CALLIE IN ACTION

Did you come to the conclusion that the only choice you have on planet earth is just to survive? If so, then this is maybe the counter question: who then is the navigator of your own story? The quote below from Daniel Tailor did it for me.

“Freedom is useless if we don’t exercise it as characters making choices… We are free to change the stories by which we live. Because we are genuine characters, and not mere puppets, we can choose our defining stories. We can do so because we actively participate in the creation of our stories. We are co-authors as well as characters. Few things are as encouraging as the realization that things can be different and that we have a role in making them so.” – Daniel Tailor

In discovering the higher purpose of life i had to define a few grounding principles to guide me. For now let me call it: “the laws of significance":

1. You cannot confirm the purpose of your life by evaluating it at any given moment. It is a continuous process and by that I mean you can never say: ‘this is it, game over or I know it all, or I have arrived’.
2. The purpose of your life is not determined by what you are doing, but by how you are doing what you are doing.
3. The purpose of your life is determined by not taking yourself or life always so seriously.
4. Purpose does not ask for condemnation of everyone and everything.
5. The purpose of your life is determined by your obedience and dedication, maybe discipline.
6. The purpose you are looking for is waiting for you; you have to go towards it!
7. The answers to the purpose you are looking for are inside you.

Not to over simplify it but we lives on one of three levels:

1. Task (survival)
2. Goal (success)
3. Purpose (meaning)

Fundamental laws to live by to experience purpose in your life

Law 1: abundance by sharing (freedom)

You were meant to share and give away.

If you give away what you have (knowledge, wisdom, experience skills) it will come back to you in abundance. The highest level of motivation is self transcendence. In the Zulu culture they say: ‘don’t leave only your bones behind, share you knowledge, skills and experience’.

We compete too much and then we turn to the inside where we end up protecting or defending the ‘box or territory’ we are responsible for. The alternative to this is to:

• Create new alliances over traditional boundaries.
• Create a network.
• You want to empower others!

Law 2: peace of mind through availability (hope)

Tell people what you want.

‘You were meant to help’. I do not know if this is a fair statement but here is what I do know. One of the key things you can do as a leader is to make your intent clear. Share what you want with those that you expect to do the work. Believe it or not, this becomes their mandate.

People are often trapped in the here and now and all they want to know is that they are not alone. Understand the importance of connecting and to truly care for another – to be there and then telling them what you want. How do I help you? The hardest work in any business or community is that of relationships. You cannot isolate yourself from your role in this.

We (some cultures more than others) still think our authority is in our position, status and structure. But there is something way more important:

• To give input, to share!
• To become a coach where you share your experience through stories.
• To become a mentor or guide for life.

Law 3: Positive energy by reigning (manage)

You were meant to reign.

“If there are no enemy within, the enemy without can’t do anything to you”. This was one of the most important lessons I had to learn from the African Wilderness during many survival exercises.

What are you programmed to believe (your deepest conviction is also a choice). We were meant to reign. Do not allow your circumstances to reign over you.

Remember if you are carrying some else’s rubbish or garbage he or she does not even know that you are carrying it with you every day. Point is that for most people around 80% of your life energy goes to things that you cannot change or cannot do anything about – why waist so much energy?

What can you do?

• Put that rubbish down. Learn to forgive yourself, then others.
• Choose not to be the victim of other people’s faults and failures.
• 80% if your time must go to things that you can influence and change.

If you want anything to change – start with yourself. You know that you cannot expect different results by doing the same things over and over. What if you made the wrong choice? You can choose again. Keep on learning, but then learn fast and move on.

Law 4: Live through opportunities

You were meant to play the game of life where you are good.

In your journey of life opportunities always comes your way – take the opportunity and do not wait – make it happen.

If you can live your life over, what will you do differently? I guess I would try:

• Work more focused according to my goals and ‘tick’ the boxes
• I would grab the opportunities and not be ‘blind’ for it
• Take more people with me on my journey

There are three dimensions you have to integrate for understanding in the way you manage life and business:

• Contexts – what is happening and why?
• Uniqueness – who am I and what then is my unique contribution?
• Design or meaning – what was I meant to become and so the business? The reason for my existence.

Commitment - how do I get started?

• Live today, be thankful, don’t rush time
• It is an inward journey – you are the starting point
• Make your own spoor (track) – write your own story, play your own part
• Go to the horizon – take the first step
• Grasp the opportunity – life will always give you a gap
• Stop competing, become innovative, be the best you
• Dare more!

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CALLIE ROOS – www.callieroos.com

From: Special Forces Operator. Land and Sea Survival Specialist. Pastor. Senior Military Staff Officer. Community Leader. Honorary Game Ranger.
To: Facilitator. Speaker. Author. Philosopher. Change Agent. Mentor.

Callie Roos has a unique blend of leadership experience crossing the boundaries of nature, military and the spiritual realm making him one of the biggest game changers of his time.

Callie is able to use his philosophies and experiences from the wilderness and lessons learnt in the military and corporate world to bring new revolutionary thinking and solutions to everyday businesses, future leaders, youth and communities. He follows a unique approach as he uses the African Bushveld Savannah as the backdrop against which he unpacks businesses and their operations.