Life Purpose-Three Big Questions by Dave Phillips

Matte Lamination
l`j]]Za_
im]klagfk
everyone asks sooner or later
dave phillips
6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages2 2 6/7/06 4:37:01 PM

Copyright 2006 by Dave Phillips
All rights reserved. Reproduction or utilization of this work in any form, by any
means now known or hereinafter invented, including, but not limited to, xerography,
photocopying and recording, and in any known storage and retrieval system, is
forbidden without permission from the copyright holder.
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data

Phillips, Dave
Three Big Questions That Everyone Asks Sooner or Later/Dave Phillips
ISBN 0-7795-0138-1
1 Self Help 2 Motivational I Phillips, Dave, 1959 II Title
Printed and bound in Canada
Designed and illustrated by Rethink, www.rethinkadvertising.com
For information about purchasing additional copies of this book, contact Dave
Phillips at dave@courage4u.com or visit www.bookstream.biz
Chapter One can be downloaded from Dave’s website: www.courage4u.com

This book is dedicated to Nelson,
Liam and Michela.
Our children are our future as they

live purpose-filled, mission-driven,
vision-directed, virtuous- and
values-centred lives of significance.

`lkqbkqp
clotôa -.
lkbâf\af_qgmjhYl` -4
An introduction to the three big questions that everyone must
ultimately answer.
qtlnajlm]kYf\nYdm]k .2
A brief, yet practical, guide to understanding the virtues and values
that underlie all that you do and are. This chapter will help you to
recognize what you value most, and then provide a first step toward
integrating those things into your statements of purpose, mission
and vision.

qeobbhmjhgk] 0.
qebcfopq_fdnrbpqflk7o`Ylakeqhmjhgk]^gjdanaf_7
Discover how knowing, understanding and having a purpose can
make a huge difference in your life! This chapter will walk you through
the steps of creating a Purpose Statement that reflects who you are
and why you do what you do.
clroeakkagf 3.
qebpb`lka_fdnrbpqflk7o`YloaddZ]eqeakkagfaflàkda^]7
Develop a Mission Statement that will clarify and bring direction to
what you do in life. This chapter will review nine distinct areas of life
to assist you in identifying what you do most effectively.
cfsbnakagf ./0
qeb qefoa_fdnrbpqflk7o`YloaddZ]l`]nakagf^gjeqda^]7
Create a Vision Statement that will integrate the information about
who you are (your roles, purpose and values) and what you will do
(your mission). This chapter will guide you to create a vision of where
you want your purpose and your mission to take you.
pfu[gf[dmkagf .20
This chapter encourages you to introduce the concepts of purpose,
mission and vision into your life. It also lists resources that may be
helpful to you in your quest to live a purpose-filled, mission-driven
and vision-directed life.

^gjoYj\
Every aspect of my life has been radically transformed.

Not by seeking happiness, pursuing success or even by
breaking world records. Not because of a great career that I
love, or a great family that I love even more.
Quite simply, my transformation stems from taking the
time to know, understand and clearly define my personal,
overarching purpose in living out my life. My Statement of
Purpose now serves as a foundation for every aspect of what
I do and think. It underlies every goal that I pursue, every
relationship that I have, every action that I do and every
dream that my mind and heart can possibly formulate.
Having a foundational life purpose that drives everything
I do essentially means that I know unequivocally that I am
focussing my life on the things that I have determined are
most important to me and the most natural extensions of
who I was created to be. I play from my strengths, not my
weaknesses. When I say “yes,” I know that I have made a

commitment to the right thing; to something that I believe is
worthy and significant to my purpose on this earth. There is
no more wasted time or energy.
I don’t write lightly about “knowing who I am” or the
concept of “knowing who you were meant to be.” As a world-
class athlete who spent much of my life pursuing success and
fulfillment on the ski slopes, I was more than familiar with the
idea of having a clear purpose and leading a goal-driven life.
This purpose-oriented mindset ultimately led me to become
a member of Canada’s National Freestyle Snow Ski team,
and then to coach that team at the 1988 Olympic Games in
Calgary. Later on, I established two Guinness World Records
for duration skiing (both on snow and in the water).
While pursuing these athletic endeavours, I met Kathy
Kreiner, a member of the Canadian National Alpine Ski team
and the lady who would eventually become my wife. In 1976,
Kathy struck serious gold by winning the Giant Slalom at
both the World Championships and the Olympics Games in
Innsbruck, Austria.
Kathy and I were world-class athletes. We had experienced
fulfilling careers, faced world-class competitors and travelled
the world to do what we loved most. Our lives had focussed
on purpose, goals, dedication and hard work. So when we
settled down into married life and away from the rigours of
competitive skiing, we weren’t seeking any particular kind
of happiness. We truly enjoyed being together, and the birth
of our first son Nelson brought untold joy into our lives. We
owned a home in a nice area, had good friends and family

clotôa
(*Ç(+
relationships, and attended a wonderful church. I worked as

the Managing Director of a real estate and hotel company, and
had a great office in the heart of Vancouver. Life was great;
everything was going well.
But all of that still couldn’t keep one nagging cliché from
floating through my mind—something was missing from my life.
That was when Tom Howse, from an organization called
The Navigators, invited me to join a group of men who
met weekly to create and discuss mission statements. As I
attended each successive meeting, it became increasingly
clear to me that these discussions were life changing. It was
the first time that many of us had even considered the value
of life-guiding statements, let alone focussed on creating one.
Yet even as I began to more clearly define my own mission, it
became just as clear that my soul was still seeking answers to
questions that ran far deeper than that.
The most obvious question that demanded an answer
was, “Why?”
Why should I perform this mission?

What is my ultimate purpose in doing this?
I discovered that there needs to be a reason (purpose) to
do what I’m doing, as well as a plan (mission) to get it there
and a future (vision) for it.
That is, building a satisfying and fulfilling life mission
statement only became possible when I first determined my
purpose for living. Once I knew that, my mission statement

became a much truer expression of what I wanted to do. And
once I answered questions about purpose and mission, my
life vision began to quite naturally shape itself. After that,
setting goals and making choices became a remarkably easy
and rewarding process—all because I knew who I was, what
I wanted to do and where I wanted to go!
It’s a simple, fundamental and life-changing concept.
All of my questions about life have not been answered.
But my level of comfort about life-long decisions has grown,
my sense of fulfillment in what I do has increased and
my sense of direction has clarified. A sense of peace now
underlies all that I strive for and all that I do.
How about you?
How many times do you receive calls asking you to get
involved in a business, charity or volunteer organization?
And how many times do you agree, and end up merely
putting in time, without experiencing any personal sense of
fulfillment or accomplishment?
If you are anything like I was, your response likely has
more to do with who is asking for your involvement than
how you truly feel about the opportunity, whether you really
have the time for it, or even if you are equipped to do the
task. It’s always great to help out others, but when you take
on any non-strategic involvements, you are living out other
peoples’ missions and goals, not your own.
So isn’t it time for you to stop letting circumstances
and others dictate who you will be, what you will do and
where you will go?

clotôa
(,Ç(-
And isn’t it your responsibility to choose your own

journey, and to live out your own purpose, mission and vision
as you walk that path?
For more than 25 years, I have used my experiences from
the sporting and business world to encourage and motivate
others to live a life that makes a difference. You can live
that kind of life if you commit to joining me on the journey
outlined in this book. The principles presented herein can
lead you to achieve a purpose-filled, mission-driven and
vision-directed life. Why not make a commitment now to
discover your own purpose—and to see where that can take
you as you work out your mission and vision?
Life is an adventure, and it is meant to be lived to the
fullest, to the utmost and to the best. Keep reading and
prepare to discover all that life has for you!

[ ` Y hl ] j gf ]
âf\af_
qgmjhYl`
it all starts with
three essential questions

è^mqbolkb
(0Ç(1
There I was, standing on a mountaintop, staring down a steep

slope and preparing to risk my life for the sake of a sport.
My master plan was to hurtle my body down the Inrun,
a world-renowned freestyle ski run in the French Alps. After
travelling through a 150-foot track of snow with a pitch of
about 28 degrees, I would hit a jump at 70 kilometres per
hour, and then throw myself into the air to fly through space
for another 150 feet. The grand finale would be to land on the
ground with all body parts intact.
Hopefully.
Back then it was all in a day’s work. But even as I
contemplated what was to come, I couldn’t help but ask
myself, “Why?”
Why am I doing this? Wouldn’t it be easier to sell shoes
or vacuums or, at the very least, to get a desk job?
fpfqqfjbclovlrql^phqebqeobb_fdnrbpqflkp<
Everyone has moments when they begin to ask themselves
some interesting questions about what they are doing
with their lives. Freestyle skiing maneuvers can be quite
efficient in provoking thoughts about the deeper meaning
of life, but chances are that most of you will be prodded
to this confrontation by some other means or event. Life
circumstances, a particular stage of life, hardships, or even
a celebratory, mountain-top experience can all drive you to
shout the age-old question, “Why?”
It doesn’t really matter what the specific circumstances
and situations are. In all my years of coaching individuals,

cfkafkdvlrom^qe
I have realized that the one common denominator that links

them all is a deep, inner desire to find the answer to life’s
three essential questions:
What is my purpose for living?
What will be my mission in this life?

What will be the vision for my life?
These are the three big questions. At some time or in some
circumstance, these three questions will find each of us
and, when they do, they will consume our every thought,
word and action. Suddenly, we will experience an unspoken
desire for a life of purpose, an innate need to do something
that matters and a deeply-held dream that will constantly
percolate within our hearts and minds.
Have you now come to that point? Are you ready to
answer the three big questions that everyone asks sooner or
later?
If so, then you’re about to embark on a life-changing
process that has the potential to lead you into a myriad
of different life adventures. As you honestly evaluate
and answer these questions, you will begin to more fully
experience the journey you are presently on, or perhaps
even find yourself taking the first steps of a new journey
that will bring unimagined and incomparable meaning to
everything you are, everything you do and everything for
which you hope.

