The Fallacy of Authenticity IV: The Power of an Authentic Legacy
The Key is Consistency, - Naki Narh, award-winning Ghanaian artist. https://www.kuenyehiaprize.org
Yeah, we're gonna be legends
Gonna get their attention
What we’re doing here aint just scary
It’s about to be legendary
Yeah, were gonna be legends
Gonna teach them all a lesson
Got this feeling in our souls that we carry
It’s about to be legendary
- Legendary, Welshly Arms, 2019
This piece marks the fourth and final piece in my Authenticity Series.
In a cruel twist of fate, just a couple of weeks before I wrote this, I lost my childhood mentor, friend, and confidant suddenly to long COVID.
I was absolutely devastated filled with tears and dumbfounded. I had spoken to him just a few weeks prior, and he was in good health.
As I pondered on his life, and the family he had left behind, my thoughts went to his legacy. I travelled to meet his family, and the house was packed with well-wishers, his friends, family and loved ones.
I witnessed the outpouring of emotion – it was nothing as I had ever seen.
In my book Pay The Price, I talk about the four kinds of legacy every businessman, parent, or leader will leave behind.
Legacy #1: The Purist: The Purist’s entire legacy is in his work. All he is known for is the work he did or the business he founded. Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are prime examples.
Legacy #2: The Philanthropist: The Philanthropist's entire legacy is founded in their personal good works, and all their positive memories come from the good they did for mankind. Jimmy Carter would be a prime example.
Legacy #3: The Profligate: The Profligate’s legacy is in their failure, both professionally and personally. Elizabeth Holmes, Harvey Weinstein, and Jeffrey Epstein are prime examples.
Legacy #4: The Pathfinder: The Pathfinder’s legacy is in their professional success and their personal kindness and good deeds. Strive Masiyiwa and Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha come to mind.
My friend and confidant definitely fell into the Pathfinder Legacy.
I remember when I first came to England and I had just moved into a rat-infested flat in a deprived area of London, he was there to help me out financially and emotionally.
He was present and signed the forms on my marriage day.
He read my entire first book and gave me his feedback.
When I fell into moral failure, he was there to lift me out of the despair.
When I lost my sister, he was with me in Ghana as I mourned her.
When I started my business, he was always there, and we did some work together.
I trusted him virtually with my life.
And I wasn’t the only one.
He paid the school fees of hundreds of poor Africans and even British. His homes in England and Ghana were oases of healing and shelter for countless hurting people.
He had built a successful business in Ghana designing many iconic buildings and was on the cusp of a multi-million-dollar deal with one of the country’s Universities to build and fund a major part of their infrastructure.
He started a business here in the UK and had known pain beyond description – illness, betrayal, being duped, and sickness.
COVID nearly finished him off a couple of years ago.
Whenever I heard British grime artist AJ Tracey's hit, Ladbroke Grove, it reminded me of him. That's where he lived in London, and that's where he welcomed me to stay when I was full of despair.
And he left behind a loving wife, and three healthy girls, one of which was an established author, and the other who had just graduated from Oxford.
He was a coach, mentor, entrepreneur, family man and full of faith and encouragement.
He knew everything about me, the good parts, and the not-so-good parts.
But in a moment, he was gone.
I cried and cried.
And I began to scan all the business contacts I knew, and yes, they were brilliant coaches, speakers, strategists, mentors, professionals.
But did many of them go the extra mile like my friend and mentor did?
The answer was, nearly none.
It is very hard to leave a legacy of a Pathfinder. To leave a legacy that aligns with your values.
Of course, like every single human, he was flawed.
But he was kind, he had drive, he had empathy, he was caring, an encourager and a man of faith.
He found his values.
He lived his values.
He showed his values.
He spoke his values.
And all four were in alignment.
He lived the perfect Pathfinder Legacy, and I dedicate this series to him.
I’m rooting for his family, and us.
May we all follow his example and try to live the legacy of the Pathfinder. Successful businesses AND kind human beings.
Selah,
Steven.
If you HAVE bought and read the book, please leave a review on Amazon + share it on social media. :)
Thank you!
Steven
