What Will Be Left When You’re Gone?

There is something about gravestones that makes you stop and think. Maybe it’s the dates – the date of birth and the date of death and the small line that joins the two. The line or ‘dash’ is easy to forget but this small dash defines your entire life.    Yes, that dash holds everything: joys, sorrows, heartbreaks, mistakes, and victories.

And it makes you think about what we’re doing with our dash.

Are we just getting through the days, crossing things off our to-do lists, and watching the years go by?  Are we creating something bigger than us, though?  Something that will call our name long after we’re gone?

In his important book, A Legacy Driven Life: Live a Legacy to Leave a Legacy, Dr. Adil F. Dalal asks us to think about this question.  This isn’t a lecture.  It’s more like a very private talk with someone who’s been through a lot of boardrooms, shopfloors, hospital rooms, and quiet times of reflection and has come back to tell you, “You don’t have to be a billionaire or a president to leave a legacy.”  Today, you need to start focusing on purpose.

Who is Dr. Adil F. Dalal?

Let’s talk about the man behind the pages before we get into the book.  Dr. Adil F. Dalal is not your typical life coach or leadership expert.  He’s an award-winning executive thought leader, AI strategist, and Forbes Executive Coach who has had an impact on industries around the world that are very important.

He has coached leaders of Fortune 500 companies, changed the way things work in more than 25 industries, and won many awards along the way, such as the ASQ Philip Crosby Medal and the Shingo Research Award.  But what sets Dr. Dalal apart from others is that he does what he says he will do.  He doesn’t work to climb the ladder; he works to lift others.  It’s about making bridges that last.

You feel that in A Legacy Driven Life.  This isn’t just a job for him; it’s a personal calling.  It’s for everyone.  And it’s essential.

From Purpose to Permanence: The Core Shift

“Purpose” is a word we use a lot.  Look for your purpose.  Have a reason to live.  Have a goal in mind.  But what does that mean?

Dr. Dalal tells us that purpose is how you live your life every day.  What you leave behind when you die is your legacy.  Purpose is focused on this lifetime, while a legacy is for beyond this lifetime..

In the book, he talks about this beautiful idea: making your dash last forever – converting that dash to infinity. Take a moment to think about that.  Taking this short amount of time we have and making it have effects that last long after we’re gone.  Making our values, our kindness, and our contributions affect the lives of people we may never meet.

And that’s where the significant change starts: going from trying to get quick wins to planting seeds that grow into forests.  Dr. Dalal says that legacy isn’t about leaving behind a lot of money.  It’s about leaving behind a powerful mindset, a transformational story for others to learn from and emulate.

From Vision to Action: The Science and Strategy Behind Legacy

You might be thinking, “This sounds great, but how do I do it?”  That’s when the book gets interesting.  It doesn’t just inspire; it gives you a blueprint and the tools required to craft your legacy.

Dr. Dalal breaks down the process of building a legacy into a system called V.I.S.I.O.N.  It’s not just a clever acronym; it’s a real, science-based plan:

  • Visulaize: See the legacy you want in full color.
  • Identify: List the things you love to do and are good at.
  • Strategize: Make a plan that links your life to that vision.
  • Implement: Do things on purpose and consistently.
  • Optimize: Learn, change, and grow.
  • Nurture: Help others grow and make a difference by mentoring and giving back.

Dr. Dalal’s connection of this framework to fundamental neuroscience is impressive.  He talks about how different parts of the brain, such as the Prefrontal Cortex and the Reticular Activating System, light up when we picture our goals.  This isn’t nonsense -. its brain science.  It’s a behavior change.  And it’s very easy to accomplish.

This model gives teachers, leaders, coaches, and even students a set of tools they can use repeatedly.  It’s a legacy in action.

Real Lives, Real Legacies

The way it tells real stories is one of the things that makes A Legacy Driven Life feel so real.  You come across names you know, like Oprah Winfrey, Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Emma Watson, and Malala Yousafzai, and all of a sudden, the idea of legacy doesn’t seem so far away.

These aren’t heroes from far away who are on pedestals.  They are living (or were living) examples of how service, bravery, creativity, and compassion can endure.  Every chapter talks about a different type of legacy archetype.  Some are loud and all over the world.  Some are quiet but just as strong.

You start to notice patterns.  It’s not about being perfect.  It’s all about not giving up.  It’s not about being famous.  It’s all about focus.  These stories show us that legacy isn’t just for a select few.  We can all do it.  It’s already happening, even if we don’t know it.

The Workbook Within the Book

This book doesn’t just talk at you, which I liked.  It speaks to you.

At the end of each chapter, some questions gently push you to think about yourself.  Things like:

  • What will you leave behind?
  • Who do you look up to and why?
  • What are three small things you can do this week to carry on your legacy?

A Legacy Driven Life goes from being a book to being a mirror in an instant.  You begin to write things down.  You stop in the middle of a paragraph to think.  When you finish the chapter, you feel a little clearer-headed and a little more excited.

This book is an excellent journal for anyone going through a significant change in their life, like changing jobs, losing someone, becoming a leader, or just wondering “what’s next?”

Legacy in an Age of Uncertainty

Let’s be honest.  Right now, the world seems heavy.  With the climate crisis, unstable economy, mental health issues, and constant digital noise, it’s easy to feel like you can’t handle it all.

But maybe that’s precisely why this book is so important.  Dr. Dalal says that the need for legacy is strongest when things are out of control.  When everything seems unstable, legacy gives us something to hold on to.  It keeps us grounded in what matters.  It makes us look ahead.

That makes me feel powerful.  A Legacy Driven Life reminds us to think about the long term in a culture that values quick rewards and viral fame.  To a more profound meaning.  To the kind of effect that lasts even after a trending hashtag goes away.

Start Today. Start Small. Start for Good

This is the one thing that sticks with me after reading this book:

Every little thing you do brings you closer to leaving your mark on the world.

You don’t need to do something big.  You only need to get started.  It could be writing a letter to someone who changed your life.  Maybe it’s giving back once a week.  It could be helping a young person who reminds you of yourself when you were younger.

You already have everything you need to start, no matter what it is.

So, here’s your invitation: get A Legacy Driven Life.  Take your time reading it.  Take your time with it.  Give it to someone ready to go from surviving to shaping.  And while you’re at it, why not write your own Legacy Vision Statement?  Not because the world needs more noise, but because it requires more meaning.

This book is, above all, what Dr. Dalal is giving us: a way to find meaning again.

Last thought

Legacy isn’t something that will happen in the future.  It’s a choice you make now.

If you’ve ever wondered what your life will mean or if you want more than just another to-do list, this book might be the most important one you read this year.

Get going today.  Begin with small things.  Start now.

Written in partnership with Tom White