The Shade Today

Dec 8

Janis Ozolins Via Adam Grant's Twitter

It’s been four years since I first started writing these weekly reflections. What began during a challenging time—a way to uplift and connect with my leadership team through the uncertainty of the pandemic—has grown into something bigger.

The mortgage industry, like the world, was in a tough place when I started these posts. Teams were fractured by distance, stress, and anxiety. I wrote to provide optimism, vision, and hope for our leadership team when it felt like those things were slipping away. My goal was simple: keep us connected, filled with hope, and moving forward.

Now, the audience has changed. Some of my original team members have drifted away, and others have joined. But the purpose has stayed the same. These reflections remain a place where I aim to give more than I take—to share inspiration, ideation, and the hope that a brighter future is always within all of our reach.

In many ways, these posts have become a very small part of my legacy. They’re a way to make a difference, to leave an impression on the people I work with and the community I serve. I think that’s what building a legacy is about: living in a way that echoes beyond your time.

5 thoughts on how we all leave a legacy:

Raise the next generation with intention.
One of the most profound legacies is found in the people we nurture. Whether it’s your children or those you mentor, investing time and energy to guide them creates ripples far beyond what we can see.
Leave your mark on your community or tribe.
During the toughest times, I learned that making a difference starts close to home—with your team, your circle, or your neighborhood. Leadership isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about showing up, giving people hope, and helping them grow.
Treat your work as your craft.
When you love what you do, and transform it into a contribution. Your passion and dedication can leave a mark on the industry, inspire others, and outlast you.
Become the best at something and create something remarkable.
Find what lights you up—a hobby, a skill, or a creative outlet—and strive for excellence. Your craft, no matter how small, can leave behind something beautiful and timeless.
Be kind—always.
I’ve learned especially over the last few years; everyone is carrying unseen burdens. A kind word, a moment of empathy, even a shared meal can leave a legacy in someone’s heart.

These small actions may feel simple, but their impact is anything but. Looking back over the past four years, I’m reminded that legacies are built moment by moment, day by day. They’re found in the way we show up for others, in the hope we share, and in the courage to keep moving forward. As the year comes to a close it’s a great time to think about how you want to live your life and what you want to echo beyond your time.

"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

– Warren Buffett

Notes that Resonated

The difference between where you are and who you want to become is intentional choice
Progress doesn’t come from things changing. It come from us changing
Being a good leader isn’t about being a good talker it’s about being a good listener
Anxiety is a caricature artist. It magnifies flaws and minimizes strengths.
Be the multiplier not the force
You can love people without liking them
There is no such thing as a self made man or woman, giving credit to other doesn’t reduce you it elevates
Confidence often comes from reflect on obstacles from yesterday
Great Leaders are multipliers: the work to help
make everyone in the room better
Sometimes you need a stop doing list more than you need a to do list

Things to read

This is strategy

https://a.co/d/4V18wQQ

Seth Godin's This is Strategy is a manifesto for leaders and organizations seeking to stand out in a crowded, competitive, and ever-changing world. True to Godin’s style, the book emphasizes action over planning, connection over competition, and meaningful impact over incremental improvement. Strategy, as Godin frames it, isn’t a rigid plan—it’s a living system designed to create value, inspire loyalty, and adapt in real-time.

Productivity

Daily Habit tracker:

(Dopamine Journal)

Color code habits: Green wealth, yellow health, blue mindset

2 min rule for each habit- make it stupid simple

Top Quotes

"Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people." – Peter Strople
Disappointment comes from knowing things could be better gratitude can mean from knowing things could be worse. - Adam Grant
Power is fleeting, respect is lasting - Adam Grant