è^mqbolkb
)(Ç))
fkqbdo^qflkfpqebhbv
You may have already prepared a purpose or mission
statement, and may already have a vision of the direction
that you want for your life. There are plenty of books that
discuss each of these concepts and can quite capably lead
you on a process to create a distinct purpose, mission
and vision statement. But treating each statement as a
separate commodity isn’t enough to unleash the very real
and transforming power that exists in knowing your life
purpose, mission and vision.
That’s why this book will lead you through an integrated
and interactive process of discovery. You will consider each
of these questions as separate yet highly-integrated queries,
and your answer to one question will inform, honour and
impact your response to the next. Answering these three
questions in relation to one another is the only way to
achieve a truly balanced, satisfying and fully-integrated life.
This process necessarily begins with understanding
your distinct sense of purpose. If you know that purpose,
then developing a clear mission statement that describes
what you love and what you do well is a natural process.
And, once you know your purpose and mission, a clear vision
will often spontaneously take shape, thereby leading you to
your future path.
Conversely, a vision or mission statement that hasn’t
been considered in relation to purpose is functionally
irrelevant. If one’s vision hasn’t been informed by one’s life
purpose and the meaning that underscores one’s life, then

cfkafkdvlrom^qe
the resulting statements can contradict one another and

produce a non-focussed, disparate approach to life. No one
can function at their best if they are attempting to achieve
something while an unanswered inner voice is whispering
doubts about why they are even doing it.
It is thus imperative that the ideas of purpose, mission
and vision inform one another. That’s why this book has
been designed to lead you through a process of thinking
through each of these questions independently, while never
losing sight of the reality of their inter-connected nature and
purpose.
te^qqlbumb`qtebkvlrÑob
bumb`qfkd+++^qo^kpclojbaifcb
One of three things will occur in your life as you work through
these questions:
1) Some of you will uncover that a life purpose, mission and
vision is already operating, at least to some extent, in your
lives. You may already be very close to living the life that you
have been designed for, but you may not even be aware of
that good fit. If so, these exercises will validate what you
may already know or suspect to be true.
2) Some of you will recover a purpose that you once had
for life, but has since slipped away. When you are in touch
with “who you are meant to be” and actively living out your
life purpose, it’s easy to get passionate about what you are
doing. Conversely, it’s easy to lose your passion if you aren’t
doing “what you were meant to do.” If you have lost your

è^mqbolkb
)*Ç)+
passion, this process can help to restore your focus on what

is most important to you.
3) Some of you will discover the concepts of purpose,
mission and vision for the first time and will be moved to
embrace the passion that burns deep inside of you. As you do,
you will move towards living the purpose-filled, mission-driven and
vision-directed life that you’ve always dreamt of.
qebm^qeêbâ
This process begins with the discovery of purpose, then
provides the basis for clearly expressing one’s mission and
then, ultimately, culminates in the creation of a clear and
over-arching vision. As you reflect upon and draw closer to
answering these three questions, you will find that hope will
replace any sense of hopelessness you may now feel, and
direction will replace any restlessness or aimlessness. In
fact, you may even gain some confidence and motivation for
the path ahead by taking time now to consider the purpose,
mission and vision of this book:
The purpose of this book is to give you hope by telling
you that your life is important and that you can make a
difference in ways you have not yet imagined.
The mission of this book is to give you a process and
tools that will help you to answer the three questions, so you
can begin an adventure that will shape everything you do.
The vision of this book is to help millions of people—just
like you—to know a deep sense of meaning for their lives
that clarifies everything they do.

[` Yh l ] j l o g
najlm]k
Yf\nYdm]k
the things you’ll
carry with you

è^mqboqtl
).Ç)/
I have a lot of friends with a lot of unusual stories. But Susan

is the only one who can get away with telling stories about
washing sperm and playing with ovaries. She’s also the only
one who can answer a career-related query by stating that
she used to “make babies for a living.”
Susan has had an unusual career path, to say the least.
She used to be a very successful medical researcher at an
infertility clinic. She was credited with having a role in a
world-first discovery about ovulation and published a host
of papers in scientific journals. In short, she was very good
at doing her job.
But she still had a knot in her stomach when she went to
work each day. Her heart and mind were filled with nagging
concerns about the ethics and morality of some of the
technologies that were employed daily in an attempt to give
every couple a child of their own.
In response to her questions about ethics, one scientist
told her that she could only survive in her research field by
shutting off her mind to what she was doing each day . . .
that is, to just do it and don’t think about it.
Shortly afterwards, she left her position.
vlrkbbaql_bifbsbfkte^qvlral
Her story illustrates how absolutely necessary it is for
people to know that what they are doing is ultimately good
and falls in line with the values that they want to underlie
the work that they do. Susan wasn’t ever convinced that
her work as an infertility researcher was good—so it didn’t

sfoqrbp^kasîrbp
matter how good or successful she was in doing it. You can’t
wholeheartedly pursue something if:
you don’t believe in it,

you don’t believe in its ultimate goodness, or
it doesn’t support the values that you have
deemed important to your life and work.
That’s why the first step to developing one’s purpose,
mission and vision begins with making choices about what
values and virtues we want to uphold through all that we do.
qefkhfkd^_lrqsîrbp
The term “values” is commonly heard and discussed, but
also commonly misunderstood. Conversation often suggests
that values are definitive concepts that identify groups
or even nations. But the truth is that values are highly
relative and individual in nature, and they include a host
of ideas, concepts and attitudes that influence individual
behaviour. As such, values are essentially personal choices
about what is most important to an individual—and what
one individual values may be very different than what is
valued by another.
Thus, there is no clear consensus on what values are
good, and sometimes individuals can find themselves
pursuing values that are less worthy or pursuing good values
in the wrong way. For example, there is nothing wrong with a

è^mqboqtl
)0Ç)1
man being drawn to the idea of having adventure as a value

that guides his life. But that value loses its goodness if he
leaves his wife and four kids behind every weekend to pursue
adventure on his own.
This relative nature of values demonstrates why they
cannot and should not be used to establish moral standards
for society or, for that matter, to make any determination
about what is best for society at large.
The reality is that most of us never take the time to
identify the values that, knowingly or unknowingly, truly
shape who we are or what we do. But as demonstrated by
Susan’s story, we can only successfully determine—and
live out—our purpose, mission or vision if we have first
identified the values that are most important to us and then
create a purpose that is consistent with those values.
Jason was a client of mine who had grown up in a
family that had, for generations, placed a high value on
decency and “doing the right thing.” His family prided itself
in being decent, and both his grandfather and his father had
encouraged him to always follow that value.
But as Jason considered his own life purpose, he came
to realize some of the things that he did weren’t necessarily
the right thing. Thus he became aware of an inner conflict of
principles that was robbing him of experiencing fulfillment in
his life.
The more he reflected on his family’s value of decency,
the more he recognized that being decent was also central to
who he was, and that he had been ignoring an almost-innate

sfoqrbp^kasîrbp
desire that made him want to “do more right things.” In fact,
he eventually realized that decency needed to be his primary
purpose in life, and determined that his life purpose was to
“reflect all that is decent.”
That’s what values are—they are a natural extension
of what you believe in and actions that come most naturally
to you.
qefkhfkd^_lrqsfoqrbp
While values reflect personal preferences, virtues refer to the
transcendent values that are universally recognized as good
and beneficial to society. Most of the great philosophies
throughout history agree that the virtues are essential
elements of positive human behaviour that are needed
for the continuance and flourishing of society. They also
generally agree on what constitutes virtue. In other words,
we don’t get to choose for ourselves what is “good or bad”
and “right or wrong” behaviour.
Virtues are characteristics that individuals can have,
but the standard of that characteristic typically lies beyond
what is expressed by each individual. For example, society
recognizes the moral virtue of courage, but some individuals
more fully exhibit that virtue than others.
A society benefits and becomes more civil as its
members strive to be more virtuous—that is, to have
more courage, or wisdom or justice. Conversely, as the
individual recognition and pursuit of virtue diminishes,
society becomes little more than a collection of barbarians
whose sole purpose is survival.

è^mqboqtl
*(Ç*)
In the absence of virtue, culture is dominated by greed,

theft, prejudice, injustice, intolerance and dishonesty. Most
of us have an innate list of what behaviours we will tolerate
and what things are so unjust that we simply cannot allow
them. Unfortunately, we now live in a society where fewer
and fewer things fall into the latter category.
For example, we may frown upon the young person on
the bus who doesn’t even think of standing for an elderly
person—but how often do we act on that concern? In
contrast, we are consumed by feelings of injustice and the
desire to do something when someone hits our car in the
parking lot and then drives off.
It is important to remember that we live out our purpose
and mission within a society. That means that everyone
benefits when we have a purpose, mission and vision that
goes beyond doing what is beneficial only to us and considers
what will bring about greater good to society.
sfoqrbfk^`qflk
The courageous acts of the townspeople in Le Chambon,
France, during World War II provide one of the most profound
and moving examples of virtue in our modern times.1 Le
Chambon was a small town of about 3,000 people in the
mountains of southern France, and during the war it became
a haven for Jews in German-occupied territory. Over the
course of the war, the town saved the lives of more than
5,000 Jewish children.
Philip Hallie, a philosopher who studied Nazi cruelty
towards the Jews during this period, was moved to tears

sfoqrbp^kasîrbp
when he came upon a brief account about the town. In

his book, he later recounted the following summary of the
situation, “The Holocaust was storm, lightening, thunder,
wind, rain, yes. And Le Chambon was the rainbow.”2
Hallie notes that the townspeople were known for their
stubborn courage that was rooted in their faith and in their
own historical experience of persecution. Although other
French citizens were deceived by German propaganda, the
people of Le Chambon did what they inwardly felt they had
to do—they sheltered and saved their neighbours, the Jews,
from danger. To them, it was nothing extraordinary. It was
simply what had to be done.
Hallie says that residents consistently shrugged off any
praise that was offered to them for their heroic deeds. They
simply said, “We were doing what had to be done. Things
had to be done, that’s all, and we happened to be there to
do them. You must understand that it was the most natural
thing in the world to help these people.”
It was the most natural thing in the world. Can
you imagine living in a community where the common
understanding of virtue was so deep that the entire town
acted in sync . . . simply because it was the right thing to do?
That’s what virtue is—when a group of people have an
instinctual agreement about what is “good and right.”

è^mqboqtl
**Ç*+
bubo`fpblkb+
te^qalvlrsîrb<
Identifying and aligning your most deeply-held values

will create a starting point for determining your purpose
and mission in subsequent chapters of this book. So it is
important for you to now take time to determine what it is
that you value.
I encourage you to set aside anything that will distract
you or prevent you from an honest, in-depth evaluation of
the values that you care deeply about. That may include
setting aside things like the expectations of others about
what you should value and the expectations of others about
what you should do or be.

sfoqrbp^kasîrbp
1) Read through this list of values:
risk taking a gamble experimenting
speculation daring adventure
attractiveness grace radiance
poise control advocacy
helping others encouragement music
love caring personal warmth
physical touch energy coaching
influence stimulating change emotions
happiness being present sensing
being observant being perceptive holiness
religion guiding others governing
strength creating alignment building
inspiration development imagination
touch discernment wholeness
legacy laughing rules
modelling empathy security
sensuality amusement learning
serving facilitating ministering
growing supporting connecting

è^mqboqtl
*,Ç*-
entertaining entertainment being an example
directing excellence play
being the best family friends
bondedness sensitivity teaching
accomplishment winning being godly
passion devotion independence
financial stability integrity honesty
vulnerability intimacy
2) Mark the characteristics that you consider to be very important.

