25 September 2025
Margo Lestz
CEO & Consultant
Building a legacy means creating something that lasts beyond your lifetime; something that continues to influence or benefit others after you’re gone. It’s about the impact you leave behind, whether that’s through your work, relationships, values, or financial contributions.
Today, we share three powerful stories from Genistar representatives who embody different aspects of legacy building. From a chef who chose family time over career demands, to a couple who broke free from financial struggles, to a leader whose personal tragedy became the foundation for helping thousands of families—these stories demonstrate how one opportunity can transform not just your own life, but the lives of countless others.
Family Legacy: Alan & Andrea Palmer's Journey From Exhaustion to Freedom
Alan Palmer spent 25 years perfecting his craft in professional kitchens across Europe. From Northern Ireland to Norway, New York to London, he climbed the culinary ladder until he reached his dream role: head chef at a prestigious London restaurant. But success came at a crushing cost.
"I used to get up at 4:30 in the morning, get home at 11, 12, sometimes 1 o'clock in the morning. Sometimes six, seven days a week," Alan recalls.
The relentless schedule meant missing precious moments with his family. The turning point came when Alan requested time off for a family event and was denied.
"That really struck something with me, that something needed to change," he explains.
Despite the fear of leaving a quarter-century career behind, Alan made the bold decision to resign and join Genistar.
Taking the Leap of Faith
"I'd never been in business, I was always an employee," Alan admits. When he shared his doubts with his wife, Andrea, her response was exactly what he needed to hear:
"Alan, look, you need to jump. If you don't jump now, you're never going to know you're going to hit some rocks along the way, but you need to jump."
The decision to leave hospitality in 2019 was nerve-wracking, but Alan now describes it as "definitely the best choice for me and my family." Through Genistar, he's not only regained control of his time but is building something meaningful for future generations.
Building a Legacy of Family Memories
The transformation has been remarkable. Alan now enjoys being present for his daughter Clara's childhood in ways he couldn't be for his son.
"I've missed eight years of my son growing up through hospitality. I just wasn't planning on doing that again with my daughter."
Within Genistar, Alan's progress has been swift—achieving Executive Vice President status quickly and advancing to Senior Vice President.
"I'm building the blocks to teach other people what we do to help families become financially independent, to educate and empower other people."
His advice to others considering a similar change?
"If you're happy doing what you're doing, that's fantastic, but also why not skill yourself, learn a new trade, have a bit of fun in the process, and who knows? It may take you down a journey that you’d never have imagined."
Financial Legacy: Dolly & William Bright's Transformation from Struggle to Success
The Bright family's journey exemplifies how financial education can break cycles of struggle and create lasting prosperity. Dolly's background in the Philippines, where her parents ran a small business and farm, instilled early entrepreneurial lessons. After studying midwifery and working in Manila's largest hospital, she met William and eventually moved to the UK to work as a healthcare assistant.
Despite Dolly working during the day and William on night shifts—their financial situation remained precarious.
"We were living from paycheck to paycheck and we were in financial misery," Dolly explains. William adds with characteristic humour, "Every end of the month we argued because we didn't have money left... I wasn’t worried about the end of the world, I was worried about the end of the month."
The Secret Success
When Dolly discovered Genistar through a friend, she was immediately drawn to the concept of financial education.
"I was really amazed with the concept of financial education because this was what we needed. We had been spending so many hours in school and university, but financial education had never been taught to us."
However, William remained skeptical, so Dolly took an unconventional approach—she joined Genistar secretly. While William worked night shifts, she hosted presentations for friends, successfully enrolling five people and achieving Team Leader status without his knowledge.
The truth came out when Dolly won a company cruise trip. William's surprise turned to respect as he witnessed the positive changes in their family's financial situation and Dolly's growing confidence and success.
Unity in Success
Eventually, William had a change of heart.
"I was so adamant and so hesitant to be part of Genistar, but and by 2019, it was a complete change of mindset. I supported her fully," he explains.
His role evolved into being Dolly's support system—managing household responsibilities, caring for the children, and serving as her personal assistant and driver.
"We aim to be in unity together, but we believe that in unity, there is blessing," William shares.
Their teamwork approach has been remarkably successful, with Dolly reaching number one in the company rankings.
Legacy of Self-Belief for the Next Generation
Perhaps most inspiring is how their success has built self confidence in their children and allowed them to dream big.
Daniel, their youngest son has set an ambitious goal: "My goal by 18 is to carry on her legacy. I want to be the CEO of Genistar."
Moses, their eldest son has equally bold aspirations: "I have a goal because of my mom to become a millionaire by hopefully the age of 30."
Dolly's philosophy drives everything they do: "I love what I do. I found my purpose in Genistar, and that's to serve other people. And whatever we do, we just do it with all of our heart." The family's faith remains central to their success: "We put God as the center of our relationship. We believe that our strength, our wisdom comes from him."
Leadership Legacy: CEO Jeff & Margo Lestz's Mission to Transform Lives
Jeff Lestz's story as CEO of Genistar is one of remarkable transformation—from tragedy to triumph, from personal pain to purpose-driven leadership. Born and raised in Chicago, Jeff faced devastating losses early in life that would shape his mission to help others avoid similar financial catastrophes.
"When I was a very young child, my father committed suicide because of financial problems mainly, and left my mother penniless. No insurance, no will, no financial planning whatsoever," Jeff recalls.
The tragedy didn't end there—his mother suffered a nervous breakdown, became an alcoholic, and died two years later, leaving Jeff homeless on Chicago's streets until age 15.
Mentorship Changes Everything
Jeff's life transformed when he was taken into foster care at 15 and began to receive mentorship from his foster father and a local pastor.
"I began to realise that I didn't have to allow my history to become my destiny," he explains.
This powerful realisation became the foundation of his leadership philosophy.
Building a Legacy of Changed Lives
As CEO of Genistar, Jeff and Margo's primary focus is to produce as many successful people as possible. This mission-driven approach has created a unique culture within Genistar.
Through Genistar, Jeff and Margo have been able to empower countless people to change their lives for the better by offering them the opportunity to improve their finances, take control of their time and build a business to pass on to their family.
The Power of Taking Action
Jeff's advice to those considering change echoes his own experience:
"I'm glad that many years ago, I made the decision to try. I never would've known, had I not taken that first step. And boy, I'm glad that I did because it has totally changed my life."
Jeff and Margo’s leadership has created a company culture where personal transformation and helping others go hand in hand, proving that the most powerful legacies are built by those who've overcome their greatest challenges.
Building Your Own Legacy with Genistar
These three stories—Alan and Andrea’s legacy of family memories, Dolly and William’s legacy of self-belief, and Jeff and Margo’s legacy of changed lives—demonstrate the transformative power of making bold decisions and committing to a dream. Each person found not just financial success, but purpose, time freedom, and the ability to make a lasting difference in others' lives.
Genistar can provides the platform, training, and support to help you build your own legacy. You can create something meaningful that will benefit not just you, but the families you'll serve along the way, as well as generations to come.
Your legacy story could be next. What will yours look like?
If you would like some more ideas for building your legacy, contact your Genistar representative.
__________
The information provided on this website is for educational or informational purposes only. Please refer to our legal disclaimer for further information.
Share article
