From Acorns to Oaks: How to Build a Lasting Business Legacy in 2026
Autumn is fully here. On a recent walk, the air was still, the forest quiet, and the ground was a crunchy carpet of leaves in shades of amber, rust, and gold. What was supposed to be a quick walk turned into an 2-hour one, as I kept stopping to admire the knarled trunks of ancient oak trees and the acorns scattered beneath them.
As I bent down to pick one up, I felt a spark of awareness, like the trees were imparting their age-old wisdom to me. Each acorn, tiny and seemingly insignificant, has the potential to grow into a mighty oak. With nourishment, patience, and time, it transforms into something that stands proud, gives back to its surroundings, and leaves a lasting mark on the world.
And if acorns can become oaks, so can the small, deliberate actions we take in our businesses.
What Does Business Legacy Really Mean?
Legacy isn’t a word you hear much in the world of small or micro businesses. Many founders focus on revenue, growth, or clients, often overlooking the bigger picture. But business legacy is different.
Legacy isn’t about empire-building or being the loudest voice in your industry. It’s about impact, persistence, and influence, like the work you create that lives on after you’ve moved on.
Legacy can show up in the clients you help, the systems you create, the knowledge you share, or the way your work shapes others. And the amazing part? Anyone can leave a legacy, no matter how small your business may seem.
A Real-Life Example: Copperfox Model Horses
On my unconventional career journey, I created the first British brand of 1:9 scale model horses: Copperfox Model Horses. Between 2016 and 2018, we produced over 12,000 models. Every single one passed through my hands. I designed it, chose its colors, brainstormed its name and backstory, inspected it in the factory, packed it carefully, and hand-signed each certificate.
Years later, I still spot Copperfox models online, on eBay, Vinted, or in people’s photos. Each sighting feels like a little shortcut back in time as I know that model, intimately. 🥹
This is legacy in action, but it goes beyond the models themselves. Copperfox shook up the UK model horse market, inspiring other manufacturers to produce models of British breeds, something that didn’t exist before. That’s the ripple effect of a meaningful business legacy.
Why Legacy Matters for Your Business in 2026
As 2026 starts to peek over the horizon, reflecting on your business legacy is more than philosophical. It’s strategic. Knowing the impact you want to create can guide your decisions, focus your energy, and shape a business that’s both sustainable and impactful.
Thinking about legacy helps:
Provide clarity: Know what matters most and prioritise aligned projects, clients, and collaborations.
Shape decision-making: Make choices based on values and long-term impact rather than trends or social media pressure.
Create motivation: Focus on meaningful work rather than just short-term wins.
Leave a lasting footprint: Your influence, knowledge, and systems ripple out long after the day-to-day work is done.
How to Identify Your Business Legacy
So, how do you start thinking about legacy in your business? Here are some prompts:
Reflect on what you’ve already created, for example which products, services, or projects are making an impact today?
Notice your quiet influence: are you inspiring others or shaping your industry without realizing it?
Plan intentional actions for 2026: what small steps can you take that will have long-term impact?
Align your choices: which clients, collaborations, or initiatives resonate most with the legacy you want to leave?
Visualize your future business: imagine it in 10 years. What stories would people tell about it?
Even simply asking these questions is powerful as it creates space for intentional planning and reflection.
Building Legacy Through Small, Intentional Actions
Legacy isn’t about being perfect, loud, or viral. It’s about intention, persistence, and consistency.
The small steps you take today, like the projects you commit to, the clients you serve intentionally, the systems you build, are like acorns. With patience and care, they will grow into mighty oaks that define your business impact for years to come.
To help you get started, consider:
What do you want your business to stand for next year?
What impact do you want to create, influence, or leave behind?
Which small actions today will grow into something meaningful tomorrow?
How can your business reflect your values, personality, and unique approach?
Your legacy might be big or small. It could be about the clients you help, the systems you design, the stories you tell, or simply the example you set. Every intentional choice matters.
Your Legacy is Waiting
I’d love to hear your thoughts. What does legacy mean to you in your business? What do you hope it will become in 2026? Drop me a message, and share your thoughts.
The small, intentional choices you make today can grow into a legacy you’ll be proud of tomorrow. Stay courageous, keep creating, and build your legacy one deliberate step at a time.
Onward and Upwards
- Becky :)
