It was years ago as young boy that I heard my brother asked our father, “Why did you do it, Dad?” He was a Navy Chaplain and a war hero who led the charge at Iwo Jima without a weapon. He only had a Bible, communion sacraments, and faith with him to provide encouragement to the Marines he was in the foxholes with.
The answer Hammerin’ Hank Austin gave my brother as to why he charged out with the frontline in the first wave of boats, rather than waiting with the Admirals and other high-ranking officers as was the protocol,because simply, “that is where I was needed most.”
And that is exactly what he did at two very bloody battles; Iwo Jima and Saipan when he didn’t have to. Our father wasn’t supposed to go to shore in the first wave of boats. But that’s he did and even without a rifle. He trusted God and he loved his marines.
This Memorial Day take a moment to give “thanks” for all those brave men and women who have put their own lives on the line for us Americans.
Take a moment to feel that same courage and bring it to whatever you are working on with an extra dose of passion and purpose.
Where are you needed most?
What is it that you are truly driven to do in this life and what do you love most… are you willing to take on machine gun fire to achieve that? Thankfully, and because of our military who serve this great nation, you probably won’t ever have to take on the bullets of military machine gun fire to fulfill your passion and purpose.
You will however, have to take on your own “fears” and might even have to step a bit out of your comfort zone to do something you value as your purpose. Each time you are tempted to give up on your dreams or passions, ask yourself this question; “how important is it to me?”
If your answer is “this is where I am needed most and this is what I truly love,” then step forward boldly and without fear – and with persistent action and commitment.
Enjoy the freedoms we have today because of our brave military and use that as an advantage in pursuing your purpose.
Dave Austin
Extreme Focus Founder
co-author of the #1 International Bestseller “Be A Beast: Unleash Your Animal Instincts for Performance Driven Results”
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