Era: John, so I would love to talk to you about generational impact, if we may. When you think about legacy, what's the most important essence that's beyond what gets passed down financially? John Maxwell: Well, I think, Era, when you're really talking about legacy, I think the first thing people think about is what you just mentioned, what we leave for somebody. I think that is part of legacy. But I think what is more important than what I leave for you, whether it's material possessions, money, or whatever that is, is what I leave in you. And I think what is enduring is what is left in a person. My father just passed away during the COVID year. He was 97. But when he passed away, the day before, I spent five hours with him. And I sat beside him and I shared with him lessons that he had taught me, one last time saying, "Look what you've left in me." So he's gone, but he's not gone. He will live forever because when you think of a mentor, so many times we think of what they're going to pass on as far as information, which is very important. But what really is contagious is the spirit of the person. And once we care for people and once we put ourselves into their life and make it more about our time together, the memories we create with them, the conversations we have with them, that's where life really gets changed. And so as I look upon legacy, I think what happens is very simple: when you put things of value within a person, that person, as long as they live, you live too. Era: Wonderful. In your life's work, how have you seen families transfer values and faith across generations in the most meaningful and effective way? John Maxwell: You know, when Margaret and I started our family, we sat down and we asked ourselves a very simple question: "What's going to be important to us for the children?" And we kind of made a decision. It was just going to be a few things. Faith, obviously. Attitude. The whole attitude issue. We've got to work on that. We certainly want our kids to take responsibility for their lives. So we've got to teach them the character things that will help them with responsibility. And we just went through a few things and said: "This is what we're going to live out." "This is what we're going to teach." "This is what we're going to experience together." And we're going to let all the other stuff be just stuff. But the choices that you and I make, those choices are going to make the difference. Keep in mind that in the end, the choices you make make you. That's putting legacy inside of a person that gives them control over having a beautiful life. Era: What do you think gets missed? The flip side of effective generational transfer of wisdom, values, and faith are certain things that are just as valuable as those lessons you want to instill but often get overlooked. Are there certain blind spots families just don't address? John Maxwell: Oh, yes. Oh, my gosh. I look at my own family. You know, the problem with parenting is when you're done, or when the kids leave, you realize how you could have done it better. I had a tendency to affirm my kids' giftedness, and I should have affirmed more of their choices. And the reason you do that is because giftedness stands out. "Oh my, that was wonderful what you did. I think that's great." But it's their choices that are going to determine how successful they're going to be in life. Era: So what responsibility do you think each generation carries to the next? John Maxwell: Well, I'm responsible to make sure that the next generation can stand on my shoulders. I want them to pass me. I want them to do better. I want them to stand on my shoulders. But here's what I know: It's going to be their values and choices that really determine whether that happens or not. I think the best legacy I can leave anybody is a good example and teaching them that it's the choices they make that are going to determine how well they do in life. Era: Wow, that's so, so interesting. Because that, in essence, is talking about modeling, right? Modeling good behavior by setting a good example. Instruction without example, and instruction without application, really is kind of worthless. A person has never been successful just because of what they knew. They became successful when they did something with what they knew. John Maxwell: Wonderful. John, thank you so much for your wisdom and for sharing your perspective with us today. John Maxwell: It's my joy. Thank you for what you do at Blue Trust.