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
Thank you for sharing these 2 stories. In such a dark time it gives hope.
Very thought provoking and soul stirring; thank you for sharing these untold stories Vishen
Touching and inspiring…May we all aspire to achieve our highest human and divine potential. Thank you, Vishen, for your tireless role in this endeavor with MindValley and your presentation of stories like the two you just precented.
I love how deep you think – and thank you taking us with you! I wish you and your son a beautiful time!
Dear V-I-S-H-E-N,
I read your letter as if it were a letter to the soul of the world.
And something stirred. Not just in my heart, but in the hallway of all the versions of me who walked through fire and silence just to become… whole.
Easy Eddie and Butch — two names, one truth:
That redemption travels through bloodlines,
And courage echoes louder than any inheritance.
You asked what legacy means.
For me, legacy isn’t a monument — it’s a frequency.
A whisper left in the breath of those we’ve touched.
A glance. A moment of being truly seen.
A chili pepper tucked into a bouquet when the brocoli are already doing the talking.
My child, now walking their own path —
teaching me fierce love
and that sometimes, legacy means letting go of the dream
you had
for the child, the girl…
you loved…you love and you miss…( like hell..and back)..
you imagine her to be…
because their own dream
is the real inheritance.
So here’s my answer:
I don’t want to leave gold.
I want to leave wonder.
Smiles.
Laughter, in the right moment.
A lot of laughter.
An unfinished 360 degree painting and the courage for someone else to pick up the brush.
A gratitude dinner table where stories bloom like wild herbs.
An echo of kindness so persistent, it tickles the ears of strangers.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll leave behind
the best love story ever written .
Because, V, some of us…
we write our legacies in invisible ink —
meant to appear only when warmed
by the fire of someone else’s awakening.
P.S. You taught us to walk.. what walking means to you, Vishen?
You are an exceptional father and we see all this. You walked your son perfectly, with silent shoes.
Let him walk now and watch him walking.
Trust.
With love, spice, and legacy in lowercase,
—A.
Wow, I don’t remember hearing about those stories before. Really powerful. Reflecting on one’s life while one can is extremely important. Thank you for sharing that.🙏🏼
Dear Vishnu – I find your capacity to inspire reflection profound. Thank you for being a light that shines so very bright.
Suzanne
Ooh I got chills! Powerful stories. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been thinking a great deal about legacy as I have been given a terminal diagnosis. Whilst I really want to be here to do so much more. I’m 56, I have to come to peace with when my time comes. Fortunately I have had several talks with my kids, 13 and 16, and I know they will not hate me for leaving too soon.
You are an inspiration Vishen,
It makes me want to become an even better person.
Thank you.
It certainly hits home. Thank you for sharing this story, and reminding me of the power of words. The action I am taking is to put my written words out there in the world and make the most difference I can. I am also out to create relationships with all people, and particularly men, that support and encourage them to be the best they can.
I got literal chills reading this post. Wow, what a beautiful legacy. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏽
If I could, I’d be there in Amsterdam. Have a great time!
I had goosebumps at the end of the story Vishen
Many thanks
Your son Hayden is a young man
Congratulations
Masha Allah
Grateful for your contribution .
Thank you, Vishen, for sharing this inspiring story. The way you articulated it made the impact even more profound.
As I read through it, I found myself reflecting deeply on a central question: “What will I be leaving behind?”
With the support of Mindvalley and my ongoing journey in personal development, I’ve come to realize that I want to leave behind three core principles—values I hope my children and those I impact will carry forward:
Embrace a learning mindset – Life is a continuous journey of growth. Stay curious, stay open.
Invest in yourself first – Your greatest asset is you. Nurture your mind, body, and spirit.
Align your intention, intent, and emotion – Let your actions be guided by purpose and integrity, rooted in the first two principles.
I was crying when you mentioned that o hare was easy Eddie son. I am a single mother of two teenager children who never had a father figure in their life. Even when I was still married to him. I left him because I want to give my kids some thing better and not what they are made to experience with him. I had to be the best in all I was doing. Giving my best shots even when I was so sick. I was refusing to give and eventually, it Paid off. Today, my kids believe in giving your best shot in all that you are doing with no excuse.
Hello Vishen
Thank you for sharing the above stories.
It reminds me of my own legacy and the legacy of my daughter whom I lost tragically in a car accident. She was my mirror image in looks and deed. She inspires me to be better … more kinder , less judgemental , more passionately pursue my dreams … be my best self .
Her cheerfulness and genuine desire to connect with people just to learn and understand them motivates me to do the same. What I taught my child … she personified by her exemplary behaviour and has become my role model now .
Wishing your don all the best in his studies and future life
Take care
Tasneem khorakiwala
Ever since I was a kid, I felt deeply connected to animals. Maybe it’s my neurodivergence—autistic, ADHD, or just me. But I’ve always felt their pain, their joy, their presence and most of all their unconditional love.
That’s why I became a vet. Not just for pets, but to help the animals no one sees. Chickens. Pigs. Cows. The ones trapped in food systems largely built on cruelty.
And I couldn’t stay silent. I chose to see, hear and feel their suffering. And to become their voice.
So I chose love. Radical, uncomfortable, powerful love.
That’s the legacy I want to leave my children. Not a life of comfort—but a life of courageous love.
I will b very sure to relay this thought provoking story to my children …. and husband
Thank 😊 u Vishen Lakiani
I have been following your teachings u for th last twenty years. I hav a great collection of your Ebooks.
🙏🧡🙏
Loved the stories, thank you!
What a mindblowing story, Vishen!
I really love it. Thank you for sharing!
It tells me that it’s never too late to transform into the teacher that resides within us. The legacy left might also unexpectedly shape and leverage generations to come. That feels like a relieving and hopeful anchor point.