10 Steps 2 Freedom

“Are you happy living under the average limitations imposed on you by other people, or are you ready to rise to the greater expectations of your inner self?”

- Chris J. Baker

Life is not a dress rehearsal

You are a unique being who has been provided with a gift, whether you are currently aware of it or not. Read the words below, from the song “Thank you for the music” by ABBA, as they describe the concept I am introducing to you in this book.

“I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore

If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before

But I have a talent, a wonderful thing

'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing

I'm so grateful and proud

All I want is to sing it out loud

So, I say

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance what are we?

So I say thank you for the music

For giving it to me”

For the longest time I thought I was the person described in the first two lines, that I didn’t have anything special about me and no one really cared what I thought. Then I moved into the next few lines where I realized that people did listen to me and, more importantly, they were interested in what I had to say. It wasn’t until 2012, when I was 46 years old, that this realization actually happened.

I had become a leader for The Walt Disney Company and one of my bosses commented that I didn’t say much in meetings but when I did everyone listened. This was the first time anyone had said anything like that to me. It gave me confidence and was the jolt I needed to start thinking bigger. Now I am living in the chorus of ABBA’s song, where I know I have a story to tell and people need, even want, to hear it. What would I be without this story? What would my life look like? You may be in a similar position so read on and let’s start your journey of discovery to a better future, one that you control.

As I approached the age of 50, I started to question what my life was about. I had been relatively successful in my professional career and yet my personal life was a train wreck! I heard people talk about living a life of freedom, and it raised a very important question to me: “What exactly is a life of freedom?”

This is a great question and one that, in conventional thinking, we are not taught to ask. After years of researching and investigating this very question, I believe that it all starts with having a clear understanding of your purpose, which may prompt another question: “How do I you find my purpose?”

My aim in writing this book is to help provide you with practical steps that will lead you to identifying your purpose and then using that increased awareness to create a vision for your future.: When you find your passion and make it your purpose, you can then turn it into your profession. To illustrate the steps required to do this, I use my own story so that I can demonstrate the way that has worked for me. Believe me, my journey has been a long and bumpy road, one filled with many happy times, professional success, and also experiences that I am not so proud of – I lay it all out there for you to show that everyone can live the life they choose, if they are prepared to take responsibility for their actions and follow through. I share examples from my life growing up in England, my time with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, plus the factors behind my decision to leave my full-time management position with this amazing company, to pursue my purpose.

Once you know your purpose and get clarity of your vision, you are able to start designing, then implementing a strategy that will lead you to the life that YOU choose. Put simply, your purpose is what makes you happy, and is often referred to as your “why”. It is the reason that you were created. When you identify your purpose, and believe in it wholeheartedly, it becomes a burning desire. Your desire should become so hot that nothing will stop you from pursuing your destiny, and when this metamorphosis occurs, you are able to manifest your thoughts into reality. Okay, I get that this may sound a bit far-fetched, and it did to me when I started my journey, but stick with me on this and allow me to show you how it works.

I want you to think back to events that have happened throughout your life. These should be both positive and negative experiences. Next, ask yourself what emotions you felt during those events and, more importantly, what was it about these events that prompted the emotion? As you piece these together you will find a thread of commonalities that will help you to formulate your purpose. When I went through this process myself it helped me escape from the lowest point of my life to being able to live a life of freedom and happiness that I do now, and I want to help you to achieve the same.

My goal with this book is to help show you how to clearly define your purpose in a format which starts with what you want to do, and ends with the difference that you intend to make. For example, my purpose is: To add value to other people so that they can become the best version of themselves.

The contribution I want to make is to add value to other people and the impact I want to have is for them to become the best version of themselves. As you develop your own statement I want you to keep referring back to this process so that you have a clear picture of your contribution and impact. As you work through this process you will see that when you are doing things for other people, rather than for yourself, you will gain a higher level of significance and fulfillment that will ultimately provide you with everything that you want.

10 Steps 2 Freedom is available from Amazon now. To learn more about the concepts behind the book you are invited to join a live teaching call on zoom, held by Chris on Thursday 8th August. You can register your interest by clicking here.

You can also learn more about Chris by visiting www.Chris-J-Baker.com