legacy. Raul’s father came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1968 and was joined by the rest of the family in the early 1970s. For the Raymundo family, their immigrant experience from the moment they arrived in the U.S. became a calling to help others. The influence of his parents led Raul to a life of service, including his many years serving as CEO of The Resurrection Project, which advocates for social change at the community level. As Raul told me: “It’s making things happen, not waiting for them to happen. And everything we do is based on the needs of the community.” What can you do in your community, your neighborhood to help others?

Whenever I hear about how people are working on behalf of others, I recall the Bible verse: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35–37). If we need a model of altruism, here it is, in these ancient and enduring words.

Far more than success any of us might enjoy is a sense of significance—of having done something that matters. This only comes from making a positive difference in the world and being a force for good. Every day, I strive to use the gifts God has given me to make things better for others. Personally, I believe it’s what we are all called to do—especially in today’s world, which is in such need of hope and healing.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to reflect on how you can pay it back and pay it forward. With hope on our side, we can truly make the difference we want to see in the world.

 

Header image by Megan Watson on Unsplash

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