I’m writing this to you from New York City.
I’m here with my son, Hayden—he’s 17—and we’re scouting universities.
And as I sit in this country, watching him walk through these towering campuses, full of ambition and wonder, I find myself reflecting on two stories I heard recently. Both American. Both powerful. Both true.
And both soul-stirring.
One happened in the 1920s.
The other, in the 1940s.
Two different men.
Two violent deaths.
Two lives that, through tragedy, reshaped a nation.
And as I share these stories with you, I want you to notice what they awaken in your own heart.
Because these are stories about legacy.
Not the kind written in dollar signs…
But the kind etched in making the RIGHT decision when it really counts.
Story 1: Easy Eddie and the price of redemption
We begin in Chicago.
The year is 1920.
America is in the grip of Prohibition—and Chicago is a city run by the underworld.
At the center of it all: Al Capone.
The most feared man in the country.
Capone was untouchable. His enemies ended up in the river. His critics disappeared. There’s a story—true story—about how Capone once beat a man to death in the middle of a restaurant… with a baseball bat… because the man insulted him.
No one dared call the police.
No one dared stand up.
That’s how powerful he was.
But Capone’s true power didn’t come from his fists or his gun.
It came from one man:
Easy Eddie.
Easy Eddie was Capone’s personal lawyer.
And he wasn’t just good. He was genius.
No matter what charges the government brought—murder, bootlegging, racketeering—Eddie made them vanish.
He knew how to manipulate the system so well, no one could touch Capone.
And for his loyalty, he lived in unimaginable wealth.
Cars. Mansions. Clothes. Power.
But behind the tailored suits and million-dollar smile…
was a man who also happened to be a father.
Easy Eddie had a son.
A boy he loved more than anything else in the world.
And that son would ask him—
“Dad… what do you do?”
Eddie couldn’t give a straight answer.
As the boy got older, the questions sharpened:
“Where does all our money come from?”
Again… no answer.
Easy Eddie could buy him the best schools. The finest shoes. The softest sheets.
But he couldn’t give him the one thing that mattered:
A father worth admiring.
And that truth… began to gnaw at him.
He realized: I’ve given my son everything—except a good name.
And one day, he made the most courageous decision of his life.
He turned.
He flipped on Capone.
He went to the authorities.
He testified in court.
His actions helped put some of the most dangerous men in America behind bars.
And he knew…
he knew…
it would cost him everything.
One day, while driving through Chicago, another car pulled up beside him.
Gunfire erupted.
Bullets tore through the steel.
Easy Eddie’s car spun off the road.
His body was riddled with holes.
He died alone.
But in his pocket, the police found a folded piece of paper.
A poem—creased at the corners, worn from being read and reread.
“The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop,
At late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time…
For the clock may soon be still.”
That’s what he left behind.
A man who chose truth over comfort.
A clean name over a corrupt fortune.
A legacy worth dying for.
Story 2: The sky over the Pacific
Now, fast forward to the 1940s.
World War II.
A young fighter pilot launches from the USS Lexington—a massive aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
Mid-mission, he’s told to return. He’s low on fuel. But as he circles back, he spots something.
Nine Japanese bombers.
Headed straight for the Lexington.
Thousands of lives on board.
He’s alone.
No backup.
No bullets to spare.
But he doesn’t retreat.
He charges.
He fires everything he’s got.
Two enemy planes fall into the sea.
Then—he’s out of ammo.
But still, he doesn’t back down.
He begins ramming the bombers.
Flying dangerously close.
Clipping wings.
Disrupting their formation.
Throwing them into chaos.
His plane is being shot at from every direction, but he keeps going—relentless, fearless.
Eventually, the remaining bombers retreat.
The ship is saved.
This pilot becomes the first Navy aviator in World War II to earn the Medal of Honor.
His name?
Butch O’Hare.
You might know that name if you’ve flown into Chicago.
O’Hare International Airport is named after him.
O’Hare’s legacy helped inspired millions of Americans and allied troops to give their all to win the war against the Nazis and the Japanese empire.
But here’s the part I didn’t tell you.
Butch O’Hare…
was Easy Eddie’s son.
The man who once protected America’s most notorious gangster…
gave his life to give his son a clean name.
And that son went on to save thousands.
What will you leave behind?
Both men gave their lives for this country.
Both died in a violent sacrifice.
But one—gave his life to redeem himself.
The other—gave his life because of that redemption.
And maybe—just maybe—
it was Easy Eddie’s sacrifice that planted something in his son’s heart.
The courage.
The integrity.
The compass that said: This is what we stand for.
So now I want to ask you—
Not as a parent. Not as a professional. Not as a role. But as a soul:
What are you leaving behind?
