https://youtu.be/PniriBnM0mo
Legacy may not be the number 1 driver for most business owners—but it’s close. Right after financial security, wealth creation, and personal freedom.
In this video, we explore why building a successful business is one of the most powerful, controllable, and lasting ways to make an impact that lives on long after you’re gone. You’ll hear real examples of entrepreneurs who started late and still changed the world—like Colonel Sanders, Arianna Huffington, and Ray Kroc—and discover why business can be a greater legacy-builder than sports, politics, or entertainment.
We’ll also look at how great businesses multiply impact—helping employees, customers, and entire communities—while setting you up to attract A-players and create something that stands the test of time.
If you’re ready to grow your company faster, with less risk and cost, tune in—and remember: it’s never too late to start building your legacy.
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What Will Be Your Legacy?
What will be your legacy? “Legacy” isn't the most important driver for most business owners to grow their business—but it’s damn close. Right behind financial security, wealth creation, and achieving personal freedom. I've always believed that building a successful business is the most straightforward way to create a legacy that lives on well after you’re gone. Sure, you can do it in other ways through athletic achievement, becoming a rock or movie star, writing bestselling books, or achieving top political office. But creating a business often requires fewer sacrifices of youth, health, and integrity. It's also far more controllable.
Making it big as an athlete is usually decided in childhood. It's mostly a function of parenting an environment. Becoming a rock star or a movie star also hinges on youth, inborn talent, or early desire. Again, largely environment-driven. Becoming a famous author is exceedingly rare and often takes writing dozens of books before one gets recognized, let alone achieves name recognition.
Political careers are mostly self-created, but it can be a long road to breaking free of party whips and agendas—if that ever happens. Turning politics into a lasting positive legacy is even rarer. No more than a handful of examples emerged each century, if that. Now compare all of these to building a business legacy.
Business success is rarely threatened by injuries, addictions, or character assassinations. You can start at nearly any age. Martha Stewart was a model, caterer, and author before launching her media company in her fifties. Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman, saw potential in the McDonald's burger stand and launched a franchise model at age 52.
John Pemberton, a Civil War veteran and pharmacist, created the original formula for Coca-Cola at the age of 55 while seeking an alternative to morphine. Arianna Huffington, after a successful career as an author and commentator at age 55, launched The Huffington Post in 2005, which became a leading digital news platform.
Colonel Harland Sanders, after a series of jobs and running a gas station restaurant, began franchising his fried chicken recipe at age 65, using his first Social Security check to fund the idea. And you can build quietly sneaking up on competitors until it's too late for them to catch up. The best part? A great business is an impact multiplier.
You can help your employees, their families, and all the customers who benefit from your superior products and services. If you own a viable business, you have a massive opportunity to grow it and make it highly profitable so you can attract and retain A-players and build a lasting pyramid for yourself.
The heroes of our age are business entrepreneurs who change the world around us. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Next, and CEO of Pixar. Revolutionized personal computing, digital animation, digital music, and cracked the code on tablet computing and smartphones. Sam Mond, CEO of OpenAI is shaping the future of AI safety and access, aiming to democratize tools that augment productivity and intelligence for all.
Manny Perkins, founder of Combo Made Design, simple and Inclusive, empowering millions of small businesses, nonprofits. And educators who communicate professionally, often for free. Voki founder of 23 and Me, disrupted traditional healthcare by giving people access to their DNA data leading to personalized health insights and preventative care.
Voyance Sled creator of the Ocean Cleanup is a young entrepreneur that can follow the world's most visible environmental crisis, removing plastic from oceans and rivers with scalable technology. So what are you doing to create a lasting impact? Are you pulling on all levers, including hiring a leadership team coach who can help you get there faster, with less risk and less cost?
Well, check out our guide page on Summit OS for ideas. Remember Colonel Sanders — it's not too late for you to build a legacy that lasts. Keep growing.