Think about the things that you do that make you feel vibrant,
relevant, alive and fully present. What is the value that is
revealed?
3) Add any other values that come to mind.
4) Review the list a second time. Narrow your list of values by

circling the top ten.
5) On the following pages, write down your top ten most deeply-
held values. You can use one-word descriptions or group words
together to create short phrases. Keep the list as short as possible,
focussing only on the most significant and relevant values.
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboqtl
*.Ç*/
eq[gj]nYdm]kl`Ylf]]\lgZ]`gfgmj]\Zqeqda^]Yj]&&&

sfoqrbp^kasîrbp
bubo`fpbqtl+
te^qsfoqrbpôbfjmloq^kqqlvlr<
The following list is not exhaustive, but it lists core virtues

that need to be reflected in our statements of purpose,
mission and vision. Remember: Virtues are not a matter of
personal choice; they are essential ingredients to a civil and
successful society.
A selection of virtues:
humility justice moderation
courage wisdom honesty
integrity goodness mercy
grace peace faith
hope charity

è^mqboqtl
*0Ç*1
1) Take time now to consider how these virtues are specifically

played out in your day-to-day life.
2) Take one last look at the list to ensure that your most deeply-
held values reflect these important virtues.
illhfkdêbâ
Identifying our most deeply-held “virtuous values” is
a necessary first step on the journey to determine our
life purpose, mission and vision. So before you move on
to Chapter Three, please take the time to honestly and
earnestly consider what is most important to you—whether
it be obvious or hidden. If you find that some of your values
coincide with the virtues stated above, then you’re on the
path to success!
1
Guinness, Os. The Call. Word Publishing, 1998. pp. 96-98.
2
Hallie, Philip. Lest Innocent Blood be Shed: The Story of the Village of Le Chambon and
How Goodness Happened There. Harper Collins Publishing, 1994. p. 303.

[` Yh l ] j l ` j ] ]
hmjhgk]
uncovering the real
reason you’re here

A funny thing happened to me on the way to a world record
. . . I found my purpose.
Actually, there was nothing funny about it. My moment
of serendipity didn’t come about during a time of wild
celebration or quiet meditation—it arrived during one of the
most frightening moments of my life.
I was waterskiing on Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet, just off
the Pacific Ocean. It was the middle of the night (not exactly
my normal ski schedule), and I was engulfed in darkness and
solitude. Except for the low rumblings of the boat motor,
the howling wind drowned out every sound that could have
brought some comfort or support.

è^mqboqeobb
+*Ç++
I felt very much alone, even though I was skiing

alongside my friend and fellow record seeker, Ralph
Hildebrand. We had already skied 1600 kilometres, and were
now just over 500 kilometres short of establishing a new
Guinness World Record for Water-Ski Duration.
As we hurtled forward, the boat ahead was our only
source of light. It was minimal at best, covering a small circle
of water about 100 feet ahead of us. So Ralph and I were
essentially left in the dark, straining to focus our eyes on the
water, in search of wood or other objects that might float
across our path. (Hitting an obstacle at 50 kilometres per
hour—in the dark—would have been extremely dangerous,
even life threatening.)
For a long time, my intense focus made it seem as if the
rest of the world no longer existed. But then I realized that
we were not alone. Something was lurking in the darkness
just 20 feet away and it was huge! As it took shape, I realized
that this thing was about 100-feet high and 400-feet long.
At that moment, an incredible adrenaline rush seemed
to push my heart into my mouth and I gave an audible gasp.
I suddenly felt very small, very helpless and very alone. Time
stood still as I moved toward it, coming to the rather panic-
stricken realization that it was a giant oil tanker being pulled
through the Inlet.
Obviously, I survived! But for a few frightening moments,
the only things that existed were my innermost thoughts.
When confronted with fear, my mind became consumed with
two important truths that have since been etched into my
memory and guided every aspect of my life.

To be or not to be,
that is the question . . .
ÈoaddaYek`Yc]kh]Yj]

è^mqboclro

mromlpb
ifcbÑpabcfkfkdjljbkqp
My first thought was the stark reminder that life is not
lived alone. As a goal-driven athlete, always reaching for
and achieving things that many would find impressive,
there’s a constant temptation to project an image of being
strong, invincible and independent. There’s an unspoken
expectation that athletes can accomplish anything through
sheer strength and will-power.
Yet I now found myself overwhelmed by thoughts of
weakness, not strength. Each wave was punishing, and
served as a constant reminder that we had pushed our
bodies beyond their capacity to withstand the elements. At
800 kilometres, the pain in my ankles and knees reached a
maximum. At least that’s what I thought . . . until the pain
hit a whole new level at 1600 kilometres!
In that quiet and painful place, I didn’t find out how
strong I was—I found out how weak I was. I was reminded
of how desperately I needed my family and friends around
me, supporting me and loving me. I discovered that my real
source of strength was love, not determination.
My second thought was about purpose. As conditions
worsened and body parts screamed, I started searching for
some darn good answers to the question, “Why?”
“Why am I doing this?”
It’s a valid, obvious and practical question to consider as
one skis toward an oil tanker at 50 kilometres per hour. But
that night, my mind wouldn’t accept any shallow responses,
and so my questions continued, carrying me deeper and
deeper into my soul.

è^mqboqeobb
+.Ç+/
These are the questions that ran through my mind

during that life-defining moment:
Why am I doing this?

To break the World Record and to do something no one else
has ever done. That was my goal, and I was determined to
achieve it. Not good enough. So. . .
Why is that important?

To gain prominence, to do good work in my community, to
raise money for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and to bring attention to
this disease. Nice, but still not good enough. So. . .
Why do you want to do that?

So others will recognize the importance of contribution
and helping those who can’t help themselves. Yes, it’s
important—but not important enough! So . . .
Why is that important?

To help those who suffer from CF and their families by raising
funds for researchers to find a cure. Still a little distant, and
probably not good enough. So . . .
Why am I ultimately doing this?

This question may seem similar to those above, but it
explores a much deeper level. In fact, it was only as I asked
myself this fifth question that I found my real answer to the
very first question.

mromlpb
It sent my thoughts back to the beach, where two little

girls with blonde hair, compelling smiles and life-giving spirits
waited for me to complete my task. Joan was four years-old
and Allison was about six, and they both have CF. Perhaps
that’s why they seem to look at the grass, smell the fresh air
and enjoy each small moment more than most of us.
I thought about the overwhelming love that would
compel their parents to hang these precious children upside
down each morning, and literally pound their fists into their
tiny backs—releasing the life-threatening fluids that had
built up in their lungs. The girls would protest yet, time after
time, day after day, month in and month out, their parents
would faithfully perform this task, and then force them to
down handfuls of enzyme pills that would help them digest
their food that day.
Interesting. When things got tough for me, I didn’t think
about breaking a world record or getting my name in the
record books. Instead, I thought about Joan and Allison, and
the disease that threatened to take their lives. My desire to
achieve my own goals and gain prominence had diminished
in the dark, wet isolation of Indian Arm.
A single, deep, abiding sense of purpose came over me
with remarkable peace and intense power when I came to the
realization that these girls were my motivation. Something
deep inside of me was renewed as I realized that they were
my ultimate purpose!

è^mqboqeobb
+0Ç+1
qebfjmlppf_ib_b`ljbpmlppf_ib
Once that single purpose was identified, I had the strength
to go another kilometre, to tolerate even more pain and to
continue to press on in the face of seemingly impossible
odds. It was like adding fuel to an empty tank or giving
food to a starving person. It propelled me forward to do
something that had never been done before and, with over
500 kilometres to go, the impossible once again became
possible.
This story identifies a key principle of this book:
The seemingly impossible becomes possible if

we know why we are doing something, and if that
purpose drives us to accomplish our goals.
If knowing my purpose pushed me to ski 2140 kilometres
in 57 hours, then how much more important is it to have
a purpose for the rest of my life? And what else will that
purpose push me to accomplish with my life?
mblmiblcmromlpb
Many years ago, there lived a man who was driven to lead his
country to conquer other nations. He eventually conquered
most of the civilized world and became its renowned leader
at a very young age. His name evoked both fear and respect,
and it is still found on monuments and cities throughout the
world. He achieved every goal he set, and he had all of the
possessions, power and prestige that one could ever attain.

mromlpb
Yet, despite all of this, Alexander the Great died a

hopeless alcoholic at just 33 years of age.
What happened? How could he die in such sorrow
and despair, even while surrounded by the greatest
riches of the world?
Because he fell into the same trap that many of us still
do today.
Alexander the Great had no purpose beyond his
immediate goals. His goals to conquer the world were his
sole purpose for living; once he completed them, he had no
purpose for the rest of his life.
In other words, he did the right things to accomplish
his immediate goals, but he never did the right things that
would lead him to find the enduring riches of a fulfilling life.
Purpose must be part of something much bigger than
merely accomplishing goals—no matter how big those
goals are! In fact, the greatest men and women with the
richest purposes for living have all uncovered one secret
that changed them from good people to great people.
They discovered purpose—and they understood that to be
truly great people, their purpose must be much larger than
themselves or their goals.
Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther King and
Winston Churchill are examples of great men and women
who were driven by a grand life purpose. Their actions
make it clear that their mission was to make a virtuous
contribution to society, not to serve themselves. Further, as
a foundation to their mission they all had a real, energizing,
full, rich and enduring purpose for their lives.

