The purpose of life is a life of purpose! What purpose do you have?

2014-11-05T22:23:52-05:00

Life can be easy if you only seek to achieve the minimum standard. Exceeding it is much harder. What do you do to improve yourself and help your fellow men and women?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 10:34 PM

2014-11-05T22:34:17-05:00

Great question, SGM. My purpose is to serve the Lord and to serve others.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 11:24 PM

2014-11-05T23:24:30-05:00

1) Recognize that life is finite.
2) Youth is fleeting.
3) Death is everyone's destiny.
4) Understand that small ripples make a wave.
5) The stars are beautiful.
6) Our one chance to do it right, is right now.

Done.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 5 at 2014 11:29 PM

2014-11-05T23:29:51-05:00

To help those who have fallen to find their feet again.
To bring peace to the souls of the tormented.
To make the world a better place for the next generation.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 1:30 AM

2014-11-06T01:30:22-05:00

I stay up on new techniques and research in my civilian job. I utilize iTunes U for free classes for self-development.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 1:40 AM

2014-11-06T01:40:03-05:00

SGM Private RallyPoint Member.

My overt professional purposes are spelled out in my linkedin profile . . .

o https://www.linkedin.com/in/armynurse

My covert professional purposes include being a witness and repository for some very difficult events in history . . . trying to convey to younger generations some of the events and lessons to be learned from the past . . . providing mission planning and support services for medical, relief, diplomatic, and special purpose embedded operations . . .

My personal purposes are . . . to be a loving example for others to follow . . . to continue to be a vessel and instrument of God . . . particularly with respect to totalitarian communist and other oppressive despotic regimes . . . to parent and mentor the development of the next generation . . . and hopefully as many followon generations as possible . . . to equip and train those who may potentially be able to defend their culture and their society . . . to preserve and defend the culture and society of people who cannot defend themselves . . . to inspire others to be a positive influence in the world . . . and to continue to live, work, fight, and thrive for as long as humanly possible.

Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 7:28 AM

2014-11-06T07:28:46-05:00

Per requests, here is one of my handouts that I've always given to everyone I supervise; and use for talking points in some of my public speaking:

Steps for Success
Dan Coberly, MA
Sgt. Major, RA (Capt. USAR)
Condensed from “Positive Public Affairs” c 1999
“The Greatest Leader I Never Knew” American Traveller c 1991

• Honesty is non-negotiable. Character counts. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

• Be culturally aware. Seek first to understand. Effective leaders learn why people think and act as they do. Become a member of the crew, not the baggage train.

• Be situationally aware. Don’t confuse true leadership with a generic leadership role or title. The toughest view is the one nearest you, altered by people and events.

• Shape fate. Lead by taking and inculcating a culture of responsibility for actions and inactions. Inspire others to exceed minimum standards. Find out what needs to be done and do it. Mentor and grow experts via opportunities.

• Know thy people. Know thyself. Offer everyone a place at your table. Represent your people well and they will well represent you. Know and use the resources of your team matching skills to mission. Look in the mirror. Challenge your own assumptions. Pull others up, don’t push them down. Disagree without disrespect.

• Be an Innovator. People adapt best to what they know best. Find ways to work smarter, not harder. Caretaker majorities may rule; Innovators and Undertakers affect outcomes. Innovators are responsible for 99.9% of all positive change. Take risks without being a loose cannon.

• Constantly communicate. Share information, not just vision. Close the loop, vertically & horizontally. An action isn’t complete until you coordinate with anyone remotely affected by the action...or inaction. The outcome affects your image.

• Be objective. People are tribal, it’s in our DNA. Help tribes to form a nation. Act on facts, not opinions. Beware of agendas. Bury your bias or it will lead you to be unfair. Be firm but fair. Ensure justice, rewards. Effective leaders do not lack will, nor must they often impose will. Focus your kick-to pat ratio on pats so your kicks can be effective.

• Become trusted by trusting others. Mutual trust is the backbone of all good relationships. Trust creates full partners. Your position is a trust, on loan from others. Know when to lead, when to follow.

• Shun the perks. Real leaders unselfishly serve others. They do not expect to be served. Promotions are not for what you have done, but for what you are expected to do.

• Team Spirit trumps corporate politics.

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Nov 6 at 2014 8:30 PM

2014-11-06T20:30:13-05:00

At the moment I'm just working on finishing my master degree, but I have been contemplating what to when I retire from the Army in four years or less. I would like to be a full-time advocate for Autistic adults and children, but I will have to figure out how I can make a living while doing so.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 6 at 2014 8:57 PM

2014-11-06T20:57:43-05:00

Helping other servicemembers readjust to peace time and help veterans make a better transition to civilian life than I did. I am a wealth of information on how to really screw things up. If I can help a few people avoid the mistakes I made, I will be a happy camper.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 9:06 PM

2014-11-06T21:06:44-05:00

Every day I pick one thing I can improve on from the previous day, and try to make the change in myself and to help others to be better.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Nov 6 at 2014 9:19 PM

2014-11-06T21:19:58-05:00

How do I improve myself? I push myself outside of my comfort zone frequently in order to force myself to learn and experience new things and meet new people. Its not too hard for me to let myself become an introvert, but I force myself out of that box all of the time so that I don't become comfortable being an introvert.

For others, I simply try to help, coach, teach and nurture when I am needed and then toss them out of the nest to fly on their own when they no longer need me. I still stand by on the sidelines, just in case their first flight is a little rough, but we all have to stand on our own at some point.

As far as my purpose in life, well, that's up to God.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 11:20 PM

2014-11-06T23:20:51-05:00

SGM Private RallyPoint Member An online troll or a switchboard operator at Time Life Books!