When I’m deciding on legacy projects or charitable contributions, help me to find opportunities to volunteer or support causes dear to me, so that I can leave a positive impact on my community or society.
Let’s follow James, a retired engineer in his early 70s, as he grapples with legacy projects and charitable contributions to make a meaningful impact on his community.
James enjoys spending his retirement tinkering in his garage workshop, fixing broken items for neighbors and family. However, he’s been contemplating ways to leave a more substantial impact on society beyond his immediate circle. His struggle to identify these opportunities at times makes him feel overwhelmed. He is in good health but he also knows that time is ticking and to do something that he wants will take time and a lot of work. Sometimes he just wants to avoid the whole thing.
A friend had recommended James take a few Deliberate Decision Making online courses to keep his brain active. The DIY DDM he learned what causes a person to struggle making decisions. Instead of being frustrated, he now understands the value of his struggling moment and the way it triggers activation in the prefrontal cortex, signaling a need for change. Staying curios about what his legacy might look like, he began considering the relevance of legacy to him.
This marks Step 1 of his journey. James becomes aware of the need to find opportunities for meaningful contributions outside his usual routine. Its clearly relevant to him, so the next thing to do is to identify the rewards and the consequences and get motivated. He begins Step 2, researching and seeking opportunities that align with his values and can potentially create a lasting positive impact. He links the outcome to rewards like leaving a lasting legacy and positively impacting his community or society at large. And when he thinks of others missing out on what he could leave, he feels a profound sense of motivation, ready to go and find the solution.
In Step 3, James develops outcome statements. He sets a time frame, aiming to identify and commit to a project within the next few months that aligns with his values and offers a meaningful contribution. And like a good engineer, he writes his outcome statements in a way he can measure them, being sure to use time and cost, things that other could also measure to make progress.
The day soon arrives when James is ready for Step 4 which involves grappling with trade-offs. He evaluates various projects, considering their impact, feasibility, and alignment with his values. He decides that volunteering his engineering skills to support local community projects resonates most with his desire for a lasting positive impact. With his value structure clear he can evaluate the different opportunities and look for the ones he can fully commit to.
With Step 5, James commits to contributing his expertise to local infrastructure projects. He feels this action aligns with his values and will likely result in the desired rewards of leaving a positive legacy. He had been thinking about legacy for almost 5 years, and now he was ready in less than an hour to start.
Step 6 sees James organizing his commitments, setting aside time each week for volunteer work and liaising with local project leaders. He made a calendar that included the specific resources, books, and tools he would bring to each specific event.
In Step 7, James takes action. He joins a local community initiative, applying his engineering knowledge to improve infrastructure in underprivileged neighborhoods. Initially, he encounters challenges with adapting to new project dynamics, feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the endeavor. With his DIY DDM learning, he is now able to identify down regulators and knows at this age it sometimes is easy to slip into old habits and not stay involved in new learning. However by refocusing on the value structure, and using the outcomes to help guide his evaluation of reality, he was able to make progress again.
After a few weeks, Step 8 began which involves James evaluating the impact of his contributions. Despite initial setbacks, he witnesses tangible improvements in the communities he’s assisted, motivating him to continue. His deliberate approach to decision-making allows him to overcome cognitive rigidity and frustration, enabling him to focus on the positive outcomes of his efforts.
Recognizing areas for improvement in Step 9, James considers branching into educational mentorship for young engineers, enhancing his impact and contributing to the development of future talent.
Finally, in Step 10, James shares his experiences with his adult children and peers, advocating for community involvement and encouraging others to find meaningful projects that resonate with their values. For the first time in a long time he feels a sense of satisfaction, and focus. He is involved again in the work that means the most to him.
James measures his current state against the impact he’s made, using his outcome statement as a benchmark for his decisions. Through his systematic approach, he navigates from an awareness of his desire to leave a positive legacy to actively making contributions that align with his values, leaving a meaningful impact on his community. His transformation demonstrates the power of deliberate decision-making tools in enhancing focus, capacity, and ultimately, the ability to make a difference.