è^mqboqeobb
,(Ç,)
It was this kind of overarching life purpose that fueled

William Wilberforce’s mission to abolish slavery and drove
Abraham Lincoln to persist in his mission to treat all men
equal. Each of them was able to face moments of great
despair and uncertainty in accomplishing their mission
because they were driven by purpose, not by goals.
Purpose invariably involves serving others in some way.
The secret of the great men and women of history is that
they looked beyond themselves to see how they could serve
the greater good. They believed that in filling others, they
too would be filled.
On the other hand, when we spend our time, money and
energy to serve only our own needs and wants, our souls
eventually pull away from the world and shrivel up. We then
become a collection of grumbling, moaning grievances who
demand that the world make us happy.
I can’t imagine that anyone would intentionally want to
live his life in such a selfish manner. That’s why one of the
most difficult, yet fundamental questions that every honest
soul must answer is, “What is my purpose for living?”
When first confronted with this question, I have found
that some people reach out to justify their action—or
inaction—by the shallow promises of fate. That is, they
attempt to attribute to fate every good or bad thing that
happens, believing that what they do will have no impact on
the overall result.
If you have such thoughts, I urge you to consider the
comments of G.K. Chesterton, one of the most influential
writers of the 20th century, who said, “I do not believe in a

mromlpb
fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a

fate that falls on them unless they act.”
Consider also the life of Mother Teresa, a nun who
dedicated her life to soothing the pain of thousands of the
poorest, most downtrodden people in the world, as they lay
dying. Many times, it must have seemed like what she was
doing had no impact. The number of dying only increased;
there was no end, healing or improvement in sight. Yet,
when asked how she dealt with the constant stream of
human suffering and death, she replied, “They die one at a
time, so we save them one at a time.”
And that’s how she made a difference—one person at
a time. Every person whom she touched was profoundly
impacted by her decision to make a difference. One by one,
she changed how the poorest people on earth experienced
life and death.
mromlpbfp^_lrqtelvlrôb^katelvlrt^kqql_b
1) Purpose reflects your core values and core roles. A purpose
statement is a powerful statement of who you are and
what is most important to you. As such, it needs to be
properly framed by your values and core roles, as you have
already determined through the exercises in Chapter Two.
For example, your core roles may be as a parent and spouse,
then as an employee, a member of an association or a
church. Your values may include honesty and integrity.
Each of these will inform your purpose, which is to be
someone and something!
2) Purpose is more than what you do. Kenneth Blanchard,

è^mqboqeobb
,*Ç,+
renowned business writer and author of The One Minute

Manager, writes: “The first principle of ethical power is
purpose. By purpose, I mean your objective of intention—
something toward which you are always striving. Purpose is
something bigger. It is the picture you have of yourself—the kind
of person you want to be or the kind of life you want to lead.”
(Emphasis mine.)
It’s important to keep in mind at all times that purpose
is more about who we are than what we do. It is a common
mistake to consider mission or doing /action statements
when thinking about purpose, but when we do so, we run
the risk of becoming goal- and task-oriented, to a fault. That
is, we allow our tasks and goals to become our purpose for
living. As aptly demonstrated by the life of Alexander the
Great, a purpose based on goals can easily become a life that
no longer has a purpose.
Far too often, I’ve heard people say, “I’ve been successful
in my business and made a lot of money. I just wish I
knew why. Accomplishment and money promised to bring
meaning and purpose to my life, but they didn’t. It was a lie!
And now I don’t know what to do. I’ve lost myself.”
Such despair stems from spending a lifetime chasing a
deception that the world screams at us—that we exist only
to conjugate three essential verbs: to have, to do and to be.
That is, if we have all the stuff (money, cars, houses, etc.),
we will be able to do all the wonderful things we desire (go
on vacations, join elite clubs), and then we can become the
person that we always wanted to be.
But that model is backwards.

mromlpb
A far better model for life is if we first

choose to be, we can then become.
From my experience in leading others through the process
of uncovering purpose, it is abundantly clear that we must
first discover “who we are” in light of our primary roles and
values. Then we will feel released to think through “what
we should do.” Finally, once these two things (our purpose
and our mission) have been clearly established, resources
will be spontaneously released to us and we will be able to
have the things that we truly need—and be satisfied with
what we have.
3) Purpose is foundational. It is the reason that we do what
we do. It’s the world’s most powerful motivator, and it’s the
best place to start if you want to experience all the fruit of a
life well-lived. By first identifying your purpose, you will not
only give meaning to your mission, but you will also gain the
impetus that is necessary to carry it through.
4) Purpose is satisfying and fulfilling. More than 2000 years
ago, Aristotle, the great philosopher and teacher, described
the Four Levels of Happiness experienced by man. As stated
in the following outline, Aristotle believed that performing
acts which produce a sense of immediate gratification only
create a fleeting sense of happiness (Level One). In contrast,
the greatest, truest and most lasting sense of happiness
(as described by Level Four) can only be attained when we
perform virtuous acts that contribute to the ultimate good
of society.

è^mqboclro
hkltvlroclroibsbiplce^mmfkbpp
ibsbilkb
description: immediate gratification—do something
to feel good now
distinctives: self centred—often employed to make us feel
better about ourselves, to avoid something or to subdue fears
benefits: immediate
problems: doesn’t last—leaves us emptier
ibsbiqtl
description: gratification through achievement
distinctives: better than self promotion, power and control
benefits: short-term gain
problems: tend to become isolated, lonely, fearful,
contemptuous, jealous, afraid to fail, cynical
ibsbiqeobb
description: doing good for someone or something else
distinctives: acts of love, service, self-sacrifice and justice that
focus on others
benefits: gratification lasts much longer—can appreciate Level
One and Level Two happiness more
problems: can be done with Level One needs and desires, but as
humans we still long for something more
ibsbiclro
description: concerned with ultimate good and becoming the
kind of person who spontaneously uses their signature strengths
to make a contribution in a virtuous fashion
distinctives: transcendental—living as an extension of ultimate
truth, justice, purpose and beauty. Love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
benefits: peace, joyous gratification and a sense / connection to
the transcendent and Eternal
problems: tough to get to because the road is not direct.
Need living virtue that comes from good character which takes
discipline. No short cuts to character.

mromlpb
All of this is highly instructive as you formulate your purpose

statement. Aristotle’s theory makes it clear that:
Pursuing goals like money (that will help you to feel good
now) will only result in a sense of immediate gratification or
Level One Happiness.
Pursuing achievement will create some short-term gain

(Level Two Happiness), but any sense of gratification will
ultimately be overwhelmed by fear, jealousy and loneliness.
Pursuing goals that are founded on sacrifice, justice and

service to others will create a much more prolonged sense
of gratification (Level Three Happiness)—but will still leave
you longing for more.
Pursuing virtuous goals that contribute to the ultimate

good of society will produce a lasting sense of happiness, as
described by Level Four Happiness.
You or I could write a purpose statement that will

attain any of these levels of happiness. But only a purpose
statement that is written to attain the goals of Level Four
Happiness will bring you the greatest measure of happiness
and the greatest sense of fulfillment and gratification.
So—what is your purpose for living?
Your soul demands an answer, and this book can lead
you to discover the answer to that all-important life question.
Will you join me now and take the first steps into living a
fulfilled, purpose-filled life?

è^mqboclro
I always wanted
to be somebody,
but I should have been
more specific.
Èdadqlgedaf

mromlpb
qebafpqfk`qfsbplc^mromlpbpq^qbjbkq
A purpose statement answers the question, “What is my
purpose for living?” As such, it is unique and will fulfill the
following statements:
It will start you on the path to answer questions such as,

“Who am I serving?” and “What is most important to me?”
It will connect with some desire or longing that exists deep

inside of you.
It will honour your core roles as a father, mother, spouse,

child, etc.
It will reveal “who you are,” underneath the veneer of “what

you do.”
It will motivate and empower you.
It will honour your core values such as honesty and integrity,

and reflect the virtues you want to guide your life.
It is different from a mission statement. Your mission answers

the question, “What am I best suited to do during my life.”
It is different from a vision statement. Your vision expresses

your hope for the future as you live out your mission.

è^mqboqeobb
,0Ç,1
It will support your mission statement.
It will out-live your mission and the completion of your goals.
It will transcend time and circumstances. Your mission

statement may change over time, but your purpose
statement will not.
It will be simple and straightforward, so it can easily be

understood by a 12 year-old.
It will be easy to memorize and repeat when things get tough.

mromlpb
bubo`fpblkb+
qebcfsbtevÑplcmromlpb
Your purpose statement should begin with the phrase,

“My life purpose is to be. . .” How you ultimately finish that
sentence is up to you.
The following five questions are designed to help you
isolate and identify your purpose. They are called The Five
Why’s and, if you recall from the beginning of this chapter,
they are the five questions that led me to discover my real
purpose and motivation for breaking the Guinness World
Record for Duration Water-Skiing.
They not only motivated me to complete my task that
night, they have also transformed my life and the lives of
a host of others who have sought to uncover their purpose
for living. They can be no less transforming in your life—
provided you take the time to consider and honestly answer
them.

è^mqboqeobb
-(Ç-)
The following is a simplistic example to help you to

understand the flow of this concept:
why do I perform my mission or do the work that I do?

to make money.
why is it important to make money?
to feed my family or myself.
why is it important to eat?
so that I can survive.
why is it important to survive?
because I value my life.
why is my life important?
because it is a gift that we must honour.
This process doesn’t have to stop after the fifth question;

you can keep asking the “why” questions until you can’t go
any further. At that point, you will either find, or be very close
to finding, your ultimate purpose for living.
Go through The Five Why’s listed above and answer the questions
on the following pages. Start with your current occupation or
primary interest, and then continue to seek your purpose as your
go through the questions.
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboqeobb
-*Ç-+
l`]ân]o`qÌkgêqhmjhgk]2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

mromlpb
bubo`fpbqtl+
te^qfpjvmromlpbcloifsfkd<
The following list presents some statements of purpose

that others have discovered as they have gone through this
exercise.
Your first reaction to reading their statements may well
be, “That’s it?” But as I review my own statement and those
of others, it’s obvious that it is the simplicity of a statement
that evokes its greatest depth and meaning. As you read
through the list, consider which ones have been written to
achieve a Level Four Happiness.

è^mqboqeobb
-,Ç--
My life purpose is to be:
rich a reflection of all that

is good
fun-loving
one who glorifies God
one who is effective and
efficient in all that I do a lover of God and people
one who lives a full life a loving person
one who leaves a legacy a dwelling place for, and a

reflection of, virtue
an advocate for those who
cannot defend themselves a servant to others
a humble, gracious, one who grows always

courageous leader
one who will realize
a person of contribution my potential
and joy
one who demonstrates my
a person of integrity core values of. . .
Narrow down your core purpose to a clear purpose statement

that is meaningful to you. You may prefer to write one or more
supporting statements under your purpose statement, as this can
provide more clarity until both time and repetition have created a
single statement that resonates with your heart and mind.
Once you have created a first draft of your Purpose
Statement, you can move on to answer the second essential
question for your life.
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboqeobb
-.Ç-/
eqda^]hmjhgk]aklgZ]&&&

mromlpb
Dave’s purpose statement:

My life purpose is to be a lover of God and people.

è^mqboqeobb
-0Ç-1
My statement of purpose is rooted in my faith as a follower

of Jesus. It may seem trite or even shallow at first, but it took
me considerable time to clearly articulate and understand
my real purpose for living. My supporting statement for my
purpose statement is:
“I believe that the universe was more than just a
random accident and was created by a personal, knowable
God. I believe He created us to have a relationship with Him.
Through Jesus Christ that relationship became a reality
for me.
“The most exciting thing I can think of is that the source
of power that created the universe wants to know me. If
that’s so, then I want to know and love Him with great
thanks and adoration.
“His highest creation that I know of is His people placed
on this earth, in whom He finds inestimable value even with
all our warts and blemishes. I have been endowed with a
natural love for people, which I want to express in my life
purpose as a way of saying thank you to a loving, personal
God.”
My Purpose Statement is what gets me out of bed in the
morning! It may sound crazy to you when you read it—and
that’s fine. But remember, this book comes directly to you
from my purpose statement, my mission statement and my
life vision.

