Claim Your Mission: A Guide to Living Your Hero's Story

Building a business sometimes feels like climbing a mountain made of quicksand. 

Every step forward comes with endless decisions, constant setbacks, and the nagging feeling that you'll never get it all done. I know this feeling intimately—the weight of endless tasks crushing your bigger dreams.

I spent years walking the same path, literally. Almost every day, on my daily walk, I’d listen to "The Courage to Be Disliked" - not once, not twice, but three times over. 

Something about its message kept pulling me back until, finally, it hit me:

I wasn't here just to complete tasks. 

I was here to fulfill my Life Tasks - my unique way of impacting the world.

Nobody should wake up feeling like their life is just a series of checkboxes waiting to be ticked off. 

Instead, you can write a story worth telling. Curious? Read on.

Brave Step 1: Face Your Dragons

 

Fear used to control me like a fire-breathing dragon circling my castle, keeping me "safe" from what could harm or hurt me. 

But safety came at a cost - it kept me small, stuck, reactive instead of purposeful.

If you don't face your dragon: You'll keep living in reaction mode, letting circumstances write your story instead of choosing your own path.

How to do it:

1. Name your dragon - 

What's your biggest fear? Write it down. Is it failure? Not being enough? Letting others down? Just naming it starts to tame it.

2. Listen to what your fear is trying to tell you. 

   
   

For me, that meant sitting quietly with my anxiety instead of running from it. Fear usually has two messages: either you're in real danger, or you're uncomfortable because you're growing.

3. Have a conversation with your fear. 

   
   

Yes, actually talk to it. Name it—like I named mine—“Fred.” Thank it for trying to protect you. Then, gently explain that you're capable of making your own choices.

4. Create a simple ritual for managing fear. 

   
   

My ritual involves taking a breath and saying, "This is fear talking." When I recognize fear's voice, I can choose whether to listen or lead.

5. Practice taking small, brave actions while acknowledging your fear. 

Remember, courage isn't about being fearless—it's about feeling fear and choosing your mission anyway.

Speaking of mission - what’s yours? Let’s see if we can pinpoint it.

Brave Step 2: Define Your Mission

 

Your Life Tasks are about something other than posting on social media or even writing books. They're about becoming who you were created to be. 

When you understand this, everything shifts.

If you skip this step: 

You'll keep mistaking activity for purpose, measuring success by tasks completed rather than lives touched.

How to do it:

1. Set aside an hour of uninterrupted time.  Find a quiet space where you can think deeply without distractions.
   

2. Write your obituary (stay with me here). 

   • What do you want people to say about your life? 

   • What differences did you make? 

   • What adventures did you have? 

   • What legacy did you leave?
     

3. Look for patterns in what you wrote. 

What themes emerge? Are you consistently mentioning specific values or impacts? These are clues to your mission.

4. Create a "movie title" for your life. 
   

It's not just a cool way to imagine your life—it's more about capturing the feeling of your story in a way that inspires you to live it.

5. Test your mission by asking: 
   

Does this excite me? 

Does it serve others? 

Does it use my unique gifts? 

Would I be proud to have this inscribed on my tombstone?

Next step - how are you planning to accomplish this mission? Read on…

Brave Step 3: Create Your Hero's Map 

Heroes don't stumble into great stories by accident. They choose them. 

They create clear visions of where they're heading - not just for next year, but for the next decade.

If you skip this step: 

You'll drift through life hoping things work out (sound familiar?) instead of intentionally creating the impact you're capable of making.

How to do it:

1. Start with your 10-year vision. Don't be practical yet. Dream big in five key areas:

   • Career: What impact are you making?

   • Health: How are you showing up physically and mentally?

   • Family: What relationships have you nurtured?

   • Community: How are you contributing?

   • Spiritual: What gives your life meaning?
     

2. Work backward to your 5-year milestones. What needs to be true halfway there? Be specific about:

   • Skills you've developed

   • Relationships you've built

   • Resources you've gathered

   • Changes you've made
     

3. Create your 1-year action map. This is where dreams meet reality:

   • Choose three major projects that move you toward your vision

   • Identify quarterly milestones

   • Select two daily practices that build your hero's character

   • List two things you'll never do again because they don't serve your story
     

4. Review and adjust monthly. Your map isn't set in stone - it's a living document that ebbs and flows as it grows with you.
   

5. Share your map with someone who believes in you. Heroes need allies who understand their mission.

Your Mission Awaits 

HERO ON A MISSION: MAKE 2025 MATTER

On January 11th at the Grande Prairie Public Library, I'm inviting 12 people to join me for the Hero on a Mission workshop. 

Together, we'll:

• Craft your life's mission statement

• Create your 10-year, 5-year, and 1-year visions

• Design daily practices that keep you focused on what matters most

• Transform your tasks into meaningful steps toward your bigger purpose

This isn't about adding more to your to-do list. It's about becoming the hero your story needs you to be.

Early bird pricing until December 20th. Your story is waiting. 

Don’t put it off! Answer the call!