Picture this.

All right, picture this. It's Thursday afternoon. You're a dad. You've just wrapped up a team huddle where your words lit a fire. Folks nodding eyes wide like you've unlocked something inside of them. That rush. It's everything. The spark, the shift you see knowing you've moved the needle in them even

if just a little bit. Then the phone hums. You look down. It's a family group thread. Your great aunt Ruth, the storyteller who wove your family's histories into legends is slipping.

She's given you life lessons with every hug, but she's fading fast. Hospice. No alarms blaring, but the clock is ticking loudly.

If a real goodbye is on the table, this is the weekend to do it. Eight hours away in a sleepy rural nook where her stories linger like the morning mist. You had to make a decision. You make a quick decision. You're in. You're all in. And you've got Lily this weekend all to yourself. Your little 10 year old spark plug. She's gotta come along. She's your co-pilot.

She doesn't get to sit out this tough time. She's not gonna be on the sidelines. She's not, she doesn't get to miss out.

Next day, Friday.

You're going to launch right after work. Sunday morning, you want to be back by the time church starts eight hours there, eight hours back, 16 hours of asphalt therapy, two nights under unfamiliar stars, a visit ripe for discomfort or for transformation or

echoes that outlast the miles. Here's the pivot point. How do you shape this beyond the maps and the mileage, the hearts, the words, the lingering feelings? What do you amplify? How do you frame it? What ripples are you leaving behind you? That's the magic. That is the eight hour goodbye through the

Eyes of a dad, wired to inspire.

Friday morning, 7.30 a.m.

You're at the kitchen island, coffee steaming.

scrolling through feeds, not mindless, but curating.

Mike is at the kitchen island. Coffee steaming, scrolling feeds, not mindless, curating. A quick voice note to the network. Morning Thought. Legacy isn't what you leave guys, it's who you lift. Boom, he hits send. Feels the potential ping.

His phone dings.

His sister's text lands. Ruth is taking a turn. Sharp. Real. Mike absorbs it. No freezing here.

A deep breath, then action with heart. Calendar, he wipes it clean. But not cold, personalized notes.

Calendar wiped clean, but not cold. Personalized notes to each meeting. For example, shifting gears for family. Let's reschedule and make it epic necktie.

Calendar wiped clean, but not cold personalized notes to each meeting. For example, shifting gears today for family. Let's reschedule and make it epic next time by nine 9:15 a team Slack post heading out for a pivotal family chapter. My aunt Ruth's story.

shaped me. Now it's my turn to honor it. Lead each other with heart while I'm gone. Inspire in my absence. Send.

Mike doesn't do it for likes. He does it for legacy.

to make an impact, be key, to advance the team. Noon hits. He surprises Lily at school.

It's gonna just poppin' in.

Noon hits. He surprises Lily at school pickup for an early lunch. Park bench outside, sandwiches unwrapped. Kiddo, this weekend, it's more than a trip. It's our chance to pour into Ruth what she's poured into me, what she's poured into us. It's our chance to make her feel seen, loved, legendary.

Sound like a plan? Her eyes widen. Yeah, but how? He leans in, voice dropping conspiratorially. Stories, gifts, moments that stick We'll brainstorm on the drive. She grins hooked.

Back at work, Mike wraps up loose ends with charisma. A phone call just can't do it. But a phone call with encouragement, words turning handoffs in the motivators. That's how he does it. 4.30 p.m., shut it all down. One last glance at his vision board. The words ring out. Influence isn't volume, it's vibration.

He's ready to resonate.

Friday evening, 4:52 rollout. The sound system is primed, not some random shuffle. It's a curated art.

uplifting anthems.

Uplifting anthems to start. U2's Beautiful Day. Reflective Midway. Norah Jones. Triumphant close Queens. We are the champions. He's got it all figured out. It's eight hours. Lily buckles in and then she spots the custom packet he created for her. Epic Road Saga Binder. Ruth Edition.

It's entitled, of course, that's Mike's handiwork. Photo collages from family archives, prompt cards for Lilly, like share a Ruth memory that makes you smile, and blank pages for his letters to the future that he wants her to write. Flip to page one, he says, enthusiasm bubbling. Where's your superpower, Lil?

and how can we use it this weekend? She giggles. She dives in drawing. I can sketch Ruth as a superhero. Brilliant, he says. Let's make her cape butterscotch yellow. She says, yes. What about the gas stop? He transforms it. He snags some quirky postcards, challenges Lily to write.

One line wonders to Ruth. They laugh over the different drafts, high-fiving on the one they choose as the winner. Mike's motivations? Evoke recognition. Be unique. Make an impact.