[` Yh l ] j ^ gm j
eakkagf
your roadmap for living

Once we are aware of
unfulfilled desires,
we begin to feel a sense of
mission and destiny.
Èmfcfgof

è^mqboclro
.*Ç.+
Imagine skiing or running down a very steep slope. You’re

leaning back and gathering dangerous speed. You’re starting
to lose your balance, the adrenaline is coursing through your
veins and the trees are approaching. . . fast!
Freeze frame!
Let’s pause. Intellectually, you know what you have to
do and it’s very simple—get your balance back. So you say
to yourself, “I must regain control by bending my ankles and
knees, getting my hips, knees and shoulders up over my feet
and moving my hands out in front for steady balance.” It
sounds good, but by the time you say all of that to yourself,
the game’s over and you’re lying in a steaming heap picking
pine needles out of your teeth.
The situation described above isn’t unique to novice
skiers. But the difference between a novice and a professional
is how you handle the approaching disaster!
Athletes respond in situations like this by using
something called cue words or phrases. A cue word is one
specific word that is designed to trigger a physiological
response that will cue you to do a number of things at once.
I faced this situation during a World Cup mogul
competition, and handled it with one cue word—“hands.”
When I said “hands” (actually I usually gave it an adrenaline-
fueled shout), my body was trained to give an immediate
response. My hands would shoot out in front of me, enabling
me to reclaim control and avoid great peril.
But that wasn’t all that happened. My cue word also
triggered a physical chain reaction moving all the other

jfppflk
important parts to fall in line. Right on cue, my shoulders,

hips, knees and ankles would follow my hands, increasing
my balance and boosting my performance.
A mission statement is very similar to a cue word. It will
keep your life in balance (and on track) by reminding you, in
one very short statement, of activities that are important to
you. It will also have an emotional anchor that will trigger
you to a mission-centred response when you are in high-
pressure situations.
qebmol`bpplcafp`lsbofkdjfppflk
Years ago, I was travelling, opening new businesses and
managing existing ones. Frankly, there really wasn’t much
reason or even time to think about anything else. Yet I still
had nagging doubts—was this really what I was designed
to do?
I was having a good time, but I couldn’t tell whether it
was because I was well suited to the job or just optimistic
about my prospects.
In the real estate business, there is a land development
term known as the “highest and best use.” I remember
thinking at that time that if it is always important to get the
“highest and best use” from a piece of land, how much more
important is it to get the “highest and best use” from my life?
The first step is to ask yourself—are you doing the very
things that you have specifically been designed to do?
It’s an important question to consider, because your
mission in life is very much about what you do and it is

è^mqboclro
.,Ç.-
designed to ensure that you do those very things. The

truth is, we all have activities that fill us with energy and
passion; that leave us refreshed and eager, not exhausted
and defeated. The trick is to identify those things—and do
what you can to make them a primary focus of your life.
Are you spending your life doing things that you know
are not “the highest and best” use of your time? Do your
activities leave you empty or with a sense of meaning and
satisfaction?
We are not permitted

to choose the frame
of our destiny, but what
we put into it is ours.
È\Y_`YeeYjkcbd\

jfppflk
The process of determining your life mission involves

answering a series of questions with one-word descriptions
and short phrases that depict concepts, ideas or activities
that you consider important. The questions cover nine
essential areas:
1) What are your unique personal gifts and abilities?

2) What is your unique personal passion?
3) What is your unique personality?
4) What are your unique personal responsibilities?
5) What are your unique personal experiences?
6) What is your unique personal education?
7) What is your unique personal network?
8) What are your unique personal resources?
9) What are your unique personal allegiances?
The questions are designed to be answered as if you were in a

brainstorming session, so write down the first things that come to
mind. You already know the answers—this process will only help
you to access them.
The next step will be to collect the words and concepts that you
have identified as unique to you, and then fashion them into a
statement of your personal life mission. Don’t worry about creating
the perfect statement the first time around. This process can take
anywhere from 20 minutes to a lifetime.

è^mqboclro
..Ç./
Before you start, set this book

aside for just one minute and
provide an end to this
statement: “If anything
were possible, I would . . .”

è^mqboclro
You didn’t take that moment

did you? You just kept on
reading! So let’s do it again.
Finish this statement:
“If anything were possible,
I would . . .”

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
/(Ç/)
a^Yfqlàf_o]j]hgkkaZd]$aogmd\&&&

jfppflk
bubo`fpblkb+
te^qôbvlrorkfnrbmboplkîdfcqp^ka^_fifqfbp<
Each of us has gifts and abilities that we demonstrate on

a daily basis, often without even thinking about it. Some
people are natural athletes, students, musicians or even
artists. I have one friend who has a wonderful artistic gift.
He rarely uses it, but when he does it is still abundantly clear
that he is gifted in that area.
So what unique gifts and abilities do you have? What
kinds of things come naturally or spontaneously to you?
What are you successful at? Think about the kinds of
compliments that you receive—what gifts do they imply
that you may have?
The following list offers some ideas of common gifts and abilities.
Look through the list, think about each word and then choose
those that match your own. Feel free to add others to the list. Use
a thesaurus if you cannot find the right word or descriptive term.
Circle your selections or write them in the space provided. There’s
lots of room, so make a mess, scribble notes all over the page, have
fun and “let ’er rip.” (Remember: Only write down single words
or simple phrases as answers.)

è^mqboclro
/*Ç/+
My unique gifts and abilities include:

music
playing /appreciating /teaching
art
creating /appreciating /teaching
planning
clear thinking /vision /an ability to look ahead
writing
creative / business / technical /other
sales
a natural seller and promoter of ideas / things / concepts
communication
a great ability to connect with people
public speaking
teaching
what? / to whom?
building
organizations / houses / ideas
task oriented
an enhanced ability to get things done
management style
high energy /relaxed pace /efficient
organization
people / things /concepts / details
math
understanding numbers /accounting /concepts /finances
work ethic
consistent behavior and work patterns /methodical /strong
analysis
situations and circumstances /finances
adaptable
easily grasp concepts /learn quickly
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
/,Ç/-
eqlghl`j]]_a^lkYf\YZadala]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbqtl+
te^qfpvlrorkfnrbmboplkîm^ppflk<
“When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”

That feeling of absolute, transcendent satisfaction is
described by World Champion runner Eric Liddell in the movie
Chariots of Fire. Do you have anything that you do that creates
a similar passion or innate sense of satisfaction in knowing
that you are doing exactly what you were born to do?
At 52 years of age, Ray Kroc was a man with health
problems and a job as a multi-mixer salesman. That is,
until he got passionate about some simple things that
everyone else took for granted: hamburgers, French fries
and milkshakes. Kroc was perceptive in identifying popular
trends and he sensed the public was ready to shift from a
structured menu, cutlery and restaurant environment to an
identifiable chain of restaurants that offered a menu that
focussed on hamburgers, friendly service, low prices and . . .
no cutlery.
In 1961, he took sole control of the idea and, just two
years later, more than one billion hamburgers had been sold
and the 500th McDonald’s restaurant opened. The chain now
covers most of the civilized world.

è^mqboclro
/.Ç//
Ray Kroc didn’t just create a successful chain of

restaurants—he also created a massive cultural shift in how
society viewed food and eating out.
The point is, passionate people like Ray Kroc and Eric
Liddell draw a crowd. They are naturally attractive to others
and exciting to be around. Even the most introverted person
becomes capable of creating unparalleled momentum when
he finally chooses to speak a dream out loud or to share his
passion with others.
As it has been said, “If you don’t have something worth
dying for, what do you have worth living for?”
What are you passionate about doing? Your passion
is not simply about what you like or don’t like. It’s about
the one or two things that “burn in your belly” and make
you come alive when you think of them or do them. They
energize you, and give life to you and those around you.
Everyone has a passion, however deep and hidden it
may be. Dig deep to find yours—the discovery is well worth
it. After all, Ray Kroc would probably tell you something like,
“Don’t wait until you’re 52, do it now!” or “If you’re past
52—what are you waiting for?”
What are you passionate about? Consider the following ideas

and list new ones that identify your particular passion.
Circle your selections.
tlohôb^

jfppflk
My passions include:
playing an instrument (even the stereo)
drawing, painting, sculpting or creating
meditating, planning and dreaming
writing
selling
connecting with people
helping and investing in others
public speaking
teaching
building things or taking them apart / what kinds of things?
getting things done / what things?
moving fast in all that I do
organizing things and people
understanding numbers
being consistent and methodical
playing sports
working
investing in others
rolling around in the mud
travelling

ogjcYj]Y è^mqboclro
/0Ç/1
jlobtlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
0(Ç0)
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdhYkkagfkYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbqeobb+
te^qfpvlrorkfnrbmboplkîfqv<
What are your distinctive personality traits, qualities,

temperaments, characteristics or dispositions? Is there
something that makes you stand out from the rest of the
crowd? What do people say about you when they describe
you? What are some words or phrases that specifically
describe your personality?
Consider the above questions as you go through the list below.

Circle any words that describe your personality, and write down
any others that come to mind.
My personality is best described as:

laid back and relaxed / excited / excitable
cheerful / pensive
outgoing and energetic / withdrawn and quiet
direct or indirect
distinctive and unique / similar to others
thriving in big groups or small?
thriving in environments that are exciting or calm?
thriving in environments that are risky or secure?

0*Ç0+
jlobtlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
0,Ç0-
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdalqljYalkYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbclro+
te^qôbvlrorkfnrbmboplkîobpmlkpf_fifqfbp<
Every person has someone or something that depends on

him/her for some reason. It is important to identify any
such responsibilities, whether it be a partial or complete
dependency.
You may sense a responsibility to your work or some
other role you currently have, but this may not be a unique
personal responsibility. Take this time to identify only those
responsibilities that no one else can take on, and upon which
you place great value.
Consider the above as you go through the list below. Circle any words
that describe you, and write down any others that come to mind.
My unique personal responsibilities include:

business community
friendships mentoring relationships
husband or wife parents
children siblings
monetary responsibilities

0.Ç0/
jlobtlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
00Ç01
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdj]khgfkaZadala]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbcfsb+
te^qôbvlrorkfnrbmboplkîbumbofbk`bp<
Everyone has a unique set of experiences. We often consider

these experiences to be relatively ordinary or common, but
the reality is that no one has followed your exact path in life.
I once spoke to an Olympic athlete who had enjoyed
a successful career, and attended several Olympic Games.
But along with her success, she had suffered some great
personal tragedies. When I asked her about her unique
experiences, she shrugged her shoulders and said something
like, “I haven’t really had anything out of the ordinary occur
in my life.” The moral of the story is that many of us take for
granted the great gift of our unique experiences, whether
they are fabulous or tragic, or related to international or
local events.
To get you started thinking along these lines, I have
listed below what I consider to be my own unique and pivotal
experiences: husband and father, athlete and coach on the
Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, small-business owner, holder
of two Guinness World Records (for both water and snow
ski duration), business manager for others, ski show owner
and performer across the country, stunt man in movies and

è^mqboclro
1(Ç1)
on TV, international motivational speaker, announcer for

World Cup Skiing events on three continents, and personal
business coach in a wide variety of circumstances.
Everybody has a rich and unique collection of experiences. What

are yours? Look at the following list to get more specific ideas.
Some of these may not be completely unique to you, but they may
have a special significance to you. Brainstorm your ideas and write
them out all over the following pages.
My unique personal experiences include:

work experience
recreational experiences
sports
personal travel – where? / why?
hobbies
meaningful retreats with life-changing results
general interests
specific interests
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
1*Ç1+
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYd]ph]ja]f[]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbpfu+
te^qfpvlrorkfnrbmboplkîbar`^qflk<
When asked about education, most people instinctively

think of traditional venues such as schools, colleges and
universities. These are important and should be included
in your list, but I also encourage you to step outside of
the “typical education” box and recall the many other
ways that you have been schooled. Your most meaningful
or useful educational experiences may have come from
life experiences, courses, conversations, mentoring or
counselling.
What educational experiences have provided the greatest value

to you? Where did you learn the things that have become most
important to your life? Circle any items in the list that apply to your
life and add in any others.

