Today’s post is deeply personal for me.

I’ve been reflecting on the word “legacy” lately. In my consulting world, people often discuss the concept of creating a “leadership legacy.” If I were to ask you, “What kind of leadership legacy do you want to leave?” what would you say?

I find that many people respond with: “I want to be remembered as…”

While I believe it’s important for a leader to be mindful of how others perceive them, responding to the question in this way can be short-sighted. 

Legacy is about impact. Yes, it’s initiated or influenced by you, but in the end, it’s not about you. It’s about the lasting result of your influence—who or what changed for the better because of your actions.

It’s hard to remove ourselves from the equation because, at our core, we want to feel valued. But the most impactful legacies are born from humble, selfless investment in others, driven by a genuine desire to benefit them rather than ourselves.

So, I’ll ask again: What kind of leadership legacy do you want to leave? 

The reason this has been on my mind lately is because I’ve seen it beautifully demonstrated by one of the most influential leaders I know: 11-year-old Evangeline Brighten Plimmer.

Eva is the daughter of some of our dearest friends and one of my daughters’ best friends. In March 2024, she stepped into the biggest battle of her life after being diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer. The average survival timeline for this type of childhood cancer is less than one year. 

While most of us would be fully focused on our own struggles in such a battle, Eva is focused on spreading joy and building courage and resilience in other kids. That’s true legacy-building in action. Let me explain…

Because of the progressive nature of Eva’s cancer, she was quickly connected with Make-A-Wish. Her wish was to do something for more than just herself—she wanted to build a playground in her hometown (Meridian, Idaho) for children to enjoy for many years to come. But not just any playground… Eva is a HUGE ninja warrior fan, so her wish was to build a playground unlike any other in the area—one with ninja-like obstacles designed to build both physical and mental resilience. Although she proposed this idea to Make-A-Wish, it could not be pursued through the organization due to policy reasons (Make-A-Wish did, however, send her family on an incredible memory-making trip to Florida in June).

Eva’s passion for building this ninja warrior park has not dwindled. As a result, we are rallying hearts and hands together to make her dream a reality. Our biggest hope is to raise the necessary funds quickly enough to install the playground before cold weather arrives. Eva has responded well to treatment so far, but the reality is that her mobility could be affected in the near future. We want nothing more than to see her race through the obstacles on her ninja warrior park with strength and a smile this fall.

May Eva’s perspective inspire you as you reflect on your own leadership legacy.

Lastly, I would be incredibly grateful for any support in helping advance Eva’s legacy. Please click here to contribute. Eva is a bright light to everyone around her and is truly deserving of our support. 

Note: A nonprofit organization has been founded to honor Eva’s strength, joy, and resilience: Brighten Day Park, Inc. We have applied for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS, but are still awaiting formal determination. Once our application is approved, donations will be tax-deductible retroactive to our incorporation date of August 27, 2024. If you'd like to make a larger business or personal donation via check to avoid transaction processing fees, please email me at hello@abbeylouie.com. Business sponsorships will be formally recognized on the fundraising website. Thank you!