From Validation-Seeker to Leader: 12 Steps to inner Freedom
Seeking constant external approval is like grasping at smoke. It dissipates, leaving nothing substantial in your hand. Forget those generic "rise and grind" posts. Want to actually build something that lasts? This "Create Your Legacy" manifesto is your blueprint.
We all have felt the pull of fleeting applause, the dopamine rush of lot’s of like on our post. It's the sugar rush of the soul—it leaves us wanting more, and strangely empty. This pursuit of the superficial can consume and make us rotten from the inside. And we do that more often than we think. It’s in our subconscious survival mechanisms.
There is a different path. Instead of chasing these ephemeral moments, what if you started to build something that endures? Something born not of fleeting praise, but of your own joy, legacy and intrinsic value?
Schall und Rauch
Germans call it "Schall und Rauch," which means "noise and smoke." It suggests something noisy and dramatic that ultimately has no real substance.
We all do this sometimes: We get drawn to what seems new and exciting and forget what is truly important.
But honestly, relying on others for approval is a trap. You need to find what you value inside yourself. That constant online feedback just keeps you chasing things that aren't real.
Think about it. How much energy do we waste trying to get these temporary moments of "success" that don't truly satisfy us? It's tiring to constantly chase something that isn't even real. We're going around in circles, trying to catch shadows.
But ultimately our soul came to earth to create something that truly makes a difference. What’s that? It’s your legacy. The thing you leave behind once you die. The thing people that people remember you have done.
I’m big on finding your purpose and creating your legacy. It’s my mars in leo thing.
And today, I created a little manifesto for that. For my Self, but also for you to have a little inspiration.
Let's delve into crafting a legacy that whispers through time, long after the applause fades.
My Legacy Framework:
1. Don’t be a A**hole
Let's be honest. No one creates a lasting legacy by being unkind. It simply doesn't work. You might get some attention or temporary influence, but it won't last.
No, maybe it will lead you even to long lasting success.
But… you get what you give. If your way of climbing the latter to success is destroying others, you will be conquered by someone else too. And your downfall will be uneasy to watch. Some will enjoy it for sure.
“I believe you build the tallest building in town by building it — not by tearing other people’s buildings down.
You don’t have to be mean to “make it.” In fact, kindness is a much better companion to ambition than cruelty.
When you see other businesses within your industry killing it, be happy for them. Be competitive, be an executor, be tenacious, yes…but be happy for others because there is enough success to go around.”
— Gary Vaynerchuk
2. Anchor The Dream
Furthermore, to create something meaningful, you need to understand your own goals. This means not pursuing what your family wants or what society expects of you, but instead identifying your genuine aspirations. This requires effort. It involves careful self-reflection, looking inward, and discovering what truly inspires you.
Tarkan
3. Grow Some Guts
Once you discover what truly inspires you, you need the courage to be yourself without reservation. The world will often try to pressure you to conform. However, your strength and the impact you make come from your unique qualities. Embrace them.
Tarkan
Tarkan
4. Embrace Calculated Risks
Now, I'm not saying play it safe all the time. You gotta take risks, calculated risks. Step boldly towards what ignites your soul, what you're truly passionate about. But do it smart, do it with intention.
Tarkan
5. Use Your Head (Logic)
However, it's important to understand that this isn't solely about emotions. You also need to use your intellect. Logic, clear thinking, and reason are essential tools. Plan your approach and make thoughtful decisions. Create space. Breath. Bring emptiness into your life. Be alone. Feel good being alone.
Without a strategy, dreams remain just that – dreams.
6. Understand Empty Promises
Those "get rich quick" schemes; They are luring you in with the promise of easy money, instant success. But wake up! They're empty promises, illusions. There's no shortcut to building something real.
The only real shortcut is not taking shortcuts.
— DAN KOE (@thedankoe) April 12, 2024
7. Earn Your Stripes
True success, the success that sticks, comes from hard work, from perseverance. It's about earning your stripes, putting in the time, the sweat, the grind. There's a dignity in that, a satisfaction that those quick schemes can never give you.