Maybe your legacy isn’t your business.
Maybe it’s not your money, your house, or your donations to charity.
Maybe legacy is something quieter.
Something sacred.
Maybe legacy is…
The values and emotions you leave in the hearts of those who loved you most.
The truth you lived by when no one was clapping.
The moments your child reflects on—not what you built, but who you became.
Legacy isn’t a LinkedIn bio.
It’s what your child says about you when they bury you in the ground.
It’s the stories they tell.
The character you pass on.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that legacy is about what we acquire. Money, cars, stock portfolios.
But I believe… it’s really about what we stand for when no one’s watching.
And I believe that’s what echoes beyond the silence.
That’s legacy.
Not what you leave to your children and the people who loved you most.
But what you leave inside their hearts when they think about you.
If you enjoyed this story, leave a comment.
And for those of you who want to take this further, here are two reflective questions you can ask yourself.
Legacy reflection: 2 Questions to ask yourself today
- What would my children—or those who love me most—say about my character if I were gone tomorrow?
- Where in my life am I choosing comfort over courage… when my soul is asking me to stand for something greater?
PS – Want to be in a room where stories like this come to life?
These are the kinds of reflections we dive into at Mindvalley University—live this July in Amsterdam.
It’s not just about lectures. It’s about awakening your values.
Your voice.
Your vision.
If you’re feeling the call, this might be your place.
Learn more about MVU in Amsterdam
With love and in service,
— Vishen
121 Responses
Mr. Lakhiani has brought deep insightful moments of reflection, understanding and inspiration to my life ever since I heard his voice for the first time. This Post is no different, I want to share how significant it is for me at this very moment, as I was needing to find courage after my dear uncle, who was like my 2nd father has just recently passed away: I feel regretful not being brave enough to create learning experiences with my dear uncle, thinking I would still have time to ‘wait to be perfect’ to start anything; My heart has no way to retrieve my chance to help him in the way I felt I could, as I thought I was not yet good enough. But now that he is gone for good, I have no other choice but to understand that every step I take must be as strong as my heart is, and that: That is not only enough, it is what I need to do on this planet, it what I came to this world for. Now I will be careful about both “hurrying” and “waiting” I must learn to listen to my heart and help it expand outside those boundaries. So this story helped me a lot, specially on the last part of Easy Eddie’s Poem …”Place no faith in time…”
Dear Vishen, I am completely with you, that who we are and how we touch other’s souls is what matters. But isn’t it as well how we treat animals, our surroundings and mother earth?
In the face of climate change I ask myself, whether going on cruises and long haul flights several times a year is in compliance with caring for ourselves and everything around.
I am simply happy, if I can do a hike, a bike tour or a be at a riverside just 1 or 2 km from home. Do we always have to have the big adventures thousands of kilometres away?
Thanks from Austria
As Christians, we care deeply about our souls and making it right with our Creator. Living a righteous life is what will take us beyond this present life, because there is life after death. Repentance is what we need each time we realize that we are traveling on the wrong pedestal of life. The best decision is to repent of doing wrong and begin to do what is right.
Easy Eddie repented of wrongdoing and chose to live a right life because he knows that somebody is watching him (His Son), just as our children watch us to emulate our good deeds, there is God, who is watching and keeps the records of our conduct and rewards each one according to his/her deeds on Earth.
The reward comes in two ways: either Heaven or Hellfire.
Life doesn’t just end here on Earth; there is life after this life.
Peace be with you.
OMITES Dos historias:
Un año mas tarde, Butch pereció en combate aéreo a la edad de 29 años: 1.943.-
Y EL ASESINATO DE SU PADRE NO FUE EN LOS 20s: 1.939.-
¿PORQUE SIMPLEMENTE NO DECIA A SU HIJO: SOY ABOGADO PENAL?
I think I will keep this story and use it as well. It says a lot about how people CAN change – once they put their mind to it.
Legacy would be , Being real & live in such a way so that my soul doesn’t condemn me
Enjoy your day
Ash the Apekksha
Loved reading the two stories .
Children’s mind is like a sponge & it will absorb anything that we teach them . He was a good Dad
I remember my Dad . He didn’t say much but lived his life in such a way that gave me such good memory as a child & I can see in many ways I am imitating him in my life . His legacy was reflecting God in his life , simplicity, truthful , many lives improved because of him , allowed us to chose & be ourselves , he never ignored people in suffering, Children were his priority & I can remember his love for me
Ash the Apeksha
Terrific story…really gives us pause to think. Thanks
I am so very moved by the two stories that you graced us with Vishen. I agree, it is our love, compassion for our fellow man and our courage that touch the hearts of those we love. It is how we live our lives that truly matters, rather than what we own or acquire materially. Yes, it certainly helps to have a comfortable life, but we cannot allow it to become our master. Our values are what we will be remembered for. How well did we love, forgive, stand up for truth, and be kind and compassionate to our fellow man ❤️
Wow what an incredible story of courage in so many ways. Vishen that made me tearful and it will be a story I will hold onto when I have those moments of doubt, of I am not good enough, I am scared because we are all feeling like that in our own way, it’s just some of us too choose to go beyond those feelings and really dig deep as to what really matters.
