What Joshua Busby Taught Me About Legacy

Connection, legacy and the quiet ripples we leave behind

I lost a friend last week.

Joshua Busby passed away, and the world feels a little emptier for it. He was one of those rare humans who knew exactly how to show up for people. Not in grand gestures, but in small, consistent moments that reminded you that you mattered.

Joshua knew he had limited time on this earth.

It wasn't a secret. But he never complained about it. Never used it as currency for sympathy. Instead, it seemed to give him a clarity that most of us spend decades searching for.

While most of us were doom-scrolling, Joshua would randomly slide into my DMs:

"Hey Dave, just thinking about you and your family today. Hope you're all well."

That's it. No agenda. No favour to ask. Just a moment of genuine connection.

I didn't even realise how he had changed my behaviour until after his death. It was only when I joined an audio space celebrating Joshua's life last week that it hit me. As people shared how he had impacted them, I suddenly understood that his simple check-ins had rewired something in me. I had started doing the same thing for others. A quick message. A simple check-in. Not because I had to, but because Joshua's small act of humanity had created a template in my brain that felt right to replicate.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Impact

We're obsessed with tracking impact these days.

Open rates. Click-throughs. Engagement metrics. As if human connection can be distilled into a dashboard.

Joshua never tracked his impact on me. He didn't send those messages as part of some strategic outreach campaign. He just cared, acted on it, and moved on with his day.

And that's the uncomfortable truth about real impact. It's often invisible to the person creating it.

The moments when we most profoundly shape others rarely come with analytics or instant feedback. They happen in quiet spaces, between people, and reveal themselves only with time.

What struck me during that audio space was how people who never even knew Joshua were taking away lessons and love from our shared stories. Your impact has a ripple effect that extends beyond what you can see. You may be helping someone you'll never even know.

My friend Nick wrote a beautiful tribute to Joshua that inspired me to share my own experience. It reminded me that even when someone else has already spoken, your perspective might be exactly what someone in your circle needs to hear.

Remembering Joshua Busby

Legacy Isn't What You Leave Behind

A few months ago, I wrote something while thinking about what I'll someday leave my children:

"Legacy isn't what you leave behind.
It's what others choose to carry forward."

Joshua's passing reminded me of these words. They feel even more true now.

It's not your achievements, awards, or the zeros in your bank account. It's the small behaviours that others found valuable enough to incorporate into their own lives.

It's the ripple that continues long after the stone has sunk to the bottom.

When I see Joshua's profile picture now, it's a reminder. Not just to miss him. But to pay forward what he gave me. To make others feel noticed. Remembered. Present in my thoughts even when they're not present in my day.

I believe we get back what we put out into the world.

If we're only obsessed with our revenue and success, why should we expect others to care about us? Joshua wasn't preoccupied with metrics or status. He was invested in people. And the return on that investment continues to compound in ways he couldn't have imagined.

Success isn't just what you build. It's what you build in others.

I find myself wondering: What behaviours am I modelling that others might pick up? What small acts of good am I performing that might ripple outward in ways I'll never see?

Carrying It Forward

So here's my simple ask in memory of Joshua.

Send that text. Make that call. Leave that comment. Share that post.

Don’t do it as part of your content calendar or networking strategy. Not because it might yield some future benefit.

Do it with nothing but genuine care. Do it because connection is the point. Do it because making someone feel seen might be the most important thing you accomplish today.

And know that you may never see the full impact of that small act of humanity. That's not the point. The point is that you did it at all.

If someone has created a positive ripple in your life, maybe today's the day to let them know. Not because you need anything. Just because it's true.

Rest in peace, Joshua. Your ripple continues.

Until next time,
Dave