Legacy on Purpose: How I Defined the Impact I Want to Leave Behind

By Chuck Cuda

When I was younger, I thought legacy meant money. Build wealth, leave it behind, and that’s your legacy. Simple, right? But over time and through some pivotal personal experiences, I came to understand that legacy isn’t about dollars. It’s about relationships. It’s about values. It’s about the people you impact long after you’re gone.

Redefining Legacy

The idea of legacy started to shift for me in 2016 when I delivered my grandfather’s eulogy. He didn’t leave behind a big financial estate. But what he did leave behind was much more valuable: mindset, work ethic, resilience, and character. Those were his gifts to us. And if you look at his grandkids today, most of us are not just financially stable—we're thriving. That’s not just a testament to individual success, but to the foundation he laid for us. He passed down a blueprint for how to build a good life, not just a profitable one.

I came to realize that financial legacy, in isolation, is empty. You can have all the money in the world and still leave nothing meaningful behind. What matters is how you show up for others, what you teach them, and the example you set. You don’t need to be rich to leave a powerful legacy—you need to be intentional.

When Legacy Hit Home

When my dad was undergoing a bone marrow transplant—a transplant I was fortunate enough to be the donor for—I wrote him a letter. That moment changed me. I realized I wasn’t just his son. I was his legacy. That realization stayed with me when I began writing Ego Strength. The book isn’t just a business memoir. It is a marker of the life lessons, struggles, and wins I want to pass on. Something that would live beyond me.

Legacy isn’t abstract when it’s personal. When it’s your family. Your parents. Your kids. Your team. That’s when it really hits. You realize it’s not about being known by the world, it’s about being known deeply by the people who matter most.

The Role of Business in Legacy

Professionally, my view of legacy has also evolved. I don’t believe in generational businesses. Leaving your company to your kid might sound noble, but it often causes tension and strips them of their own journey. Legacy is about equipping others with the tools, mindset, and belief that they can go out and build something of their own. That’s the gift.

I want to be remembered for leading with purpose, inspiring change, and putting people first. Whether it’s mentoring a young entrepreneur, empowering a COO, or giving someone the space to grow and fail and rise again, that’s where legacy lives. I’ve worked hard to build cultures in my companies that reflect those values. High expectations, but high support. Vision with alignment. Leadership that multiplies.

Giving More, Doing More

When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I knew I wanted to do something more. That led to the launch of Opes Charitable Foundation. It started as a way to support cancer research through my involvement with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but it grew into something bigger. Today, we support causes ranging from cancer research to M.S. support to autism programs and spinal cord injury recovery. That’s the power of legacy too—it expands when you invite others into it.

Philanthropy isn’t a side note in our companies, it’s part of the business model. We balance profit and purpose with the help of people like our Executive Director, Morgan Hicks, who ensure that our time and resources go to efforts that are not only generous but also impactful. That’s legacy in action.

Thinking Beyond Success

If you’re chasing success but haven’t thought much about legacy yet, here’s my advice: Start with your why. Why are you doing this? Is it just for the money? To retire early? Or is it to create something that reflects who you are and what you believe in? Align your work with your values, and legacy will follow.

Legacy isn’t built overnight. It’s built in everyday choices, in relationships, in what you stand for. And when you start to live with that kind of purpose, you’ll realize that legacy isn’t just something you leave behind, it’s something you live out loud.

If you haven’t purchased your copy of Ego Strength yet, you can do so on Amazon HERE. Available in audible, kindle, or print!