Have you ever thought about the legacy you are creating? Whether you like it or not, your children, and maybe even their children, will be subject to the decisions you are making today. Maura and I don’t have children, but we were children not too long ago. So, I’m speaking out of my experience as a son.

It’s yours to build
Last weekend as my brother and I walked around my Grandparents’ farm, I thought about our family’s legacy. My grandfather came from an abusive home, and my grandmother was raised in the hills of West Virginia (not exactly the birthplace of wealth.) However, by the end of their lives they had acquired 260 acres of land, a wonderful family, and a comfortable life. Where you start in life isn’t the determining factor of where you will end up.

Make the decision today
My grandparents did not stumble into the lives I watched them lead. They made a choice. They made a choice when they were married to stick it out no matter what. They chose to work hard, and work together to get out of debt and retire with dignity. They chose to teach my Mom how to work and how to be successful in life. All of these benefits in life have to be choices on our part that are carried out intentionally.

Stick with it
My Grandparents were huge advocates of hard work. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” If you want to leave a legacy for your children and even your grandchildren, there will be times when it feels like work. But, take heart! If you stick with it the benefits will far surpass the temporary sacrifices you are making today. Literally, you will change your family tree and impact generations.

I often use financial illustrations when talking about intentionality, but only because it is a concrete and measurable aspect of our lives. There are so many other factors that will impact our future and that of our families. Zig Ziglar used an illustration known as “The Wheel of Life” which does an amazing job of helping us understand what all these factors are. More on that to come! So, my question to you is: Have you ever considered what your children and grandchildren will say about you when you’re gone? How will they describe you to their children? What are some specific things you would like to do for your family to set up their future? Please leave a comment below!