Twilight deepens and Lily softens up a little bit. Dad, what if she's too tired to talk? He doesn't gloss. He's warm, persuasive, and calm. Then we speak through presence, Lily. A touch, a story whispered. Those can land deeper than more words. We'll make her feel like the star she is.

Halfway mark on the road, he pulls over at a scenic overlook. Stars emerging.

He says, quick ritual, Lily, shout one thing you're grateful for about Ruth. They yell into the night, her yelling a little shy, his booming. They laugh with joy. Their bond tightens. He's not directing, he's igniting. Saturday morning comes.

At 9.25 they roll in, timed just for the morning light. Mike's wearing a soft sweater.

Mike's wearing a soft sweater with an approachable vibe. Lily's ribbon-tied ponytail sways. A nod to Ruth's flair she lived throughout her life. They created a tribute kit for her. A velvet pouch with a vintage locket. Inside, Lily put Ruth's old photo.

Lily's superhero sketch is framed in a cardboard cutout.

Mike collected a voice recorded montage from family voices sharing all of their Ruth moments. He crowdsourced it overnight via group chat.

Big breath. They cross the doorway threshold. Mike squeezes Lily's hand. We're here to cheer. Let's be her cheer squad. Let's light her up. The room has a soft hush. Ruth is frail, struggling, but alert.

Mike kneels beside her, his voice, velvety smooth. Aunt Ruth, we're here with our hearts full. You've been our North Star. Now let us reflect it back to you. He shares a tale. Ruth standing against odds.

The way she handled that inspired Mike's first big risk in his career. His words paint pictures and he notices the smiles he evokes from her. Lily unveils the sketch. You're my superhero, Aunt Ruth. Strong and sweet and you needed a cape.

Ruth's eyes mist. Her hand reaches. My dears, you've made my day shine. A faint laugh at the Cape.

Mike seals it. Your influence Ruth, it's in our bones. We'll carry it, spread it wide for the world to see. Mike's motivations here be key. Even if it's behind the scenes, even if it's on stage, make an impact, make sure he can see that he matters. Persuade.

bring Lily along, point Ruth in the right direction. There's no grand standing here, but the nurse lingers in the room and whispers over to Mike, that was beautiful. Mike nods humbly. Inside, it affirms his impact was delivered.

745. It's a motel unwind. Lily is journaling more pictures, a few words. Mike, he steps out to the balcony phone in hand. He decides to draft a heartfelt post.

to the family's private group thread. Today, we turned goodbye into gratitude. Ruth's legacy lives. Who's yours? Send. He doesn't do it for virality. It's internal. He does it for connection.

He walks back inside.

Lily, what hit home today?

She says, seeing Ruth smile, felt, it felt so big. Mike nods, his eyes sparkling. That's influence kid. You sparked joy in Ruth's final chapter. And from there, they kind of have a little brainstorm and they come up with what they call a Ruth ripple. It's a plan to share.

her stories once a month with family. They're going to be intentional about making sure those who knew Ruth and those who never knew Ruth can connect with this great person in their family. Her ripple may last for generations. Mike records a voice memo.

Moments like this remind us we are all influencers. Choose your ripple wisely.

He hits stop.

He pauses.

and says, you know what, Lily, I wanna write a quick thank you note to the staff. Let's do that right now and we'll zip back by and slip it under the door. A personal touch evoking goodwill. Mike's motivation here, make an impact.

Evoke recognition.

be unique. Lily yawns.

Dad, you make everything story worthy.

Thank you. He chuckles. Life is the story, kid. We just try to narrate it boldly.

Sunday Sunrise Comes.

and they hustle into church. 9.15, crossing the threshold, sitting in the sanctuary, Mike's arm around Lily. His presence is quiet, but potent. The sermon that day, on legacy, he leans in, whispers to Lily,

Sound familiar kid? No public share, but internally he knows. We didn't whisper goodbye. We amplified love.

And as they exit, a fellow church member chats, saying something like this, you two are glowing differently today. Mike smiles. His words, a little secretive, a little cryptic. Family magic, try it sometime. He grins, knowing he's made an impact and influenced his daughter.

The drive home peppered with what if dreams in Lily's life that are inspired by Ruth, Mike's motivations here. He wanted to make an impact, be key and advance. Mike lives his life to influence, but it isn't a spotlight. It's the light you leave on.

Next week on the eight hour goodbye, our learner dad steps into the unknown with questions, curiosity, and a stack of books. And what starts out as a simple trip to say goodbye becomes a master class in wonder.

Can you relate to the learner, Dad? Come back next week and find out.

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You stop chasing someone else's version of success. You define your own and that's where legacy really starts.