Inspired by a thought-provoking post from Nick Robinson: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nickrobinsonsport_97-of-people-cant-answer-this-question-activity-7310986456133480448--Ufz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAzQwpYBUqHzy7MGyahQyc7VJ-cArCMBOQw

I recently came across a post that stopped me in my scroll — simple question, heavy impact:

Do you know your great-grandfather’s name?

For most of us, the answer is no. That hit me.

We live as if legacy is something etched in stone. Titles. Assets. Accolades. As if those things will echo through generations. But the reality is, in 100 years, most of us will be forgotten by name. So why do we pour so much of our lives into building castles in sand?

From a behavioural perspective, this is a fascinating paradox. We’re wired to seek significance, but often chase it in all the wrong places.

Legacy Is Not a LinkedIn Bio

We spend decades collecting wins, chasing promotions, and building wealth — but these aren’t the things people remember.

• Job titles fade.
• Bank accounts close.
• Material things age, break, get donated or tossed.

So what actually lasts?

The psychology of impact tells us this: People remember how you made them feel. They remember presence. They remember the stories, the quiet moments, the way you showed up — not what you earned.

Time Is the Only Real Currency

Here’s what I’ve come to believe: Time is the ultimate behavioural lever. It reveals what we value most — not in what we say, but in how we spend it.

So the real power move? Reclaim your time. Reinvest it wisely.

Not just for yourself — but for those around you.

• Be present over being productive.
• Choose experiences over accumulation.
• Pick growth over perfection or comfort.

Those little choices compound. They shape who we are — and how we’ll be remembered.

From Behavioural Insight to Everyday Life

In our work at Shimazaki Sentinel, especially in behavioural sciences and adversarial psychology, we see time and again how decisions — personal or organisational — are anchored in values. When you shift the lens from “what do I leave behind” to “how am I living now?”, everything changes.

So here’s your challenge:

• Make that call.
• Take that trip.
• Say the thing that needs to be said.

Because in the end, you won’t be remembered for what you owned — but for how you lived.