Imagine (and describe) what you want for you and your family now and in the future …or ask yourself “What is the Legacy I want to live and leave?”   (or if you have completed the short assessment from the earlier blog posts – check out your priorities – the statements marked with a #4 or 5 on the left ~importance~ and on the right ~achievement~ with less than a #3)

Whatever you imagined, if you are not already at that point today, remember it doesn’t happen overnight or with one change, it is a process!

So, whether you desire to…

 ·        Capture the family story & life lessons for future generations

 ·        Create a process for the family to make decisions together and resolve disputes

 ·        Continue traditions and provide structure to keep the children, grandchildren and future generations connected

 ·        Or, whatever you have imagined….

First, clearly define it – document a description of the desired outcome and how you will know you have achieved it in detail.

Second, communicating it to others is also a vital step to success.

And, third, begin a process to prepare/train/mentor and work together as a family to get there.

If you are not ready to communicate it to others, after you have clearly defined it, another step in the right direction would be to model it for your family.  If this is the case for you, a question to ask yourself:   

“What’s one thing I can do today to move closer to LIVING MY LEGACY or closer to what I want for my family today?”  And then do it!  

Each day ask yourself the same question until you are ready to get the family more involved.

When you are ready to share your vision for the family with family members, either during one-on-one conversations or during a family gathering, begin by asking them what THEY want for the family or what do THEY want the family to be known for?   This does not have to be a formal event or discussion; it can happen just around the dinner table and will likely begin great ongoing conversations and an opportunity for you to share your vision, too.

At the right time, when you have created interest, you can bring the whole family together for a Family Alignment Day® - a one-day facilitated family meeting filled with fun, laughter, exercises, and opportunity for good dialogue within the family about what matters most.  And, at the end of the day, your family will have had a chance to share, be more aligned as a family, and have agreed on things you want to do together to work towards that common purpose and alignment.

It all begins with BABY STEPS!   Take your Next Step today!