What Have I Left Behind?

A Lesson in Action and Legacy

By Boruch “Meyer” Greenbaum

I was catching up this morning with Les, who’s navigating the joys and challenges of fatherhood a bit later in life. His son is a talented young man with a world of opportunity at his feet, but Les was feeling a bit frustrated watching him overlook some simple responsibilities.

It wasn’t about trying to control his son’s life, after all, he’s an adult. It was more about seeing him miss out on chances simply because he hadn’t checked his emails about a few modeling gigs, hadn’t washed his dishes, or hadn’t even charged his electric vehicle. These little oversights were adding up, and Les just wanted him to see the value of taking care of the basics so bigger opportunities wouldn’t slip by.

Les then shared a story from his own youth that shaped his outlook. At 16, he worked on Canal Street in New York, learning the art of diamond setting. One day, back in the 1960s, he was in a taxi with a bag of jewelry and diamonds worth around $75,000. He got out of the taxi, and it drove away, with the bag still inside.

For a moment, he was sure this mistake would cost him dearly. He would be accused of stealing it, get fired, who knows what else?

Thank G-d, the driver turned the bag in, and everything was recovered. But that incident taught Les a lifelong lesson: always check what you might be leaving behind. Before leaving any place, he’d ask himself, “What have I left behind? What still needs to be done?” And then he’d do it. No excuses.

I shared with Les a teaching from the Lubavitcher Rebbe:

“המעשה הוא העיקר”

“Action is everything.”

It’s not enough just to hope for the best; it’s about taking action on the details that shape our opportunities.

In life and business, asking “What have I left behind?” is more than a precaution. It’s a habit of responsibility that prevents missed opportunities and builds a legacy of reliability.

That’s what we are teaching in the Business of Soul.