A Story to Tell:
In the world of literature, philosophy and history, which I profess that I enjoy reading, researching and cross-referencing - and applying in strategic management, for the benefits of businesses and entrepreneurship, I found and promulgated the idea of Legacy Modelling this 1st January 2025..
This article introduces you to why legacy modelling is important to business, leadership, strategy, management and networking.
Do you remember receiving a Golden Key on your 21st birthday?
Your grandma gave your wife, a jade ring?
Or your grandfather gave you a tiger claw chain?
The Term:
The term "legacy" is widely used - legacy system for example information systems, legacy planning in insurance and legacy in education whereby if your family studied in a premier private school such as Eton and in my case, Penang Free School, then your children can continue to study there.
An amount of money or property left to someone in a will. Your heritage, your birthright, your gift, your heirloom, your inheritance or your hereditament. Something that you got from your previous generations or ancestors or something that you created as gifts to your future generations.
"My grandmother died and unexpectedly left me a small legacy"
The long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life. "Trump's decisions will leave a telling point in global community be it for good or for bad."
"The Qin dynasty - Shi Huang Ti gave unified China its name."
On top of attempting to write biographies for leaders such as Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, I got to know others such as Dato' Lee who had worked on tracing 50 generations of the Lim's family. How many thousands of years of history is that? Consider the following genealogical records::
The recent marriage news of Myolie Wu1 and Philip Lee triggered the happiness of the Wo Hang villagers again. There was a rhyming couplet pasted in front of the Lee clan’s ancestral hall, expressed in Chinese as: 龍到鳯臺跨鳯閣，鳯生龍子躍龍門 (It is translated as Dragon arrives at Phoenix Pavilions crossing over Phoenix Court; Phoenix gives birth to Dragon son jumping over Dragon Gate.) This rhyming couplet was a demonstration of the importance of Chinese custom for those sons of the clan and the success of extending generations of the Chinese patriarchal society. Philip Lee Shing-tak is a Chinese returning to Wo Hang from overseas (Britain). He is a son of the eleventh generation at Wo Hang. Their marriage ceremony included some Chinese traditional customs and rituals on 28 December 2015. According to the “Genealogy of Lee Clan in Sheung Wo Hang Tsuen”, Lee Huo-tak was the descendant of the royal family of the Tang Dynasty who was born in the 18th year of Lizong reign (1242) of the Southern Sung Dynasty. He migrated to Xibeicun, Fenglanggang at Shanghang county in Fujian province from the north. When Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty abolished the “Chin Gai Ling” (coastal evacuation decree - early Qing government ordered coastal inhabitants to move 50 miles inland to forbid their contact with anti-Qing person), numerous Hakka clans migrated to that area in groups. Most of them were families of Lee, Ho, Tang and Tsang while the development of Lee’s family surpassed the rest of them. The founding ancestor of the Lee clan in Sheung Wo Hang was Lee Tak-wah who originally resided in Buolo county. According to the family history, he brought his parents’ bones together with the clansmen to resettle in Sheung Wo Hang Tsuen in Sha Tau Kok in 1688. “Wo Hang” literally means a valley with abundant harvest of rice. Villages in Sheung Wo Hang Tsuen were living on farming. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/genealogical-analysis-of-lee8217s-clan-in-the-establishment-of-the-wo-hang-village-in-the-eighteenth-century-36854.html Others: https://www.facebook.com/groups/412082416241916/posts/1623368605113285/
In Japan:
In Japan, there are 5 main clans: To become a Shogun, one might even resort to changing the name or the family's story to associate with the 5 main clans so that people will be influenced to follow the army.
In Malaysia:
Parameswara the founder of the Malaccan empire comes from Indonesia. We are heavily connected with the local rulers as well as from Indonesia, Thailand and so on with wider emigration by non-Orang Asli ("original people"). Whilst the Malays may not have a family name per se like the Chinese clans, there are those with titles like Tengku, Tunku, Daeng, Wan, Megat, Nik, Raja and Che.
In the UK, Denmark, Italy, Greece and other parts of Europe:
The royal families are all interrelated in one way or another. Like the Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and so on, from feudalism to modern, everyone seek to be recognised or be close to the ruling families. Dukes, Earls, Barons and so on. Other families chose names that are associated with their original occupation like Fletcher, Stone, Bowyer., Mason and so on.
In the Middle East, Africa and Americas:
Everyone wants to be related to someone or claims to be. In connection will be good as well such as the Kennedys and Bushes. Some are rumoured to be members of elite clubs.
Start Your Own
Now if you do not have a strong background, like Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Jack Ma, what do you do?
Build your legacy.
Have a framework. Define your values, Vision and Mission;
Evaluate your position from all angles - connection, financial, familial, personal strength, occupational, enterprises, education and so on.
Determine your structure and governance.
Build your team.
Develop a strategic plan.
Establish your operation setup.
Monitor, review and adapt.
What you are about to embark on in this legacy modelling is not just for business or finance but two main reasons:
First, a survival system that lasts for generations and can be repeated successfully, and Second, a testament that you are leaving behind your footprints like Admiral Cheng Ho or Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Survival Systems
There was an ancient person in China, everywhere he went even if he was kicked out by a Prince or a King of that particular state (at one time, China had many states such as Qin, Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, and Qi during the Warring states period), he will rose from the ashes with close to zero to become the richest or best person in the state. Of course, he was also smart enough to know when to quit or leave before he was killed or not wanted.
Testament:
Before 50AD, various crossings were made during all the ages the scattered Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement nearby,
50AD, the Roman empire built the first proper bridge for the army to move from one place to another more efficiently and effectively.
This bridge was made even greater importance in 1209-1831 and today, it supports the heartbeat of the country.
Which bridge is this? Who built them? Why is it so famous that there's even a song for it?
Should you be interested in our strategic management work, kindly contact us at cs@samarata.com.my or WhatsApp: 012-3715 012.
Thank you.
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