Don’t Blow Your Legacy Like Joe Paterno
Wed, December 21, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
The Point: Unless you finish strong you could wipe out a lifetime of great work.
The drop of poison
We’ve all heard that a drop of poison can destroy a gallon of soup and nowhere is that more true than in writing your own legacy. It’s one thing to work, sacrifice, and achieve great things. It’s another to finish strong and not let any disasters happen as you write the final chapter in your legacy. If anything you need to be MORE alert the longer you go.
Example 1: Look what happened to Joe Paterno
What a tragedy—65 years at one institution. He invested and made a positive impact on tens of thousands of young people. His players not only were outstanding on the grid iron but were outstanding in the classroom and, with few exceptions, great role models. They were an inspiration to the rest of the student body and others in collegiate sports. Joe lived modestly, spent little on himself and his family, yet donated millions of dollars back to the university. He also led fundraising campaigns raising millions for many charitable activities. He was the paragon of morality and virtue. For tens of thousands he was the perfect father figure. However, even he would tell you he’d got relaxed in the last 10 years.
When horrific rumors and reports came about alleged unimaginable behavior by one of his trusted friends and coaches he essentially turned a blind eye. The fact that he didn’t bother getting to the bottom of the problem immediately has cost him his job and spoiled forever his reputation and legacy. How little it would have taken to avoid this. Now he says “I should have done more”. What a tragedy!
Example 2: Ex-Sherriff Patrick Sullivan
This sad story caught my attention last week in the ApsenTimes.com. A Colorado hero, former sheriff Patrick Sullivan has just taken a mighty fall. For two decades this sheriff stood tall and set an example of excellence and morality in law enforcement. He was once named the nation’s sheriff of the year. You can check out the details if you’re interested, but suffice it to say he was recently indicted, making a court room appearance at age 68 in an orange jail uniform, handcuffed and walking with a cane. He watched as a judge raised his bail to a half million dollars and then he suffered the indignity of being led back to his cell into the Patrick J Sullivan Detention Center—named for him! The once mighty sheriff has fallen. So sad.
These are just 2 of all too many examples in the news.
If it can happen to them it can happen to you. Make up your mind now that after you build or achieve something great in your life and career, making a positive impact in the world, that you will not get sloppy. Make up your mind that you will finish strong and stay vigilant to the end. When you’re successful and gain the admiration of others you become powerful. People give you lots of leeway in how you behave. Make sure you don’t take advantage of that and let negative situations and behavior stain and ruin your lifetime of good work. It takes a lifetime to build a good name but it can be destroyed in an instant.
Far too many have found this to be true, don’t let it happen to you.
Feedback: These are only a couple of examples, you probably can think of some equally as devastating. True?
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