I’m from Chicago, have flown in and out of O’Hare throughout my life and never knew this story. Thank you for sharing it. It’s well worth reflecting on. ~Jill
Wow, I am in awe of the timeliness of the universe…your stories and reflections come when I most needed to hear them. Thank you Vishen, for leaving your legacy.
The clock of life is rewired,
now everyone is the power ,
just when the hands start stop, at late or early hour.
Now is the gift, why it’s called the present
Live, love, laughter, toil using will no worries for the time,
or when the clock is still .
DEO Gratias thanks be with God almighty God Bulurru prayers
“The clock of life wound but once and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop at late or early hour ”
Dear Mindvalley and Vishen, thank you for your stories that I never realised before now.
I remember finding this poem that is in your story, only that much at the start, written on a small business card size , it was a poem my younger sister carried in her wallet.
Along with a couple of other prayer cards , that I found after her passing, while cleaning up our sisters material things.
I never knew where it came from, or maybe didn’t take notice
So far as legacy of what we leave behind or able to share.
The words of another song by Paul Young , ring true for me,
” Living in the love of the common people, smiles from the heart of the family man, daddy’s gonna buy you a dream to cling to, momma’s gonna love you just as much as she can, and she can!”
This song always resonating with my perspectives, seeing my husband’s dreaming is the ancient weave that needs passing on, from one generation to the next to our children, care for country care for mother earth, and understanding as a soul, in life we give our best quality versions of ourselves to our family most times and family also see the worst of us, as well, not as often
Where as, when we present ourselves in the world it’s always supposed to be at our best behaviour.
Important for our younger generations to know that life is subtle , we give so much of ourselves in to our children,
for those of us who have less material comforts, we really are leaning on the ancient weave of dreaming, because material wealth and spiritual wealth is shared in first nations families.
It’s another mindset that cares equally for everyone, always ensuring people are able to improve not alone, & altogether
People who earn high income can afford to share with others.
This sense of always sharing, keeping equality respect central in the values we live by, in our core treatments of one another.
I hope my near and dear ones would remember the values we carry because we remember the values our parents gave to us.
Although at age 18, I sold my car and small amount of possessions to make a conscious choice to follow in the footsteps of the life and values of Jesus Christ and Mary mother of God and Joseph, so that I could do the work of God as instruments of the Lord.
Always aspired to a humble life, spent many years believing my life would be a cloistered Nun in prayer most days.
The Mindvalley workshops and lessons for me, are tough for me to practice concentrating on areas of my life that I gave less thought to, such as plans and aiming for goals in life.
Focus on segments of the day and smoothing out the potential for increasing connections with our natural soul purpose is work!
Where I usually feel a spark as a tiny message in dreaming, that shows me the meaningful outcome that my soul seeks,
a long term goal dream of innately transmitting our best knowledge experience and loving intentions, towards our family, friends and wider community.
Love is the answer, if you are loved and you know how to give love and receive love, you will always have a good life.
This feels like our ultimate purpose to “love one another” as Jesus refers.
As we find ourselves at various levels of status in the world, after hearing the message of the holy spirit, it was difficult for me to ignore the inner work for me to live as true to my soul higher self as possible. I couldn’t pretend that I never heard the call back then, surrendering to the call was simple to me because I felt the prompts from within. Seperating myself from the world and social constructs of normal achievements and success in life is like a dream a long term goal of being different from the mainstream in life, to present ourselves as alternative views.
Personally I have never felt comfortable in this life, never aspired to glitz and glamour culture, more interested in the grass roots culture of first nations families because of their spiritual wisdom and care for each other.
Although I am someone who needs a bath tub, because it’s healing a past childhood where I felt safe and love of my parents.
As first nations traditional owners families coming together to move as one in dance movements, and sing as one in song, is true unity that most western society do the opposite and build everything around the individual, causing so many fragmented thought patterns.
Where cultural arts heritage practices being the key to oneness and respect for each others needs, are values not of our western society.
Yet your Mindvalley tribe groups are coming together to share similar thoughts and ideas now, like we have all been isolated from our true ways of being and respectful sharing, because we are in capitalist, western society
I am uncomfortable as enlightened souls are, it’s always been this way for me, because of violent coercion by others.
