I Asked ChatGPT What is My Leadership Legacy in 6 Words?

“Your life is your message. What you believe in, what you stand for is all revealed in the way you live.” — Michael Hyatt

Have you found your 6 words to live by?  It’s a simple leadership exercise to distill your approach.

By writing down your leadership legacy in 6 words, you distill your impact, values, and inspiration for others.

In the book, The Leader’s Pocket Guide, John Baldoni shares this simple exercise to create clarity around the impact you want to make as a leader.

It’s based on Earnest Hemmingway’s 6 word story.  Hemingway’s famous six-word story is:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

The 6-word constraint actually gives you a lot to work with, and some people even whittle down to 3.

Six Words to Live By

Here is the simple exercise according to John Baldoni.  Find six words to reflect your leadership approach.

Baldoni writes:

”A way to think about your legacy and how you shape it is to distill your leadership approach into six words. 

It is a storytelling technique once practiced by Earnest Hemmingway and adopted by many thousands of others.”

The constraint of the exercise makes it elegant.

But it’s distilling your leadership philosophy that makes it profound.

My Leadership Legacy in 6 Words

I’m just going to start with the punchline, then walk through how I got here.  My leadership approach in 6 words is:

“Empowering people and organizations, unlocking unlimited potential.”

It’s simple and sticky.  I like it.  It was a fun exercise in distilling the essence of my leadership approach.

I had a twist to this, which is:

“Empowering heads and hearts, unlocking unlimited potential.”

But for now, I’ll run with my first option.

Round #1 with ChatGPT to Find my 6 Words to Live By

The exercise is simple enough, but sometimes starting from a blank slate can be a challenge.

Enter ChatGPT.

I figured, some insightful ideas could prime my mind in the right direction and get the party started.

I asked ChatGPT:

What would be 6 words for JD Meier’s legacy?

Here’s ChatGPT’s response:

Here are six words that could capture aspects of JD Meier’s legacy:

1. Inspiring: JD Meier’s work and contributions have inspired others to achieve their full potential and make a positive impact.
2. Empowering: Through his teachings and coaching, JD Meier has empowered individuals to take control of their lives, improve their performance, and achieve their goals.
3. Innovative: JD Meier’s approach and insights have brought innovation and fresh perspectives to the fields of innovation, productivity, and personal development.
4. Influential: JD Meier’s ideas and teachings have had a significant influence on individuals, teams, and organizations, shaping their thinking and actions.
5. Thought Leader: JD Meier has established himself as a thought leader, guiding and shaping conversations in areas such as high performance, innovation, and personal growth.
6. Legacy Builder: JD Meier has created a lasting impact through his work, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration, empowerment, and transformative ideas.

These words aim to capture some of the key elements that define JD Meier’s legacy based on his work as a coach, innovator, and influencer in the areas of personal development and high performance.

Round #2 with ChatGPT to Find my 6 Words to Live By

I realized I made a mistake in that I didn’t really prompt ChatGPT properly to direct the output I was looking for.

Let’s try again.

I asked ChatGPT:

Leaders should write their legacy in 6 words using a technique Earnest Hemmingway used. Here is an example of how Hemmingway used 6 words to write a story: “Baby shoes for sale never worn.,” What would be a 6 word story of JD Meier?

ChatGPT responded:

“Empowering minds, unlocking limitless potential.”

Not bad.  Seriously.

But, it’s more than minds.  And, for some reason, limitless always sounds limiting to me, even though it’s the opposite.

I prefer “unlimited”.

I live and love the idea of empowering people and organizations to realize their potential.

To me, the best organizations, help people realize their potential and create a platform to do good for the world.

I actually think of organizations as individuals working together sharing a culture and a cause.

And the best organizations, bring out the best in every person.

Reflections on the Exercise of 6 Words to Live By

The exercise of condensing your guiding principles into six words can lead to interesting reflections on personal values, priorities, and aspirations.

Here are some of my reflections on the exercise of “6 Words to Live By”:

1. Clarity of Purpose: Crafting six words forces introspection and the need to distill what truly matters in life. It encourages a deeper understanding of your purpose and priorities.
2. Simplicity and Focus: The limitation of six words prompts a search for simplicity and conciseness. It highlights the power of brevity and encourages focusing on your core values and principles.
3. Intentional Leading: Choosing six meaningful words encourages intentional leading. It prompts you to make conscious choices aligned with your values, guiding your actions and decisions.
4. Self-Awareness and Self-Reflection: The exercise sparks self-reflection, creating awareness of what truly resonates and matters to you. It encourages exploration of your personal strengths, weaknesses, and areas of growth.
5. Inspirational Guidance: Six impactful words can serve as a compass, providing daily guidance and inspiration. They act as reminders of personal values and motivate you to align your actions with your chosen principles.
6. Continual Evaluation and Evolution: As life evolves, so may the chosen words. Regularly revisiting and reevaluating the six words encourages your personal growth, adaptability, and a willingness to refine and evolve your guiding principles.
7. Conversation Starter: Sharing and discussing the exercise with others can lead to meaningful conversations about values, purpose, and individual perspectives on life. It can foster connections and inspire others to reflect on their own principles.

The exercise of crafting six words to live by serves as a catalyst for introspection, self-awareness, and intentional living.

It can initiate thought-provoking discussions and provide a foundation for personal growth and fulfillment.

What Would My 3 Words Be?

Long ago I figured out 3 primary values that helped guide my leadership adventures at Microsoft:

1. Adventure
2. Excellence
3. Empowerment

For me, it’s not just the destination.  It’s the journey, too.  I think work and life is a series of adventures.  And I go on these adventures with interesting people that bring the world and work to life.

Really, I see it as adventures in growth and greatness, and a chance to realize potential.

For me, I really value excellence.  The relentless pursuit of it.  The enjoyment of it.  The possibility of it.  In all dimensions of work and life.  In fact, it’s why one of my favorite words is arete.

For me, I am all about empowerment.  My leadership philosophy is all about bringing out the best in individuals and swarming better together.  I push decisions to the edge, so we can all rise in our abilities.

These idioms are a core part of me: “to each, their own”, “live and let live”, “variety is the spice of life,” and “different strokes for different folks.”

I believe we stand stronger, smarter, and more capable when we embrace “United in diversity.”

Write Your Leadership Legacy in 6 Words

Capturing your leadership legacy in just six words may seem like a daunting task, but it holds the power to distill a lifetime of purpose, values, and impact into a concise and inspiring message.

By undertaking this exercise, you embark on a profound journey of self-reflection, intentionality, and personal growth.

As you craft your six-word legacy, remember that leadership is not just about titles or accomplishments—it’s about the positive influence you have on others and the lasting mark you leave on the world.

You Might Also Like

7 Lives of Future Me According to ChatGPT
16 Amazon Leadership Principles
Best ChatGPT Use Cases to Change the World
ChatGPT: How Would JD Meier Coach My Productivity
How You Can Differentiate Yourself from ChatGPT