è^mqboclro
1,Ç1-
My unique personal education includes:

grade and middle school
list specific experiences that were meaningful
high school
list specific experiences / extra-curricular learning
university, graduate or doctoral studies
what degrees or designations do you hold? / how did they shape
what you do?
personal or work-related courses
non-traditional learning experiences
personal development courses
technical development courses
leadership education
retreats
church
mentors or people
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
1.Ç1/
eqlghl`j]]]\m[YlagfYd]ph]ja]f[]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbpbsbk+
te^qfpvlrorkfnrbmboplkîkbqtloh<
You likely have a unique network of contacts that may be

able to assist you in achieving your mission. These are
individuals who could potentially impact what you do, how
you do it and even how you get there.
Can you name someone you know (or have known) who could
potentially assist you in your mission? How about any personal and
professional relationships that could assist you? Circle appropriate
contacts below, and add your own. It may be appropriate for you
to group your networks geographically, by interest or by some
other means.

è^mqboclro
10Ç11
My unique personal network includes:
family
friends
church, synagogue or place of worship
community centre
business contacts – suppliers / customers / peers
networking groups
associations – business / sport / community
volunteer organizations
activity and special-interest clubs
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
)((Ç)()
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdf]logjckYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbbfdeq+
te^qôbvlrorkfnrbmboplkîobplro`bp<
Each of you has access to a number of unique resources that

can be beneficial in helping you to accomplish your mission
in life or in helping others to accomplish their mission.
Such resources may include money, buildings, properties,
networks, access to financing or building supplies, etc. It
could even be a series of ideas or concepts.
Review and circle any resources that may be unique to you or to

which you may have access. Feel free to add to the list.
My personal resources include:
volunteer organizations
an aunt with an island
symbiotic interests
access to others with similar interests who have time, money or
other resources that may be available to you
money
access to financing from the bank / wealthy friends / relatives /
business associates

)(*Ç)(+
jlobtlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
)(,Ç)(-
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdj]kgmj[]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
bubo`fpbkfkb+
te^qôbvlrorkfnrbmboplkîîibdf^k`bp<
Two thousand years ago, a woman named Ruth pledged

allegiance to her mother-in-law Naomi by saying: “Don’t
urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you
go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will
be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die,
and there I will be buried.”
This is a living example of a strong life-long allegiance.
Not every allegiance may be that strong, but personal
allegiances refer to unique loyalties or obligations that you
may have to some thing, some cause, some organization or
some business that you feel strongly about. An allegiance
reflects your personal philosophical, religious and personal
ideas and causes. For some, this allegiance could be to a
church, synagogue or God. For others, this may be a club,
society or association.
Do you have unique allegiances to someone, something or some

cause? Choose from the examples that follow, or write your own.

è^mqboclro
)(.Ç)(/
My personal allegiances include:
family business
church
synagogue
God
club
association
friends or someone in need
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
)(0Ç)(1
eqlghl`j]]h]jkgfYdYdd]_aYf[]kYj]2
1.
2.
3.

jfppflk
You now have a collection of words and phrases that are

both meaningful and instructive to what you want to do
with your life. Some people will stop at this point, thinking
that they have a clear picture. But when individuals or even
large corporations fashion a mission statement that has too
many words or too much information, it can become very
confusing and open to misinterpretation.
If the corporate mission is not clear, employees will offer
little more than a blank stare when they are asked what their
company does. In contrast, a mission that is composed of a
few concise, well-chosen words brings focus and clarity to
employees, businesses and individuals.
bubo`fpbqbk+
te^qtfii_bjvjfppflkfkqefpifcb<
Your mission statement will meet the following requirements:
represent clearly what you want to do

be less than 20 words
be easily understood by a 12 year-old
be exciting and energizing to you
be easy to memorize
keep you on track, and steer you away from distractions /
activities that do not fulfill your own mission
mean more to you than to anyone else on the planet, but it
will still be understandable to others

è^mqboclro
))(Ç)))
It’s now time for you to evaluate your Top Three lists, consider
what is most important for you to do in your life and then tie it all
together in one concise, simple mission statement. The following
steps will help you to accomplish this task.
1) Review your Top Three lists for each of the nine questions.
Don’t take any longer than 10 minutes to review them, and then
narrow that list from 27 important concepts to 15 descriptive words,
concepts or short phrases.
2) Mark 5 to 10 of the most important points, words and concepts,

then group them together and summarize them to get the greatest
meaning from the fewest words.
3) Transfer these 5 to 10 words, concepts and phrases to a word

processor, sheet of paper or the following pages.
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y
j]na]ogêqlghl`j]]daklk&&&

è^mqboclro
))*Ç))+
jlobtlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y
eqlgh-Ç)(ogj\k^gjeqeakkagfYj]&&&

è^mqboclro
)),Ç))-
4) Review your entire list one last time to be sure that you are
transferring only the most important ideas.
5) Place these concepts, words or phrases into groups.
6) Write a single statement that includes all of this summarized

information that you have gathered. You may write several
supporting statements initially, but keep working at it until you
have condensed it into a final statement that is no longer than
15–20 words.
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqboclro
)).Ç))/
eqda^]eakkagfaklg&&&

jfppflk
a^sbÑpqlmqeobbifpqp7
I have reduced 10 years of struggling through mountains
of information to just one page of paper that supports my
personal mission statement. This page includes my Top Three
lists from each of the nine exercises:
1) my unique personal gifts and abilities
to speak, teach, listen, lead, love and coach
2) my unique personal passion
to invest in peoples’ lives; to help them find authentic fulfillment
and meaning
3) my unique personality
outgoing, energetic, caring, listening, loving, contemplative
4) my unique personal responsibilities
Kathy (wife and best friend), Nelson, Liam, Michela (children),
Wally and Marion (parents), Margaret (Kathy’s mom)
5) my unique personal experiences
performer, speaker, teacher, coach, athlete, businessman
6) my unique personal education
the school of hard knocks, running businesses, and various
business / communications / coaching /personal development
courses. Perhaps most importantly, I have gained much from
watching an unusually large number of lives up close and personal.
7) my unique personal network
sport, business, friends and faith community
8) my unique personal resources
courage, access to good friends, business and support networks,
the gift and attitude of encouragement and an ability to create
wealth and redistribute it
9) my unique personal allegiance
to my faith in God and helping people to reach and achieve

è^mqboclro
))0Ç))1
telpbjfppflkalvlrt^kqqlifsb<
It’s important to remind yourself that just as you have been
designed to make a unique contribution to this world, you’ve
also been designed to discover what that contribution is
meant to be.
Don’t be discouraged if you now realize that many of
the things in which you are currently investing your time and
money are not related to your life mission. The important
thing is that you have had the courage to set your deepest
longings down on paper and made the choice that you will
now pursue them.
There comes a time when you simply need to decide
what your mission will be, and do it. So press ahead. If you
get bogged down, seek wise counsel or find someone whom
you know and respect to help you through this process.
Dave’s personal
mission statement:
To coach and speak to people, giving them hope and
courage to live purpose-filled, mission-driven,
vision-directed, virtuous and values-centred lives.

If you don’t decide
on your mission. . .
the world will provide one,
because you have no defense.
È\Yn]hàddahk

[ `Y hl ] jân ]
nakagf
know where you’re going

A man’s vision should
exceed his grasp or
what’s a heaven for?
ÈjgZ]jlZjgofaf_
Not very long ago, a 10-year-old girl living in northern

Ontario sat in her living room, watching home movies of
Nancy Greene flying down the ski slopes to win a Gold
Medal for Canada at the 1968 Olympic Games in Grenoble,
France. She was mesmerized as she saw Nancy step to the
top of the podium with her face unforgettably aglow and
then bend forward to have the Gold Medal placed around
her neck. Nancy had reached the pinnacle of achievement
for any athlete.
The little girl watched it again and again. And each time
Canada’s national anthem played and the Maple Leaf was
raised high above all other flags, the seeds of desire were
planted in her heart. She couldn’t explain it and it was years

è^mqbocfsb
)*,Ç)*-
before she told anyone, but that scene transformed and

defined her life. In that moment, she captured a vision of
her own as she quietly said to herself, “I’d like to do that one
day. I want to stand on the podium and feel the weight of
an Olympic Gold Medal against my chest. I want to hear the
Canadian anthem and see the flag go up. . . I’d like to do that
one day.”
Now, be honest. What would you really think if a 10
year-old told you that she was going to win an Olympic Gold
Medal? Your first reaction would likely be to say something
like, “Don’t dream so big. You’ll be disappointed. You’re far
too young for that. You have no idea how big that dream is.”
But no one told her she couldn’t dream that dream, so
she just started making her 10-year-old plans to ski at her
local club, to work hard and to make the zone, provincial
and national ski teams. Just four short years later, she was
Canada’s youngest competitor at the 1972 Olympics in
Sapporo, Japan. In all the excitement, though, she became ill
before her event. She came home discouraged, but she still
had an Olympic dream in her heart and she wasn’t about to
give up on it.
Four years later at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck,
Austria, an 18-year-old Canadian stepped into the start
gates. Standing behind her was the supposedly unbeatable
German skier, Rosi Mittermaier. Rosi had already won two
gold medals, and both the media and crowds were hoping
that she would win her third gold that day. But in all the
hoopla over Rosi, nobody knew that the Canadian skier had

sfpflk
a childhood dream to fulfill and was prepared to ski the race

of her life and challenge the entire world to do it.
She thought back to that home movie of Nancy Greene,
and she focussed her thoughts on her vision to stand on the
podium with an Olympic medal around her neck. She placed
her confidence in her dream and in her years of hard work,
practice and dedication.
Thousands of Germans in the crowd chanted, “Rosi,
Rosi, Rosi.” But they weren’t part of the dream, so she
pushed them out of her mind and kept her focus on her cue
words. Over and over, she would say, “Outside ski, look
ahead.” She heard nothing else; she thought nothing else.
She only visualized the perfect performance, the perfect race
and a dream come true.
It worked. She ran a perfect race, and came in 0.13
seconds ahead of Rosi to win Canada’s only Gold Medal in
the 1976 Olympics!
That woman was Kathy Kreiner, and she quickly became
Canada’s sweetheart on the slopes. I know every detail of
her story because I married her, and she is now a Gold Medal
wife and the mother of our three children.
So let me ask you the question: Where did Kathy win
her Gold Medal? Was it when she crossed the finish line that
day in 1976? Or was it when she was 10 years-old, and first
determined that she would win Olympic gold?
j^hfkd_fdaob^jpe^mmbk
Her dream may have seemed impossible to many, but Kathy