I did seek spiritual cleansing and healing awakening, to share the unity with our traditional owners people, proving that I never thought I was here to amass material comforts, but to make sure that social justice and reconciliation are reasons to become part of the shared movements of traditional owners celebrations of life,
Celebrate life, no matter what amount of material wealth.
I feel grateful for my family, the one I grew up in and the family I became part of , after marrying my husband.
I have no care for what anyone thinks about my character, because I know what we endured in this world as children is not going to happen to my children, because I am talking about the truth, to make things better for our future generations.
My family will probably say that I am someone who struggles with the scourge of social maladies in domestic violent behaviour, from way back.
Much as we would like to pretend this is not affecting our life, maybe they will see how I was on the cutting edge thinking different front line, of this intellectual war, about who owns what and who values what, in a modern throw away society.
Doesn’t matter, ultimately we are here together and needs to share and care altogether as one , especially if we are already united in the soul and spirit levels.
Coming together and sharing thoughts words utterances sounds we make, dance, songs movements are our healing practices sharing as one, reflection to our creator that we are able to bring our selves together and this power of unity energy , as you all know, is what moves, stirs , touches our souls.
DEO Gratias thanks be to God almighty God Bulurru hear our prayers
OMG! I so enjoyed reading these two stories.
They not only gave me goosebumps, but left me teary-eyed.
Thank you Vishen!
But here’s the part I didn’t tell you.
Butch O’Hare…
was Easy Eddie’s son.
THIS PART… Gives me GOOSEBUMPS!!!
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
BRILLIANT STORYTELLING – Vishen !!! 👏👏👏
And even more BRILLIANT ‘CHOOSING’ of the Stories to tell – About ‘LEGACY’ !!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🫡🫡🫡
Oh I loved it vishen….I love the work you are doing it’s truely inspiring more power to you mam…..it’s so deep and so soulful and extremely reflective….I wish I could learn so much more from you when it happens it happens….thanks alot for this ….also today is guru poornima 🌹 a day we bow to our guru and mentors….I have followed some videos by you n have learnt your dedication hard work and persistence….thanks for being what you are and inspiring many to hear their voice , discover their true self …. happy guru poornima 🫶🫶
Dear Vishen,
Thank you so much for sharing such a deeply moving story.
It resonated with me in a way I find hard to put into words—because it touches the very questions I’ve been asking myself about the kind of legacy I want to leave behind.
The story of Easy Eddie choosing integrity over comfort, and the way that act shaped his son’s life, reminds me that real inheritance isn’t made of money or possessions—but of the values we live by and the light we offer, even when no one seems to understand.
I’ve often been judged for walking an unusual path. People—even those closest to me—may see my journey as selfish or meaningless, simply because it doesn’t produce visible success or traditional outcomes. My own son may wonder why I pursue things that seem to give little return.
But what they may not see is that I’m trying to build something deeper. I’m trying to become a person who can offer light to others still lost in the darkness I once knew—because I’ve been there. I’ve stumbled through that void, and slowly, quietly, I began to see flickers of light—many of which came from Mindvalley. Those sparks became whispers of hope. And now, I feel called to pass that hope on, to become a living reminder that change is always possible, no matter where you start.
Maybe my name will never be on a plaque, and maybe my legacy won’t be counted in numbers.
But if one heart feels less alone, if one person dares to dream again after hearing my story—then that is enough.
This is what I want to leave behind: not just knowledge, but light.
With deep gratitude,
Nuchanat Kraprayoon
Thailand
Wow what stories!! I got goosebumps. Thank you for these and also the food for thought. Aprreciated!
Mr. Lakhiani has brought deep insightful moments of reflection, understanding and inspiration to my life ever since I heard his voice for the first time. This Post is no different, I want to share how significant it is for me at this very moment, as I was needing to find courage after my dear uncle, who was like my 2nd father has just recently passed away: I feel regretful not being brave enough to create learning experiences with my dear uncle, thinking I would still have time to ‘wait to be perfect’ to start anything; My heart has no way to retrieve my chance to help him in the way I felt I could, as I thought I was not yet good enough. But now that he is gone for good, I have no other choice but to understand that every step I take must be as strong as my heart is, and that: That is not only enough, it is what I need to do on this planet, it’s what I came to this world for. Now I will be careful about both “hurrying” and “waiting” I must learn to listen to my heart and help it expand outside those boundaries. So this story helped me a lot, specially on the last part of Easy Eddie’s Poem …”Place no faith in time…
For the clock may soon be still.” …”At a late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will…”
Thanks again to all MindValley Team members, and more deeply than never: Thank you Mr. Vishen Lakhiani, for writing with your heart and keep sharing with us your understanding about this life’s journey.