And it's not just about working hard, it's about working consistently. Small steps, day after day. It's the dedicated effort, the showing up even when you don't feel like it, that builds a lasting legacy. Move not out of Motivation, but out of Discipline.
Tarkan
8. Use Leverage & Strategize
The goal is to "move the needle," which means making a real difference. It's not just about being occupied, but about being efficient. It's about finding the best way to create the biggest impact with the least amount of effort. You could spend a long time doing a task the hard way, or you could use a tool to do it much faster. That tool is leverage.
In business, leverage is very important. It involves using resources like technology, money, or the work of others to increase what you can achieve. It doesn't mean doing everything on your own; it means finding ways to multiply your efforts.
For instance, instead of sending many emails one by one, you can automate the process. That's leverage.
Or let’s say your goal is to travel somewhere. To Egypt from Germany.
One way you could do that is walking.
Or you could invest money and chose to use the plane. This requires more money to invest initially, but could save you tons of money and a lot of time for sure. Leverage is using the right vehicle. People work their ass off for nothing. It’s because they don’t use the right vehicle.
Instead of trying to learn every skill yourself, you can build a team of experts. That's also leverage. It's about working intelligently, not just putting in a lot of hours.
It means identifying the activities that have the most significant effect and focusing on those. Stop worrying about minor details and figure out what truly makes a difference.
Tarkan
9. Joy as the Truest North
Joy is hard to pin down. It's not just happiness, it's something deeper, something... ineffable. It's that feeling in your gut, that fire in your soul. And it's profoundly personal. What sparks joy in you might be different for someone else. Learn how joy feels like. Analyse it. Save it in your memory and long for it all your life. Find the hidden spark that turns into a bigger fire year by year as the time passes.
Joy is your truest north. It's the compass pointing you towards your authentic self. When you're doing what brings you joy, you're being real, you're being you.
Tarkan
10. Living Your Truth
So, it's about living your truth. Aligning your actions with your deepest values and desires. Stop doing what you think you should do, and start doing what you feel you should do.
Joy fuels legacy. When you create from a place of joy, it resonates. It has an energy, a vibrancy that touches people. That's how you leave a lasting mark, by creating something authentic, something filled with your joy.
11. Service to others vs Service to Self
As you find your joy and start creating your legacy from this almost undrainable force of energy, you need to find more effective ways on how to help people. There is two ways to go: Service to self and service to others. And it’s not really black and white. Some people serve others by serving themself’s and other people serve themself’s by serving other people. It’s not about what’s going on a technical level; it’s about answering the question
“Does my body of work help people live a better life?”
12. The "Body of Work" Born from Truth in Joy
And your legacy? It comes from your "body of work," not just in the traditional sense, but in the sense of your whole life. It's the sum total of what you create, what you contribute, what you leave behind. And the best stuff, the stuff that reallymatters, is born from joy.
That's the secret ingredient, living your truth in joy. When you're aligned with your authentic self and creating from that place, your contribution becomes meaningful. It resonates, it inspires, it lasts.
And don't forget to enjoy the ride. It's not just about the destination, it's about the journey. Find fulfillment in the process of creating your legacy, in the daily grind, in the small victories.
That's where the real magic happens.
From Chasing Shadows to Sculpting Substance
It's time to stop chasing shadows. Stop chasing what's fleeting, what's empty. It's time to start sculpting substance, building something real. And that transformation comes from intentional living. From making conscious choices, from directing your energy with purpose.
This is your invitation, your call to action. Embrace the opportunity to create, to build a meaningful legacy. You have something unique to offer, something the world needs.
Don't let it go to waste.
Live a life that resonates. A life that vibrates with authenticity and joy. That's the key. When you're real, when you're lit up from the inside, your impact is undeniable.
It echoes through time.
So, go forth and create! Step into your power, leave your mark on the world. The journey won't always be easy, but it will be worth it.
Believe in yourself, trust your vision, and build that legacy, nurture that fire.
Talk to you next week!
Kiss kiss,
Tarkan
