When it comes to finishing strong, Wilma Rudolph is an amazing example. She is the absolute proof that nothing is impossible.

Born prematurely, in a family of 21 children, with little to no resources to sustain a professional sports career, Wilma had to face even bigger challenges when she was stricken with polio. Not to mention she was African American and it was the 1950s, which made things even more complicated.

But she had a fire burning inside her, an unstoppable strength that nothing, not even polio or social barriers, could ever stop her. When most would never have even tried, she rose up and asked the world to watch her make history. By the time she was 12, she had overcome polio, started to walk again, to her doctor’s’ surprise, and took up athletics. Eight years later Wilma defied all odds and won three gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Rome, in 1960.

Believe it or not, Olympic gold was not how she finished strong. Wilma left a legacy in so many ways, but non greater than how she shared her accomplishments and skills with the rest of the world. She retired shortly afterwards, in 1962, and then devoted the rest of her life to coaching underprivileged children.

Finishing strong is not just about closing a solid month of sales, obtaining great reviews, or even breaking records. Finishing strong is about the legacy we leave. In order to finish strong we must add value to our community. To finish strong we need to help others find success along the way. Finish strong by doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

How will you finish strong? If you left this world today, what would be your legacy?