Do you ever think about what you will leave behind? Not just in this world, but in your workplace after you’ve moved on, in your children after they’ve grown up, or in your circle of friends long after you’ve all gone your separate ways?
In today’s fast-paced world, everything is geared towards short-term achievements. Although many employers have long-term incentive plans for their top leaders, the reality is that we are all incentivized for short-term results: business leaders are paid for the achievement of annual results and politicians are elected every 2-4 years. This naturally leads to short-term thinking, because we do what we are rewarded for doing, don’t we? But true success is only meaningful if it’s sustainable: what we achieve today, tomorrow, or even this year is irrelevant unless it endures for years and decades to come.
Consider the story of Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmental activist and the founder of the Green Belt Movement. Maathai understood the importance of planting trees she would never see fully grown. Her work wasn’t just about the immediate impact of planting trees, but about the long-term benefits for future generations. She fought deforestation by empowering communities to plant trees, promoting sustainable development, and improving their quality of life. Her legacy literally lives on through the millions of trees planted and the lives changed by her vision for a greener future.
Another example is Fred Rogers, the beloved host of the children’s television program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Rogers focused on instilling values of kindness, empathy, and understanding in children. He knew that his teachings would resonate long after the show ended. The seeds he planted in the minds of young viewers continue to grow, influencing how they interact with the world as adults.
In your professional life, you too can plant trees you’ll never see: mentoring a colleague, creating a positive workplace culture, or developing sustainable business practices are ways to leave a lasting impact. These actions may not yield immediate results, but their effects will be felt long after you’re gone.
So, ask yourself: what trees are you planting today? Are you focused solely on short-term gains, or are you considering the long-term impact of your actions? Success is about more than immediate achievements; it’s about creating something that lasts. Make the conscious effort to plant the seeds for a better future, even if you’ll never see the trees fully grown. Your legacy will be the forest you leave behind.
