I realize that running a billion
dollar company doesn’t exactly
make me just one of the guys from
a purely financial standpoint.
Money tends to separate us in our
culture, and that’s unfortunate
because I’m just like you. I get up
every day, spend time with God,
kiss my wife, eat some breakfast,
and go to work.
I’m just a man. I started my career
working retail, stocking shelves. I
got married and started a family.
I’ve lost sleep wondering about
the future of my wife and kids.
Now I’m entering that area of the
baton exchange, and I want to do
it well. I want us all to do it well.
I want my grandchildren to grow
up understanding that generosity
begins with an attitude that
extends into every aspect of life,
not just money. I want them to
understand that today begins
their legacy. Because if there’s
one thing I’ve discovered, it’s that
true wealth encompasses all of
life.
That’s the big idea. I believe we
can chart a course for our lives
and our families that allows us to
think beyond one generation. We
can outline our vision, mission,
and values. And we can live
that out through our generosity.
These ideas will allow us to stay
rich for generations—not just in
a monetary sense but in a values
sense.
Some of you reading this are
standing in shoes similar to my
own. You are nearing the end of
your life, wondering how to finish
well and leave a legacy that will
bless your family and those they
interact with for generations
to come. Some of you are just
starting out in life, taking your
first steps toward those dreams
and plans.
Whether you’re at the end or
the beginning of life, I want to
challenge you to do three things:
1. Work with all your heart, for
God and not for men.
2. H ol d t ho s e pl ans l i g h tly,
because you really have no idea
what the Lord has in store.
3. Consider now what you want
your legacy to be. It is not too
early to begin.
The decisions you make today
will affect the legacy you leave
behind. Whether you are a young
business man who has found
himself encountering what the
world sees as success both in
career and family life, or a young
woman who recently graduated
and has no idea what is in front
of you, today is the right day to
make your decisions in light of
the truth that God owns it all.
Live your life in this world while
investing your wealth in the next.
When I was growing up, we did not
Solutions • 27