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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Changing Your Life

October 21, 2026 Why Volunteer During Retirement

Over the past couple of years, I have been slowly winding down my business, UXL. Although officially stepping into retirement sometimes makes me feel disoriented or even a little sad, there are countless bright spots and opportunities that accompany retirement. One of those bright spots is having the time to amplify my volunteerism.

I have always enjoyed helping others. Whether volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, United Way, or Relay for Life, I find immense satisfaction in helping to make a difference. Volunteering also gives me the unique opportunity to connect with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It has broadened my perspectives and helped me to learn more about the people in my community. Although the focus is on supporting others, volunteering has a way of also filling my cup and giving me energy and a sense of purpose.

Now, as a retiree, I can become even more active in my community. While some might dismiss retirees as lacking the physicality or energy to make meaningful contributions, I reject that stereotype. In fact, I think retirees can and should lead the way for volunteerism. This is a unique time in a person’s life—a time free of the daily nine to five grind. It’s fine, of course, for retirees to spend some of their free time playing golf or cozying up with a novel, but most people should also be able to make room for volunteerism.

Additionally, volunteering is a way to put your hard-earned skills to work. If you’ve built skills in leadership, organizing, communication, design, or fundraising over the years, why not apply those skills to community work? On the other side of the coin, volunteering can help you acquire new abilities and learn from people of different ages and backgrounds. You might discover a knack for something you never even knew you had!

Volunteering can also provide direction and purpose. In a world that sometimes feels overwhelming or even downright scary, it is easy to feel small and helpless. You might wonder if anything you do will actually make a difference. But instead of dwelling on these feelings, it’s helpful to get out the door and do something. Even if you only help one person while volunteering, that’s enough. For that one person, your actions meant the world. Besides, every meaningful change is made up of thousands (millions, even) of small, individual actions. Just like an ocean wave is comprised of countless water droplets, so too can small actions compound into a tidal wave of difference. This is what grassroots work is all about.

To me, retirees can lead the way when it comes to volunteerism. Apply whatever skills you have to the job, or pick up some new ones. Regardless, I hope to see you out there.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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September 23, 2026 What is Your Everyday Legacy?

In my last blog post, I discussed Legacy (with a capital “L”), focusing on the overarching impact a person might leave behind. This week, I’m drilling down a bit and addressing the concept of “everyday legacy,” the effects a person can have on those around them on a daily basis.

There’s a famous saying (often attributed to Lao Tzu) that goes: “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” This is the main idea behind an everyday legacy. Your daily thoughts, words, and actions matter.

Although they may not seem to make much of a difference in the moment, what you do and how you behave can form who you are and how you’re perceived. A passing conversation, a comment in a meeting, a kind gesture, or even your body language can speak volumes about your genuine persona. You never know what kind of impact you’re making on someone—the impression you’re leaving during a discussion or interaction.

In short, it all matters. That may seem daunting, but it can also be viewed as an opportunity. You have the opportunity to put your best foot forward at all times and in all situations. Recognizing this can help guide you through everyday situations.

Will you respond with an insult/snarky comment or with understanding and kindness?

Will you choose to engage in gossip or push back?

Will you recognize others achievements or gloss over them?

Will you include someone in the conversation or ignore them?

All these choices make a difference, and they add up over time. Even though it might seem like a small thing to send someone a thank you card or commend someone’s work during a meeting, these types of gestures are often remembered. And they all accumulate to make up your core personality—who you are and how you’re perceived.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you have a choice when it comes to everyday legacy. If you want to be known as a fair and caring leader, you can choose to behave in a way that reflects that persona. If you want others to see you as a sharp contributor, show up as that person as often as you can. Lean into your best self—the self you want others to know and recognize.

Your everyday legacy can be shaped by YOU. How will you demonstrate it today through words and actions?

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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September 9, 2026 What Will You Leave Behind? (A big question!)

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

In my retirement years, I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy. What are the things a person leaves behind as they walk through life? How will people remember you? What influences will you pass along to family, friends, and co-workers?

To me, there are two types of legacies:

  1. The capital-L Legacy is the overarching legacy, the way you’ll be remembered after you pass on.
  2. The lowercase-l legacy is the briefer, shorter-term one, the impact you have on those around you on a daily basis.

Both types of legacies are important, and this week I will be focusing on the capital-L Legacy, the one that deals with your long-term impact. (My next post will address “everyday legacy,” so stay tuned!)

Everyone makes their mark on history, whether in a soft, subtle way or in a visible, major way. In reality, most of us will have a smaller ripple than the big names in history, but that’s okay! Even if you can positively impact five or ten people, that’s a Legacy worth leaving.

Keep in mind, your Legacy goes beyond money or finances (although philanthropy, charitable giving, and estate planning could be part of it). Your Legacy might be tied to your volunteer work, or your generous and loving spirit, or the way you prioritize your family. It might be rooted in your dedication to your career and all the people you supported and mentored along the way. Or it could be tied to your faith and your involvement in your worship community.

Legacy could also be tied to the things you created—photographs you took, woodworking projects you created, paintings you made, or essays you wrote. For years, I’ve worked with Kate Leibfried, founder of Click Clack Writing, and she often focuses on this type of work (ghostwriting memoirs and business books for her clients). Recently, she spoke about this type of Legacy in a webinar for Everbright Legacy Law. One of her main messages was that words (particularly those that come from the heart and are not AI generated) have staying power. If you want to tell your true, authentic story, what’s stopping you? Everyone has a story to tell, and it could be worth writing it down.

Keep in mind, big-picture Legacies do not happen overnight. They are the result of years of living authentically, planning, giving, and being involved. As a thought exercise, consider this: What would people write in your memorial or obit today? If you are unsure or if you don’t think they would write what you’d want to hear, consider how you might change that. If you want to be known for your generosity, start planning how to amplify your giving. If you want to leave a Legacy of good works/volunteerism, figure out how to do that. If you’d like to leave behind your physical creations, start making more art!

Just make sure you’re doing what feels authentically and wholly you. A Legacy doesn’t have to be flashy or loud. It should simply reflect who you are at your core.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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