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Why Your Legacy Doesn’t Matter
No one should take themselves too seriously
We all hear from self-help gurus and celebrities about how important it is to create a legacy. As far as I know, no one has come back from the dead to evaluate their legacy and pat themselves on the back for a job well done. Life is short, even if you make it to 100. There are reasons not to worry about creating a legacy and what to focus on instead.
Legacy Destroys Ambition
Legacy destroys ambition for family members who come after the creator. There is a proverbial saying, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” This means that wealth created in one generation will usually be lost by the third generation.
There is much truth to the proverb. For example, children and grandchildren of celebrities have difficulty escaping the shadow of their parents’ or grandparents’ success. They lack the initial drive or hunger that led to such achievement. I have even seen this with the children of successful physicians. The children have no clue about the sacrifice their parents made. They only see the result.
Do This Instead
Focus on being a good person. Bring as much novelty into your life as possible. Have as many experiences as possible. Travel as often as you can…
