Legacy. Impact. Or Noise?
I recently came across Rachel Greenberg’s powerful post on Medium titled “The Only Two Businesses Worth Building (If You Have a Conscience),” and it stopped me in my tracks.
Her premise? The only businesses worth building are Legacy businesses or Impact businesses. Everything else is just noise.
And I couldn’t agree more.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs from CPG founders trying to get on grocery shelves; to retail and restaurant owners shaping neighborhoods; to artists and cultural entrepreneurs creating platforms for community connection. I’ve also been pitched more business ideas than I can count. Some brilliant, some mediocre, and some… let’s just say, less than inspired.
But here’s the common thread I’ve seen: the ideas that last, the businesses that thrive, are always rooted in a solid ‘why.’ And not just any why…a ‘why’ tied to impact or legacy.
Here’s the Nitty Gritty…
Legacy businesses are the ones built to endure. They’re not about ego or quick wins. They’re about creating something that outlives us. Something that will benefit our children and their children. They create stability, opportunity, and a foundation that’s meant to last.
Impact businesses are the ones that move the needle. They solve real problems. They make lives better, communities stronger, cultures preserved, and futures brighter. They improve health, extend opportunities, reduce inequities, and inspire change.
The kicker?
These two categories often overlap.
Building with legacy in mind almost always creates impact.
Building for impact almost always leaves behind legacy.
Everything else? Frivolous. Noise.
I’ve seen many entrepreneurs burn out chasing trends, building businesses with ‘whys’ that don’t actually matter to them or to the world. And when the challenges hit (because they always do), those businesses crumble fast.
But entrepreneurs who build with purpose? They endure. They’re fueled not just by profit margins or growth charts, but by something deeper. They have a reason to push through setbacks, pivots, and sleepless nights.
That’s why every effort I’ve led has been rooted in the pursuit of impact, whether:
- Helping shape Harlem’s commercial renaissance;
- Launching accelerators to scale CPG founders; or
- Producing cultural events that bring people together.
Because for me, building without meaning has never been an option.
Now, in this new chapter of my life, my focus is on helping entrepreneurs, especially women over 50 and creative founders, build businesses that matter.
Businesses that are designed for more than vanity metrics or quick exits.
Businesses that create COMMUNITY, spark JOY, preserve CULTURE, and leave an imprint on the world.
Because here’s the hard truth:
If your business doesn’t create legacy or impact, what’s the point?
- Nikoa Evans
At the end of the day, profits fade, algorithms shift, trends come and go.
But legacy and impact? Those are the only true multipliers.
They are the reason your work matters long after the ink dries or the campaign ends.
As you step into your next chapter, ask yourself:
Am I building for legacy?
Am I creating impact?
Or am I just adding to the noise?
The choice is yours. But really think about whether the ‘WHY’ for the business you’re building will keep you going when the grind gets real. (Because it will get real.)
So today, this is my “Call to Action” to all founders:
Build something that matters. The world doesn’t need more noise.
It needs your impact.
Let’s get gritty and grow together.
Nikoa
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