Have you ever wondered what separates legends from ordinary people? Is it their talent, their work ethic, their background, or maybe is it their faith? I’ve asked myself this question multiple times simply because I want my impact on this earth to exceed my lifetime. I’ve learned that legends truly understand their life’s purpose and are intentional with how they go about pursuing it.
So how do you become a legend? How do you make sure that your legacy isn’t forgotten? First, let me take a few steps back and tell you a little bit about myself and what I do. Then, we’ll talk about how you can position yourself to become a legend.
Quick bio: I’m 25. From Chicago. I currently work as a digital Technology Consultant in Corporate America. I do this all while running a health & wellness business with It Works (www.CandyGirlFitness.com) and launching my most recent venture, www.EpicFabGirl.com. Epic Fab Girl is all about connecting and empowering dynamic women so that they can fulfill their life’s purpose. We are on the rise to shed light on stories of phenomenal women that are making lasting impacts in society, locally and globally. We also expose transparent journals of women to help other women identify and strategically pursue their purpose.
Over the years, I’ve learned to wear many hats, but the key to success for me has been making sure I’m productive and intentional with my time. There’s a big difference between productivity and busyness, and I believe mastering productivity in all areas of your life will help you to continuously grow and be on track for success.
Here are some tips that you can use to effectively position yourself to fulfill your life’s purpose and to one day become a legend. It all starts with you.
1. Learn to Stay Grounded – Your thought-life is extremely important when it comes to your success. You have to make sure that you don’t lose focus so that you can be effective in all you do. I am able to stay grounded by being steadfast in my faith in God, reading my Bible daily, and reading books that help me keep focus.
Your life exemplifies your thoughts, and you have to control what you’re allowing into your thought-life because it will affect your lifestyle, whether positively or negatively. Keeping my relationship with Jesus Christ intact has helped me to stay focused, given me strength and helped me not lose sight of where I’m headed.
2. Write the Vision & Make it Plain – If you don’t know where you are headed, how will you end up where you need to be? This is why it’s imperative that you write down your vision for your life. You have to be extremely clear about what you want in your life. One of the things I do is create a vision board for each year and for the next five years. It makes my goals seem that much more attainable and serves as a reminder to keep grinding until I get to where I need to be.
3. Develop a Strong Personal Community – Every legend has a community of people that help position them to win. You have to understand that your life should be staffed with different people that have very specific purposes. Some friends are there to push and inspire you, while others are there simply to help you let your hair down and be you. Mentors are essential regardless of where you’re headed, and there are several other relationships that will keep you progressing in life. You have to know the role that each person plays in your life and be intentional about each relationship.
4. Say “No” to all the Right Things – Legends can’t do everything. You have to make sure that you say no things that don’t add value to your life. Not every opportunity you’re presented with is in alignment with your life’s purpose, so you have to act as such. Busy people are always doing things. Productive people are doing all the right things because they choose to say No to all the things that don’t fit into their life’s vision.
5. Don’t forget to take time for yourself. – You have to take time for yourself. No matter how busy you get, you will always need to recharge. One way to do that is to take time daily, weekly, or even monthly for self-reflection. This could mean turning off your phone for the day, or disconnecting from the world for a few hours just to make sure you have time to reset. This is essential so that you don’t experience burnout. You can’t run a race you’re too tired to complete.
6. Stay Plugged into Things that Keep You Inspired – Every person has things they are passionate about, but sometimes life can become so overwhelming that you lose passion. One of the ways you can stay inspired is to make sure you’re plugged into things and people that inspire you. I personally have several networks of people via church, GroupMe, professional networks, and blogs that I follow that keep me inspired. These things keep you reminded about where you’re headed and help fuel you on your path to success.
Understand your purpose. Be intentional about pursuing it. Connect yourself with all the right people. Get outside your comfort zone. Never quit. To become a legend, you have to be strategic. Get your strategy together and make all the right moves. It’ll cost you sacrifice, and you may lose a few friends, but you won’t regret the fact that your name and your impact will never be forgotten.