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Build Your Legacy

5 min read

Tech Writer

James has the stories. You have the craft. Collaborate. His wisdom, your structure. Legacy is a team sport sometimes.

Devrel

Legacy can be a community. James mentors; you amplify. Record the conversations. Publish the lessons. Everyone benefits.

Eng Manager

Your legacy might be the people you've developed. The VPs and CTOs you've mentored. That counts. Document it.

Build Your Legacy

TL;DR

  • Legacy isn't about being famous. It's about impact that outlasts you. Writing, teaching, mentoring — things that compound.
  • One book, one course, or one mentee who becomes a leader — that's legacy. Start with one.
  • James has 35 years. What does he want to leave behind? Answer that. Then build it.

James doesn't need another paycheck. He might want something that lasts. A body of work. A generation of people he's helped. A set of lessons that outlive him. That's legacy.

Forms of Legacy

  • Writing: Book, blog series, or long-form essays. "Lessons from 35 years in tech." Permanent. Searchable. Compounds.
  • Teaching: Course, workshop, or recurring office hours. Your wisdom, structured. Others learn. You influence.
  • Mentorship: The people you develop. The CTOs who say "James changed how I think." That's legacy. Slower. Deeper.
  • Community: A group you founded or sustained. A meetup. A Slack. A place where your values live on.

Pick one. Or two. Don't try to do everything.

Start Small

You don't need to write a book tomorrow. One post per quarter. One talk per year. One mentee you commit to for 12 months. Small, consistent, compounds. Legacy is built in increments.

The "What Would I Want to Leave?" Test

Ask: "If I stopped working tomorrow, what would I want to have created?" An answer? A body of writing? A group of people who're better because of you? That's the target. Work backward. What's the next step?

Quick Check

James doesn't need another paycheck. He might want something that lasts. What COUNTS as legacy?

35 years. You've built systems. You've led orgs. You stop. What remains? Maybe some docs. Maybe some memories. Maybe nothing that compounds.

Click "Intentional" to see the difference →

Do This Next

  1. Answer the question: What do I want to leave behind? Writing? People? A community? One sentence.
  2. Pick one action for the next 90 days. One post. One talk. One mentorship commitment. Schedule it. Do it.