How to Create Lasting Change and Leave a Legacy
- Jun 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Written by Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs.
If you know me, you know I've created a decades-long career in the shoe business, including as a global social entrepreneur. During my work, I've learned a lot about shoes, such as how they're made. But I've also learned something more essential: How shoes can tell many stories. For instance, I remember an older man many years ago who received the first pair of shoes he had ever worn from my team. I'll never forget that amazing smile, and that's become my part of leaving a legacy.
Many years ago, I realized that anyone and everyone can leave a legacy. In other words, we can each leave our imprint in this world and especially in the lives of the people in our world. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind. It's also easy to spend your time making sure we meet our goals and metrics at work to provide for our families. I've also experienced it in the years of my career, including my shift to social impact. Still, life's not all about a job. It's about what continues to thrive when you're not present.
The myth of the indispensable leader
Often, early in people’s careers, they believe that leadership is about being indispensable. Some managers also think that if things fall apart when they’re not around, then they must be doing something right. They’re needed. Wrong. In recent months, I’ve spent a lot of time expanding our social enterprises in the Global South. My companies continue to hum along with my team because I’ve created a team that can thrive on its own. Important decisions can’t get delayed even when I’m not present. I consider my team and social enterprises a big part of my legacy.
That said, there are many ways people can consider leaving a legacy. There’s no single path. Legacies can include the following:
Business, nonprofit, or social enterprises created.
Family legacy.
Donations to philanthropy.
How you behave with other people.
Creative works, such as music, art, or writing.
Start with why, then build how
Simon Sinek, the global optimist, focuses on starting on the why. He's right. When you think about leaving a legacy beyond your time and life, your why must be bigger than you. Moreover, that legacy has to go beyond you. So, if you start a business that you want to last for generations, you must do succession planning. If you want your grandchildren to remember the lessons you teach them, you must be present. And if you want to leave a legacy in your community, you must spend time understanding its needs.
The why of your legacy is your north star. The why guides your decisions in every way possible. Leaving a legacy isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes time, and it's essential to ask repeatedly why you want this and not that as a legacy. By focusing on the why, you can clearly see your legacy's purpose and build your plan. With every legacy decision, you should ask, "Does this support my vision or simply solve today's problem?" How can you shift it to serve the vision if it's just to solve today's challenge?
Three essential elements of leaving a legacy
During my life and career, I've identified three critical components that have helped me leave a legacy in addition to the why.
1. People development
In my personal life and career, I'm all about people. I want to know about their lives, and within our companies, I enjoy helping people see the magic of perspective-shifting and future-proofing their mindset. For those with a business, leaving a legacy is impossible without developing future leaders. So, I spend time mentoring and developing people because it allows me to do what is unique to me as the founder, which is to develop more business and expand. In every case, a legacy flows through human capital.
2. Systems thinking for legacy
In considering leaving a legacy, thinking of systems and not events is essential. Systems thinking includes asking, "What processes need to exist for the impact I want to make that goes beyond me?" "How can the legacy develop knowledge that will carry forward when I'm not present or other key individuals?" Legacy thinking is a framework with values and principles, and understanding them. Moreover, it's essential to understand the lessons that will inevitably happen through failure, life's best educator.
3. Culture creation
How we act is contagious. So, when you consider your legacy, think of your impact on others in your life. If you want to leave a legacy that reverberates through your family, ask yourself what culture you want to create within it. The same goes for a legacy in philanthropy or business. Creating a culture means determining and choosing how you behave when no one's watching. And when people are watching, it's about modeling the actions you want to see for the better good. Culture is also about rewarding positive behaviors.
Your legacy starts today
People sometimes consider things beyond themselves, especially when they face a life challenge, including leaving a legacy. That said, a legacy can happen at any time, including today. If you believe you want to create a lasting impact beyond yourself, start it today. Live your purpose and prepare your legacy daily with small steps and intentionality. Legacy doesn't happen at the end of a life or career. Every day, you make a choice to create something better that goes beyond you.
© 2025 Wayne Elsey. All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs. This social enterprise helps nonprofits, schools, churches, civic groups, individuals, and others raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations and the environment.
