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Saturday, October 25, 2025

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Expanded Meaning

In our world, much emphasis is placed on positions, ranks, and titles. Promotions, degrees, and accomplishments are celebrated as markers of success. Yet, all of these are temporary. Titles are handed down, positions are filled by others, and status shifts with time.

What remains constant, however, is how you treated the people you encountered along the way. Whether at work, in your community, or within your family, people may forget your title but they will never forget how you made them feel.

• Temporary Authority vs. Lasting Influence: Titles grant authority for a season, but kindness and respect are what make people remember you beyond the role.
  

• Legacy of Character: True legacy isn’t about the corner office or accolades. It’s about the encouragement you gave, the fairness you practiced, and the compassion you showed.
  

• Universal Relevance: This lesson applies everywhere — leadership, friendships, parenting, and even small daily interactions.
  

Context of Origin

Justin Wright, though not as widely known as leadership icons like John Maxwell or Brené Brown, has contributed to motivational and leadership thought with a strong focus on character over position. His words echo principles of servant leadership, where power is measured not by control but by service and humility.

This wisdom resonates with Maya Angelou’s timeless insight: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Both remind us that the truest form of success is found not in recognition, but in relationships.

Practical Takeaways

1. In Leadership: Focus less on commanding authority and more on cultivating trust. Your influence will outlast your title.

2. In Everyday Life: Treat everyone—from a colleague to a cashier—with dignity and kindness. Small acts often create the strongest memories.

3. For Reflection: Ask yourself regularly—If my title or position disappeared tomorrow, how would people remember me?

📚 Resource List: Living the Message

Books

• Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek

• Dare to Lead – Brené Brown

• The Servant – James C. Hunter

• How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni

Articles & Essays

• “People Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel” – inspired by Maya Angelou’s wisdom

• Harvard Business Review: “The Best Leaders Are Humble Leaders”

• Psychology Today: “The Power of Kindness in Leadership”

Practical Practices

• Daily Kindness Journal: Write one way you positively impacted someone each day.

• The Legacy Question: Reflect weekly—If I lost my title tomorrow, how would people describe me?

• Leadership Check-in: Invite feedback on how your actions affect others.

• Small Acts, Big Impact: Practice daily kindness—gratitude, encouragement, or support.

• Empathy Pause: Before reacting, pause and ask: How will this be remembered?

✨ Final Thought:
Positions may elevate you for a moment, but kindness elevates you for a lifetime. Titles fade, but the imprint of respect, fairness, and compassion leaves a legacy that never disappears.

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