This Is Not About You - Pt 2

It's Okay To Be Forgotten

This post centers on a quote from my good friend Brady Boyd. He shared it with me during a podcast conversation a few months ago. It wasn’t the main point of the discussion, but when he said it, the words hit me like fireworks on the 4th of July. It resonated so deeply that I haven’t been able to shake it since.

He said:

“Leadership is about doing the right things, for the right reasons, for a really long time. Then being willing to die and be forgotten.” - Brady Boyd

At first glance, this quote might seem heavy, even discouraging. It speaks of sacrifice, of working without recognition, and of the reality that one day, your name may fade into obscurity. But what if the message of this quote isn’t a burden but an invitation—a call to freedom?

In a world that constantly demands more from us—more visibility, more achievements, more legacy-building—these words remove the pressure to perform. They gently remind us: it’s not about you. Leadership was never meant to be a vehicle for self-promotion or personal glory. Instead, it’s about faithfulness, humility, and obedience to the call of God.

This quote frees us from the exhausting pursuit of proving our worth. It takes the weight off our shoulders—the weight of trying to impress, to gain approval, to ensure that our efforts are remembered. It shifts the focus from building a legacy to simply doing the work in front of us, trusting God with the results.

When you embrace this truth, you realize something profound: you don’t have to carry the pressure of being seen or celebrated. The need for validation fades, and the joy of simply serving where God has placed you takes its place. The focus shifts from achieving outcomes to embracing the process.

The modern narrative tells us that leadership is about influence, visibility, and leaving a lasting mark. But this quote challenges that idea. It invites us into a countercultural mindset where leadership isn’t about applause but obedience. It’s not about building platforms but about building people. It’s not about striving for recognition but about showing up, day after day, to do the work God has called us to do.

And here’s the beauty of it: when we release the need to be noticed, we also release the anxiety of constantly measuring up. We find peace in the fact that God sees what no one else does. He sees the unseen moments, the quiet sacrifices, the effort poured out in private. And He values faithfulness more than any human accolades ever could.

Far from being discouraging, this perspective is liberating. It reminds us that leadership doesn’t have to be about grand gestures or public praise. It can be as simple as doing the right thing, for the right reasons, over and over again—even if no one else ever notices.

And yes, being forgotten might sound harsh at first, but it’s not. It’s freeing. It’s a reminder that our significance doesn’t come from what we leave behind but from who we’re living for. If the work we’re doing is for God, then nothing is wasted, and no sacrifice is unseen.

So, let this quote sink in: “Do the right things, for the right reasons, for a really long time. Then be willing to die and be forgotten.” It’s not a call to despair—it’s a call to trust. To trust that what God has called you to do matters, even if it’s never noticed by the world. To trust that your faithfulness, not your fame, is what pleases Him. And to trust that, in the end, it’s not about being remembered—it’s about being faithful.

When we embrace this perspective, we’re free to lead without fear, to serve without striving, and to live with the confidence that our efforts are held and honored by the One who called us. That’s not discouraging—it’s a gift. And it’s the kind of leadership that truly lasts.