Michelle Gibson-Morgan. Lead. Learn. Change. Thrive.

As a Jamaican-Canadian, February holds special significance for me. It is Reggae Month, a time to celebrate the powerful rhythms, messages, and global influence of reggae music. Also, today, we recognize the 80th birthday of Bob Marley, whose music transcends borders and inspires generations with themes of love, unity, and resilience. I often wonder if during his lifetime he had any ideas or a vision in his mind about how big his empire and brand would become after his lifetime. I wonder…

I have watched interviews with his family members and close associates, like his former lawyer, talking about the life and work of Bob Marley. Today, I watched a live interview with one of his grandsons, Yohan, who was asked what he thinks about his family lineage with Bob Marley as his grandfather and Stephen Marley his father, he said it meant being from “greatness”. Thinking about his legacy today, I often ask myself “What do I want to be remembered for?”. I also ask you the question “How do you treat the concepts of legacy and impact?”

Your daily decisions, actions and words build your legacy.

The truth is legacy building happens today and every day. Cultivating a legacy-building mindset daily requires intentional habits. Whether you are a business owner, leader, professional, student or retiree, your daily decisions, actions and words build your legacy. Likewise, your inaction contributes to your legacy so make a decision to move forward with something you have been putting off. Here are some other steps you can take:

• Do a brand audit by asking people in your network what makes you stand out.
• Invest in implementing your vision including the seemingly big things.
• Small and consistent acts of kindness create ripple effects that outlast you.
• Find ways to adapt and innovate to ensure your impact remains relevant over time.

I hope this blog has challenged and inspired you. We have no time to go through the motions. Let’s intentionally make a difference and build the legacy we aspire to create.

#ReggaeMonth #BobMarley #JamaicanPride #CareerResilience #Legacy #Impact