8 Actions Needed To Leave A Leadership Legacy

What does it take to leave a legacy that benefits others?  On Wednesday, November 10th acclaimed Hollywood producer and director Dino De Laurentiis died.  The USA Today did a wonderful tribute to him two days later.

Here are some of his accomplishments:

• Produced more than 500 films.
• Nominated for an Academy Award over 30 times, winning twice.
• 2001 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award winner.

I do not know about the level of character De Laurentiis had or what type of man he was.  However, this article did bring to light eight key leadership actions he took in his career that can teach us much about leaving a legacy.

1. You Must Pay A Personal Price For Your Dreams To Be Realized – With no income available, a 17-year old De Laurentiis worked as a movie extra to provide the resources needed to complete his studies at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.  Leaders, the level of your legacy will not exceed the price you are willing to pay to see your dreams realized.
2. Develop Multiple Skills Within Your Discipline – By age 20, De Laurentiis had worked as a general laborer, prop man, cashier, assistant director, and unit production manager.  Leaders, are you becoming an expert in all areas of your craft?
3. Possess High Confidence – Leaders, no one else will believe in you unless you believe in yourself.
4. Have A Resource Strategy – After securing a financial backer, De Laurentiis was able to launch his production company.  Leaders, a resource strategy is needed for your dreams to become reality?
5. Show Your Creativity – De Laurentiis was one of the first to produce films set among the under-resourced working class.  Leaders, is coming up with new, creative ideas part of your leadership?  What are you “the first” at?
6. Have Big Ideas – In the movie War and Peace, he was one of the first to have large, grand-scale battle scenes in a movie.  Leaders, what are you working on BIG!
7. Be Able To Identify Talent – In the well-known 1976 remake of King Kong, De Laurentiis discovered the now famous actress Jessica Lange.  Leaders, what talented person have you identified and enlisted lately?
8. Know Your Audience – De Laurentiis once said “The audience wants to be attracted, not the critics.  The audience wants to be attracted by a great story.  The audience – you must deliver to the audience emotion.”  Leaders, do you know your audience or are you answering questions that no one is asking?

Leaders, implement these eight practices and you will be on your way to having a career with lasting impact.  How are you doing?

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