Leaders and Legends,

For years, I measured my success by one metric: increasing net worth. I tracked it religiously every month, letting it define my accomplishments. But about six years ago, I radically re-orientated how I viewed my life. I began to see success differently—not just as a measure of wealth, but as an opportunity to live a life of significance.

If you’re like me, you may feel a stirring to take the next step toward a more purpose-driven life. Perhaps you’re already living this way, or maybe you’re searching for clarity. Wherever you find yourself, the journey from success to significance starts with these key steps:

Clarify Your Personal Values

Values are the foundation of a significant life. They guide your decision-making, serving as a filter for how you act and what you prioritize.

For me, my three guiding values are:

• Freedom – The autonomy (and duty) to spend my days living the life I was uniquely created for.
• Transformation – Prioritizing the journey over the destination because our daily actions shape who we become.
• Connection – Recognizing that relationships with friends and family are essential for a full, meaningful life.

What are your core values? Take time to write them down—they will help you make decisions that align with a life of purpose.

Identify Your Purpose

Understanding why you are here on this earth is the heart of significance. For me, this is rooted in my Christian faith—a belief that I have a Creator who made me for a specific reason.

Your perspective might look different, and that’s okay. What I encourage you to do is reflect on these three timeless questions:

• Why am I here?
• Where did I come from?
• Where am I going?

When you answer these questions, your purpose will begin to take shape. Purpose becomes the compass that guides your actions and decisions.

Embrace Your Uniqueness

You are uniquely equipped to make an impact. Your skills, experiences, and perspectives are unlike anyone else’s.

Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach calls this your Unique Ability: the intersection of what you do, how you do it, and why you do it.

For me, my unique ability is helping people gain perspective and clarity, then identifying the actions they need to take to experience purposeful movement.

What’s yours? What skills, talents, and gifts make you who you are? Your Unique Ability is the key to unlocking your significance.

Envision Your Present Calling and Next Chapter Possibilities

Values, purpose, and uniqueness are constant, but how you live them out can take many forms.

As you plan your exit and look to the future, take time to envision new possibilities for how you can:

• Align your time with your values.
• Invest your energy into causes that matter.
• Create a post-exit chapter that fulfills your purpose.

The key to living a life of significance post-exit is intentionality. Envision the life you want and take steps to make it a reality.

Link Arms with Like-Minded People

There’s a powerful African proverb that says:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

True significance is amplified in community. Surround yourself with people who share your values, who inspire you to dream bigger, and who challenge you to make a greater impact.

Together, we can go far—transforming our lives, businesses, and communities in ways we couldn’t achieve alone.

The shift from success to significance starts with clarity and action. By aligning your values, purpose, and unique abilities, you’ll begin to live a life that not only fulfills you but also impacts those around you.

Let’s link arms and build a legacy that matters.