è^mqbocfsb
)*.Ç)*/
is a living testament to the powerful statement, “dreams

really do come true.”
What are your biggest dreams?
Do you have a vision for your life? Even one that is buried
so deep within that you may have forgotten it? Perhaps there
was a dream that started when you were 10, or on a trip, or
during a meeting or even while singing in the shower. If so,
don’t give it away. Don’t give up. It still belongs to you.
It’s been said that, “Most people spend their entire lives
indefinitely preparing to live.” Well, now’s the time to get off
that treadmill and make your dreams become reality.
Set aside those voices in your head that tell you to settle
for second best and to compromise on becoming who you
know you’ve been created to be. Imagine a life where you
bounce out of bed every morning, excited to love your family
and friends, and barely able to contain your excitement
about doing the work that you were designed to do.
You don’t have to wait any longer. You can live that life
now, but it all starts with a vision or a dream.
Take time now to pause and reflect on your vision. Think
about the future and begin to dream like a 10-year-old girl
who didn’t know any better—and didn’t know any limits.
Think about Roger Bannister, the first man in history
to run a four-minute mile. People told him that it was
impossible; and despite all the attempts over all the years—
no one had managed to do it. Medical doctors even told him
that that if he ran that fast, his heart would pound so hard
that it would explode in his chest!

sfpflk
You know the ending. He didn’t listen to the nay-sayers.

He persevered and reached out to take hold of his dream.
Remarkably, the year after Roger achieved this goal, 37 other
men also broke the four-minute barrier.
Think about Colonel Sanders. At 65, he took one look
at his first Old Age Security check and said, “I can’t live on
this.” All he had was a pretty good chicken recipe and . . . a
dream. So he asked every restaurant owner he could find if
they were willing to share the profits if he allowed them to
use his recipe.
How many times do you think he heard “No” before he
got his first “Yes”? You may think, well, he’s an older, retired
guy without much energy, so perhaps he might have asked
50 restaurants. But he was determined enough to ask close
to 1000 restaurants, and that’s how the successful Kentucky
Fried Chicken chain was born.
He had a recipe and a dream. The rest is history.
Think about Ray Kroc, who took his dreams of fast, sit-
down service and started McDonalds Restaurants when he
was 52!
I could tell you story after story of people whose dreams
propelled them past the rest of the crowd and enabled
them to do something that had never been done before.
They turned off the voices in their heads that said, “That’s
too big” or “You could never do that.” They believed in
their dreams—and that changed their lives and the lives of
millions of others, forever.

è^mqbocfsb
)*0Ç)*1
lsbo`ljfkdalr_qp^kacbôp
I once asked my friend Valerie if she had ever thought about
slalom water-skiing. She replied, “You don’t understand,
Dave. People like me don’t do those kinds of things.”
That same day, I convinced Valerie to give it a try. I skied
beside her, holding tightly to the back of her ski vest for
stability. Then I asked her to just lift up one ski and see if she
could still balance. At first, she wouldn’t do it and, frankly,
she looked at me like I was crazy.
We continued to discuss this while travelling at 40
kilometres per hour, and then she finally and very tentatively
lifted her ski. As she did, something in her started to believe.
Suddenly the tip of her ski caught in the water, and the ski
was jerked off her foot. I steadied her only slightly as she
managed to slip her now free foot into the back harness.
A few moments later, I released the back of her life vest
and Valerie became a slalom water skier, something that
“people like her just don’t do.”
Do you have a voice telling you that same lie? More
importantly, are you ready to shut it off?
A few years later, I stood at the top of Couloir Extreme
on Blackcomb Mountain, one of the most frightening ski runs
in Western Canada. A small cornice provides a platform for
you to look down through the tips of your skis to the bottom
of the run more than a thousand feet below. Overwhelming?
Indeed.

sfpflk
That particular day, I was with a client who desperately

wanted to conquer her fear of this run. Her skiing skills could
easily handle it, but fear gripped her so completely that she
vacillated from laughter to tears and back again. With the
help of some relaxation techniques and psychological skills,
she started off, made the first turn and then froze . . . but
only for a moment. She kept going, through another turn and
then another. It wasn’t long before her mind caught up to
her body, gaining confidence and overcoming her fear. From
then on, she did a beautiful sequence of linked turns without
stopping—even during the most difficult area of that run.
When I met her at the bottom, it was as though a heavy
weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her countenance
was radiant and she had a smile that I won’t soon forget.
That may have been a small dream, but it still took
courage to dream it. She had to first have the courage to
decide that she would face her fears by recognizing their
irrationality and then doing what was necessary to overcome
them.
Do you dare to dream big? Will you have the courage
to dream something that is just a little bit frightening or
something that seems impossible right now?
Big dreams will make you gulp . . . hard. But you’ll join
a cast of many who have reaped the enormous benefits of
doing so—including a 10-year-old girl, Ray Kroc, the Colonel,
Roger Bannister and Valerie.
Are you starting to get the picture?
Let’s look at your life and start to get a little more

è^mqbocfsb
)*1Ç)+)
specific. During this next section, you will go through a series

of questions that are designed to get you away from where
you are right now and move you to a place where you can
think of the future.
bubo`fpblkb+
ifcb^q5-
“Happy 80th Birthday to you!”

Can you imagine a throng of friends and relatives
shouting out these words as they surround you on the
occasion of your 80th birthday? It’s a day filled with presents,
singing, lots of hugs and plenty of cake. Everyone will
celebrate you and the life that you’ve led. Right?
But—are you sure? What exactly will they be celebrating?
And what are you doing now to make sure there is something
to celebrate on that day?
The following exercise is a powerful tool that is designed
to help you think of what you want your life to be. All you
have to do is imagine that it’s your 80th birthday party and
you are looking back over the last eight decades of your life.
Take a few minutes to describe what that party will be like by

answering the following 10 questions. Don’t underestimate the
power of this exercise—it could change your life and legacy forever.

sfpflk
1) Who will be with you at your party? (Husband /wife, children,

grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, relatives, career
associates, etc.)
2) What will be the quality of each of these relationships? (Be

specific for relationships like your spouse and children, and more
general for less-significant relationships.)
3) What will your health be like at 80? Will you be healthy and
able to travel? Will you live independently?
4) What will your regular activities be when you are 80?
5) Will you have a sense of purpose and meaning? In other words,

will you still have a reason to get out of bed every morning? How
will you spend your time?
6) What will people say about you as they stand up to speak about
you? What will they consider the most significant accomplishments
of your life?
7) What will your spiritual and emotional life be like? Will you
have a sense of how you fit in the universe and of the contribution
that you have made during 80 years of living? Will love, joy and
peace be prevalent at 80? What will be your view of God and
life-after-death?

è^mqbocfsb
)+*Ç)++
8) What about your finances? Where will you live? Will you be
financially secure? How long will your resources last, and where
will they come from?
9) What will your values be? Will they be the same values that you
currently have? If you think they may change, please explain why.
10) At the end of the party when the room is quiet, someone stands
up and says, “We’ve heard some interesting and wonderful things
about you tonight, but I probably knew you as well as anyone. Let
me tell you what I think was your most important contribution,
because it best describes who you are and who you have been
throughout your life.” What would they say?
tlohôb^

ogjcYj]Y

è^mqbocfsb
)+,Ç)+-

sfpflk
Congratulations! This isn’t an easy exercise to complete, but

when you think of how you would like your life to be at 80,
you create an image in your mind and heart that can become
a vision for your life. As the saying goes, “If you don’t know
where you’re going, any road will get you there.” The few
minutes that you have invested today will help you to “know
where you’re going” and will encourage you to start building
a bridge to your future.
You are now ready to take the next step in your adventure
toward a changed life.
mobmôfkdqltofqb^sfpflkpq^qbjbkq
This is the fun part; a time when you can create something
that does not yet exist by dreaming the impossible dream.
This is the time when you become a leader in your own life;
a time when you can put on a different set of glasses and
see what unexpected adventure will unfold. This is the time
to remove the boundaries of what you do or what you have
done, and focus instead on becoming the person that you
were designed to become. (I know you’re in there!)
Are you ready? Prepare to go where you may never have
gone before.
You have already done the most powerful preparation
for developing a life vision by establishing a foundation of
purpose and the structure of a mission for your life. In other
words, you should know who you are and what you are
designed to do before you decide where you want it to take
you! When the realizations of these two things come alive,
a vision is often spontaneously birthed. For some, it’s like
fireworks in their soul; for others it’s harder to recognize. But
I urge you to listen carefully as this vision slowly starts to

è^mqbocfsb
)+.Ç)+/
take shape in your heart and mind.

Can you see yourself in the middle of your vision? There
is truly genius in the courage to take the first step and write
down what you may think your craziest thoughts and dreams
are. After all, if not you, then who? If not now, then when?
Dreams do come true.

