The Power of Creating a Legacy
In our increasingly individualistic and capitalist society, it is easy to get caught in the hamster wheel of career goals and the thrill of the chase for success - striving to achieve the next promotion, the next salary increase or the larger(est) bonus. We think that status and money will give us meaning in our lives, or at the very least allow us to buy the latest gadget, the expensive clothes, the fanciest car or the house in the right neighbourhood. And while these symbols of status and success can bring us joy and money can certainly provide safety and security, we are humans who are inherently social beings, craving connection and safety. What we are truly seeking often cannot be bought or ‘achieved’ - acceptance, connection and to feel like we are moving forward in our lives and making a difference in the world.
I read a LinkedIn post recently lamenting that after leaving an organisation, there was no evidence of the hard work, commitment and sacrifice they made for the company. People had moved on and new faces took their place, technology had advanced, and the work that kept them awake at night seemed insignificant. And while they were compensated for their time and expertise and obviously their decisions lay the foundations for the company’s future success, what they were seeking was a legacy, a symbol that they had made a difference to someone and left the organisation in a better position.
Being remunerated fairly for your skills, expertise and contributions is a given and should be the baseline for any role. But us humans crave more. We are looking for how our contributions are woven into the fabric of the company ethos. We want to know that we have made a difference in the lives of others, however small.
In many ways, clinical research has fallen into the same trap. The industry has become consumed by protocols, compliance, and financial pressures. These structures are necessary, we obviously need rigour, funding, and accountability. But when the processes take centre stage, the people behind them fade into the background. Researchers, coordinators, and clinicians can start to feel like cogs in a machine rather than contributors to something larger. This leads to burnout, disengagement, and a decline in mental health that threatens the very outcomes the industry is built to deliver.
Yet the true purpose of clinical research has always been to improve health and well-being. Every late night spent reviewing data, every difficult conversation with a participant, every ethical dilemma weighed is part of a much bigger story, helping people live healthier, longer lives. When we communicate the value our people bring, when they see how their daily efforts connect to real impact, the work regains meaning.
This is where Sunrise Clinical stands apart. Our commitment is not only to the integrity of the research process, but also to the people driving it. By supporting the people we work with, valuing their contributions, and showing them the legacy of their work, we believe we can strengthen both the human experience and the scientific outcomes. Because when people feel their work matters, the research itself becomes stronger, more sustainable, and more impactful.
At the end of the day, processes will change, technologies will advance, and organisations will evolve. What endures is the legacy of how we treated people along the way and the difference we made in their lives. In clinical research, that legacy is twofold: the healthier futures we create for patients, and the meaningful careers we build for those who dedicate themselves to the work. At Sunrise Clinical, that is the measure of success we hold ourselves to.