Freedom Focused: The SAL Master Challenge

Chapter 5

The SAL Master Challenge

This chapter introduces the Self-Action Leadership MASTER CHALLENGE (SAL-MC), which, if diligently embraced and pursued to completion, will exponentially increase the long-term value of reading and studying these textbooks.

Throughout my life, I have been blessed with many opportunities to engage in challenges and exercises similar to those you are about to embark upon in the SAL Textbooks. These opportunities arose in a variety of different settings, including school, scouting, church, and my own independent reading and studying initiatives.

In 1997, prior to my senior year in high school, I completed the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Becoming an Eagle Scout is a singular honor for a Boy Scout. Only four percent (4%) of registered Boy Scouts rise to this prestigious rank. Earning one's "Eagle" requires a great deal of time, effort, and personal commitment. A scout's parents are also usually closely involved as well. In my case, my parents did not micromanage any of my efforts, and I personally took pride in proactively pursuing my Eagle because it was something I genuinely wanted for myself, not something my parents or scout leaders pressured or coerced me to complete.

The requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout included earning merit badges in 21 different knowledge/skill areas, camping overnight at least 20 times, engaging in many hours of general community service, and then leading my peers in planning and completing a specific and unique community service project. My "Eagle Project" involved building and painting a bench and then installing it in the City Park in my hometown of Monticello, Utah.

Throughout my Scouting journey I learned, developed, grew, and acquired new knowledge, skills, and confidence as a human being, citizen, and leader. As a result of my efforts, I became something better, stronger, and more capable than I was before. The act of committing myself to a specific set of outlined disciplines and requirements—and then following through on those objectives—developed a pattern of internal and external growth and progress that has greatly blessed my life ever since.

My set of scriptures with markings for specific
passages required for memorization

A similar opportunity arose in the Seminary program of my church, which consisted of four years of scripture classes taken during my four years in high school (grades 9-12). In addition to graduating from Seminary, I also had the opportunity to become a "Master Scriptorian" by memorizing 100 scripture excerpts—25 per year for each of the four required courses. It required a lot of determination, effort, and focus to memorize 100 scriptures, and the exercise did wonders for both my confidence and memory.

Later, while serving as a full-time missionary for my church, I had a chance to tackle an even more ambitious goal and earn my "Master Disciple" certificate, which required a lot of reading, study, and even more memorization than I had done in Seminary. This award was preceded by "Gold," "Silver," and "Bronze" certificates, each of which came with a progressive list of tasks to be completed en route to earning the highest certificate of "MASTER DISCIPLE."

A fourth example of engaging in this kind of deep, disciplined, and ambitious self-growth and improvement took place when I was a freshman in college during the 2001-2002 school year. During this time, I participated in an extended and intensive self-help program lasting for forty-five (45) weeks. I found the program in Og Mandino's book The Greatest Secret in the World.

My copy of Og Mandino's
Greatest Secret in the World
With homemade cover for
added protection

This challenge required that I take certain action steps three-times per day for 225 days (five days per week). I invested much thought and many hours of focused reading, pondering, reflecting, recording, and analyzing throughout the process. As was the case when I earned my Eagle Scout award, completing Mandino's amitious 45-week "Success Recorder" (1) transmuted my very being into something more capable, confident, determined, and substantive that it was before.

Throughout my secular and religious education and training, I have had other, similar experiences that have likewise empowered me to become something greater than I was before. Suffice it to say, great power is harnessable through conscious ACTION directed conscientiously toward an intentional and well-defined goal. In developing the SAL Master Challenge, I have drawn on all of my erstwhile experiences for the benefit of your personal and professional change, growth, and freedom. If you are willing to commit to the challenge and rigor of the SAL Master Challenge and see it through to completion, I promise you will experience some of the same positive growth trajectories I have enjoyed from tackling similar opportunities.

The SAL Master Challenge requirements consist of a series of homework assignments that accompany your reading and studying of the SAL Textbooks. At the end of this chapter, you will find a copy of these requirements. This is where you will keep track of your progress and achievements.

Helping my older brother Wayne (front right) with his
Eagle Project in 1985. I did the same project 12 years later.
I am in the background in the orange shirt, age 6.

Upon earning my Eagle Scout award, I joined an honorary fraternity of fellow Eagle Scouts known as The Eagle's Nest. Those who complete the SAL Master Challenge will likewise enter an elite and honorary worldwide club known as The Freedom Circle. Entering the Freedom Circle is considered an official gateway toward becoming a self-action leader.

As you progress along your journey towards the Freedom Circle, you will keep track of your own progress. You will also determine (on the altar of your personal honor and integrity) when you have satisfactorily completed ALL of the requirements.

Are you prepared to begin your own journey towards the Freedom Circle?

Do you have the desire, will, work ethic, and attitude required to do hard things?

Do you desire to change and grow more than you seek to remain as you are?

If so...

Then read on!

SAL MASTER CHALLENGE

Requirements

1. Find an Accountability Partner (AP) in the form of a spouse, family member, friend, supervisor, teacher, coach, colleague, mentor, etc. Review with them the SAL Master Challenge requirements. Recruit them to serve as a witness, support, and cheerleader to your efforts.

Accountability partner's name:_______________________________________