Are you thinking about your legacy?

At your funeral, people shouldn’t have to guess the kind of life you lead or the legacy you left behind; what you stood for should be evident by your actions. – John Maxwell Recently, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a beautiful day with just an ever-so-slight hint of autumn.

The sun was shining bright, and there was a cool breeze. The tour was intriguing on many levels. It walks people through the various stages of Graham’s life, from his humble beginnings to the massive crusades around the world, and it is both historical and inspirational.



Doug Dickerson One of the pictures that captured my attention was one that you might not expect. Sure, there were pictures of the massive crowds at the Crusades, with presidents and his family. But the one that jumped out to me oddly enough was of the Charlotte Coliseum billboard advertising an upcoming crusade.

Below the crusade dates were the next attractions: wrestling, Elvis Presley and ice hockey. In the grand scheme of things, I suppose it would take Elvis, wrestling and ice hockey to come close to the impact of Billy Graham. What thoughts come to mind when it comes to your impact and leaving your legacy? What is important to you? What’s the “one thing” you want on your marquee? It will look different for each person, but for you as a leader, it will always come down to the things that you are most intentional about.

As I reflect upon my visit to the Billy Graham Library and what legacy is all about, here are my three takeaways. His legacy was built on his faith Today, we remember Billy Graham as a man of faith and an evangelist. The bedrock of his legacy was an enduring faith that spanned many decades.

Reflecting on his legacy and life, Graham said, “The greatest inheritance you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is more than money or material possessions you get. It’s a legacy of both character and faith.” And this is exactly what Graham did.

Building your legacy on faith is to build it on something that will outlive you. Faith is that foundation. His legacy was built on family Aside from his evangelistic work, Graham’s most enduring legacy was undoubtedly his family.

He was married to his wife Ruth for 63 years. They had five children and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren. Family meant more to him than anything else.

Graham once said, “Nothing is closer to my heart than my family.” This core value also defined his legacy. Many opportunities and accomplishments will help define you as a leader.

Graham knew what was most important. His legacy was built on humility Billy Graham exemplified what it meant to be a servant-leader. He understood that his life and leadership were about something greater than himself and passionately lived it out.

One of Graham’s longtime associates observed, “Billy always saw himself as just a farm boy from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was amazed that God could use him like he did.” One of the most enduring qualities of any leader is humility.

Humility will keep you grounded when your ego gets too big and instill a deeper sense of gratitude for all that you have. I believe Graham lived a life marked by a true sense of humility and awareness of his gift. As you consider your legacy and what it will mean to those you love, consider the role of faith, family, and humility.

They’re good starting points for a life well lived. Doug Dickerson is a John Maxwell Certified Team Member who writes and speaks about leadership and personal growth. Read more at https://www.

dougdickerson.net/ . Email him at dougdickersonleadership@gmail.

com ..