ÈcYl`qcj]af]j%hàddahk
1976 Olympic and World Champion
As you dream, you will draw nearer to your vision. After

all, if you merely think about things as they are, you are likely
to create more of the same. Conversely, if you think of the
way things could be, you will more likely create more of what
could be. So what do you want to think and what visions do
you want to hold?
In my experience, most people choose not to have a bold
vision because of a fear of failure, false humility and a host of
other reasons. But you have been created for a reason, and
you can either choose to believe that or not. Your abilities are
far greater than you currently believe they are.
Your vision may not only be about what you want; it
is also a responsibility you have to be all that you can be for
yourself, your family, your friends, your community and your
country. I have heard it said, “Your life is God’s gift to you.
What you do with that life is your gift to Him.”
So determine now to accept the challenge to dare to
dream big dreams like a 10-year-old girl who challenged the
world. . . and won!

jfppflk
Cherish your visions and

your dreams as they are the
children of your soul; the
blueprints of our ultimate
achievements.
ÈfYhgd]gfàdd

è^mqboclro

sfpflk
bubo`fpbqtl+
ob`loavlromromlpb^kajfppflk
1) Before we get started, re-write your statements of purpose and

mission in the space provided.
2) Review your life purpose with vision in mind. Remember who

you are and the reason you were created. You were not just a
random accident. You are here for a reason, and to do something
that no other person alive can do. Then reflect on your mission and
what you will do with your life.
3) Now let’s head for blue sky. If you had all the money you needed
and all the support that was required, where would you go with
your powerful purpose and meaningful mission? How would the
future be changed by your dream?

ogjcYj]Y è^mqbocfsb
),(Ç),)
eqda^]hmjhgk]aklgZ]&&&
eqda^]eakkagfaklg&&&

ogjcYj]Y
bubo`fpbqeobb+
qeobbpqbmpqltôasfpflk
pqbmlkb+
Think about how your purpose and mission
would be lived out in the future:
Where would your vision occur?
When will it happen?

è^mqbocfsb
),*Ç),+
Who will perform it with you?
What are the core activities of your vision?
Who /what would you reach or impact through your vision?
What is the result of your vision?

ogjcYj]Y
pqbmqtl+
Review your purpose and mission statements. Take simple words
and descriptive phrases from them and write them out below,
while thinking about the future. Think of how they could naturally
grow and expand as you live them out.

è^mqbocfsb
),,Ç),-
pqbmqeobb+
Finish the following statements:
If I had:
Then I would:

Imagination is everything.
ÈYdZ]jl]afkl]af

è^mqboclro

sfpflk
bubo`fpbclro+
te^qtfii_bqebsfpflkclojvifcb<
Now is the time to reach into the unknown and dream, just like Ray
Kroc, Colonel Sanders, Roger Bannister and Kathy Kreiner.
Combine your answers from Steps One through Three to write

a first draft of your Personal Life Vision. Put it in your day timer,
on your calendar, desk or even on the fridge. Most importantly,
memorize it and review it often. Although this may not be your
final statement, it’s my hope that this will be the first draft of
something that can be truly transforming for you and everyone
who comes in contact with you.
As a man thinketh,
so shall he be.
Èhjgn]jZk*+2/

),0Ç),1
eqda^]nakagfak&&&

sfpflk
bubo`fpbcfsb+
qbpqfkdvlrosfpflk
A truly powerful vision statement will be described by, or be an

answer to, all of the following points. Review your vision statement
with the following criteria:
It will:
make you gulp . . . hard (mine does)
be a little embarrassing to tell others because it seems so big
feel like it exceeds your grasp
be clear (dream in Technicolor)
be where you really want to go
be a statement of something that isn’t yet reality
be easily understood by a 12 year-old
honour and extend your purpose and your mission
honour your core roles and values
be filled with virtue

)-(Ç)-)
Dave’s life vision:

To empower all North American business leaders and
children (ages 30-50 and 9-13) to change the world
by giving them hope, courage, and a meaningful
understanding of Life Purpose, Mission and Vision.

[ ` Y hl ] j k a p
[gf[dmkagf
let the adventure begin

We make a living
by what we get,
but we make a life
by what we give.
Èoafklgf[`mj[àdd

è^mqbopfu
)-,Ç)--
You’re there! You’ve reached the mountaintop!

If you have diligently and honestly gone through the
exercises in this book, then you now stand on top of the
biggest mountain on earth. You stand at the ultimate peak
. . . and all the adventure and fulfillment of a purpose-filled,
mission-driven and vision-directed life lies before you.
Feeling a bit of fear? I hope so.
After all, you’ve laid out your deepest hopes, dreams
and expressions of who you really are. Your life is about to
change, and those changes have the potential to lead you
into a myriad of different life adventures. You now have a
purpose statement that is bigger than who you are at this
moment, a mission statement that is the culmination of your
greatest ideas and deepest desires, and a vision statement
that will make you gulp . . . hard.
It took courage to get this far, and it will take a daily
dose of courage and determination to live the life that you
have decided is the best life for you and, for all the realtors
reading this, “the highest and best use” of your life.
How are you going to maintain this momentum towards
positive change?
^``lrkq^_fifqv
I would strongly encourage you to reveal some of what you
have learned of yourself to a trusted friend, mentor or family
member. This is important for two reasons. First, once you
have told someone else, a certain level of accountability
and expectation begins as you realize that you have “let

`lkìrpflk
the cat out of the bag.” You’ve spoken it; now it’s time to do
it. Second, you will also find that having others know your
dreams activates them, and you will begin to shape your life
in a way that brings you great meaning.
Ask someone to call you on a monthly basis, and ask you
these four simple questions:
Are you honouring your life purpose?

Are you working hard at your mission?
Are your activities keeping you
directed toward your life vision?
Have you just lied to me?
If you don’t already have in your life a mentor, a close peer
relationship, an accountability partner or someone whom
you mentor, then I encourage you to take this step. As iron
sharpens iron, so one will sharpen another. These kinds of
relationships have great power to help you to achieve and
live a life worth living.
pljbcfkîqelrdeqp
Life is an adventure that is meant to be lived to the fullest,
to the utmost and to the best. The first steps of your
journey have been taken and they are leading you to a life
that will bring unimagined and incomparable meaning to
everything you are, everything you do and everything for
which you hope.

è^mqbopfu
)-.Ç)-/
A purpose-filled, mission-driven and vision-directed life

is yours—and it’s now your responsibility to keep walking
that path.
Enjoy it. Grow. Live well. Stay focussed on what you
were meant to be and do. You only get one shot at life,
so make sure you live the life you have been uniquely
designed to live.

prddbpqbaobplro`bp
The following resources may be beneficial to you:
Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell. Nelson
Books, 2000.
Establishing Your Purpose: Ministry in the Marketplace by Vision
Foundation Inc. Knoxville, TN, 1993.
Find Your Fit: Dare to Act on God’s Design for You by Jane Kise and
Kevin Johnson. Bethany House Publishers, 1998. (for youth)
Fired Up for Life: How to Get and Stay Motivated by Greg. A.
Gerrie. R.E.A.L. Publishing, 2001.
The Call by Os Guinness. Word Publishing, 1998.
The On-Purpose Person: Making your Life Make Sense by Kevin W.
McCarthy. Pinon Press, 2001.
The Path: Creating your Mission Statement for Work and for Life
by Laurie Beth Jones. Hyperion, 1996.
The Power of Vision by George Barna. Regal Books, 2003.
Total Life Management by Bob Shank. Multnomah Press, 1990.
What Color is Your Parachute? 2005: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters
and Career-Changers by Richard Bolles. Ten Speed Press, 2004.

^`hkltibadbjbkqp
I am grateful to the following for their considerable contributions to
the publication of this book:
My wife Kathy and our children, Nelson, Liam and Michela.
They have been very tolerant of my writing time and my efforts to
work out these concepts in the life of our family over the past 10
years. Thanks!
Mom and Dad. The foundation for a life well lived was learned
in your home and under your tutelage, even when things weren’t
always that easy. My book and my life will always be grateful.
My clients. Their names have been changed to protect the
innocent, but many of the illustrations in this book have come from
business leaders across North America. I have been surprised at
both the commonality of their issues and the individuality of their
many paths to a balanced, integrated and whole life.
Susan Martinuk (Soooooozy, as she’s affectionately known).
She is a remarkable gatekeeper who understands the power of
words and can apply them clearly to difficult concepts. Without her
keen attention to detail, content and conceptual flow, this book
wouldn’t have been nearly as clear or effective for readers.
My friends at Rethink. I’m unimaginably grateful for Ian’s
commitment to this project and the creative efforts of the Rethink
Team. Lisa and Patsy managed the project with professionalism
and kind persistence; while Dale and Tom watched over even the
smallest details. I am thrilled with Jaime’s concept development,
graphic design and layout. The ideas of these creative people have
made this book complete.

^_lrqqeb^rqelo
Dave Phillips believes that every person has been uniquely
designed to live an extraordinary, purpose-filled life that
makes a difference. For more than 20 years, he has
encouraged and inspired business leaders and professional
athletes as a motivational speaker and life/business coach.
Dave is a world-class athlete who has been both a member
and coach of Canada’s national freestyle ski team, and
currently holds two World Records for duration skiing. He
lives in North Vancouver with his wife Kathy, an Olympic gold
medalist and World Cup alpine skiing champion, and their
three children, Nelson, Liam and Michela.

Matte Lamination

Life Purpose-Three Big Questions by Dave Phillips

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Life Purpose-Three Big Questions by Dave Phillips

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Life Purpose-Three Big Questions by Dave Phillips

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Matte Lamination

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages2 2 6/7/06 4:37:01 PM

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data

Printed and bound in Canada

Designed and illustrated by Rethink, www.rethinkadvertising.com

Chapter One can be downloaded from Dave’s website: www.courage4u.com

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages3 3 6/7/06 4:37:01 PM

Our children are our future as they

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages6 6 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages7 7 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages8 8 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

Every aspect of my life has been radically transformed.

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages1 1 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages2 2 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

relationships, and attended a wonderful church. I worked as

Why should I perform this mission?

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages3 3 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages4 4 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

And isn’t it your responsibility to choose your own

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages5 5 6/7/06 4:37:02 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages7 7 6/7/06 4:37:03 PM

There I was, standing on a mountaintop, staring down a steep

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages9 9 6/7/06 4:37:03 PM

I have realized that the one common denominator that links

What is my purpose for living?

What will be my mission in this life?

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages10 10 6/7/06 4:37:03 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages11 11 6/7/06 4:37:03 PM

the resulting statements can contradict one another and

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages12 12 6/7/06 4:37:04 PM

passion, this process can help to restore your focus on what

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages13 13 6/7/06 4:37:04 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages15 15 6/7/06 4:37:04 PM

I have a lot of friends with a lot of unusual stories. But Susan

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages17 17 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

you don’t believe in it,

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages18 18 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

man being drawn to the idea of having adventure as a value

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages19 19 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages20 20 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

In the absence of virtue, culture is dominated by greed,

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages21 21 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

when he came upon a brief account about the town. In

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages22 22 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

Identifying and aligning your most deeply-held values

6-189_Three_Big_Questions_Pages23 23 6/7/06 4:37:05 PM

1) Read through this list of values:

risk taking a gamble experimenting

speculation daring adventure

attractiveness grace radiance

poise control advocacy

helping others encouragement music

love caring personal warmth

physical touch energy coaching

influence stimulating change emotions

happiness being present sensing

being observant being perceptive holiness

religion guiding others governing

strength creating alignment building

inspiration development imagination