LifePilot - Bill Beagan Comments on LifeManual and Peter H. Thomas

Bill Beagan, an old friend of Peter's, wrote this lovely selection of letters that really speak to what Peter is trying to do with LifePilot, and really captures some of the best parts of what the LifeManual program is all about. We thought we'd share this with you. Feel free to pass this text along to your friends, family and associates if you feel this program might be what they need to help them find a guide to getting through life's ups and downs, and that will ultimately help them set a solid course toward their own personal success.

“My purpose is to love, share my light, be a world leader, enjoy the experience of life and the journey --- and to lead, educate and inspire wherever I go.” - Peter H. Thomas.

Peter Thomas enrolled in the RCASC Soldier Apprentice Program, in 1954. I was Peter’s 7 platoon mate.

There is a plausible irony, in my opinion, connected with the marketing inducement implemented by the Canadian Army, in 1953, which attracted Peter (and others) to the RCASC Soldier Apprentice Program, and Peter’s newest book titled “Life Manual” which Peter’s publisher advertises as “A Proven Formula to Create the Life you Desire.” You will all recall that the pitch the Canadian Army made, in their early advertisements, was “A Way to a Fine Future.” To this day, Peter extols the virtues of his Soldier Apprentice experience, and the five years he was enrolled in the Canadian Army.

While it is only my intention to paraphrase parts of Peter’s recent publication, hopefully over the next several weeks; I urge you to purchase Peter’s outstanding book (LifeManual) which may be purchased by contacting >www.lifepilot.org<.

Briefly, Peter’s “LifePilot” program is a philosophy of living, detailed in his book LifeManual. It’s not about flying a real aircraft. It’s about piloting your own life with mastery; learning to read your internal navigational instruments and conquering the mental blocks to achieving a more fulfilling life. In choosing to read LifeManual, you are persuaded to take the first step toward living a more meaningful, balanced life by bringing how you live into alignment with what you believe in or, more succinctly -- your values. Peter’s LifeManual book would be a priceless birthday or Christmas gift for your children, and/or grandchildren.

You might even say that Peter Thomas has personified our RCASC Motto “Nil Sine Labore” or translated “Nothing without Work.” Years after Peter left the military he had an epiphany or more simply put, in his words, Peter was hit over the head “by-a two-by-four” which saw him move from Alberta to British Columbia where he launched Century 21 Canada, and literally started his life over again by “reaffirming” his values and “matching” his priorities to them. He says he then gave himself “permission” to change his life. From that point on, Peter became intent on making sure everything that came into his life was first measured against his “values.”

When Peter was 60, he had to deal with “the most tragic event” of his life. Peter lost his only son, Todd, to suicide. After Peter lost his son, life didn’t hold much wonder for him. Peter felt empty, and disconnected. For the first time in his incredibly successful life, Peter felt “powerless” to “fix” something.

Shortly after Todd’s death, Peter’s LifePilot program began. By Peter’s admission, “it has given me a purpose in life again and I am my old self – full of happiness, drive and fun.” Since Todd’s death, in 2000, the money Peter has raised through the LifePilot program has been given to charity, in honor of his son Todd’s life.

In the prologue to Peter’s book he concludes “Life is a wondrous and incredible process. Each of us is filled with inner genius and the potential to take flight. You can take any number of shots at the runway, but whether or not you get airborne is all a matter of attitude. Hockey great Wayne Gretzky had it right when he said, “you miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

I encourage you to pass this email on to your friends, and encourage them to visit Peter’s website at www.lifepilot.org.

I hope to have more to say in days to come, about Peter’s book, and perhaps even on our website, if this is plausible.

“My purpose is to love, share my light, be a world leader, enjoy the experience of life and the journey – and to lead, educate and inspire wherever I go. “ - Peter H. Thomas.

This is the second in a series of commentaries which I have written, connected with the book (LifeManual) written by former RCASC Soldier Apprentice (1954-56) Peter Thomas. This is Peter’s fourth book, and in my opinion it is the quintessential “book of knowledge” for people of all ages, and stations in life.

In his book (LifeManual) Peter Thomas has chronicled a step-by-step manual designed to teach people to live life to its fullest, with integrity, focus and self-determination and in tune with their values. LifeManual is based on the renowned “LifePilot” program, developed by Peter Thomas, which has inspired people throughout the world to pursue their passions and reach their true potential.

As Peter points out “humans don’t come with operating manuals” and that most of what we know is based on trial and error, and “how much we are willing and able to learn from others.” LifeManual is all about living in alignment with your values, and charts a course for the reader to “live a life filled with happiness, passion and achievement.”

Peter illustrates the value of “time” with a parable about a bank that deposits $86,400 into your account every morning. This bank allows no balance to be carried over to the next day, and it offers no savings account, so whatever you don’t spend wisely is lost forever. No matter how much you beg to get that money back, you can never retrieve it. If you were wise, you would draw out every cent, every day of your life, and spend freely. You would leave no crumbs for the bankers to reclaim. Fantasy aside, Peter points out “what if I told you that you really do have such a bank account in your life. It isn’t filled with money --- it’s filled with time to spend on the things you value. Each morning, this bank deposits 86,400 seconds into your account. Each night, it reclaims whatever you failed to spend on what you value most.” The stark truth, as Peter explains, “There is no way to reclaim that lost time but there is a way to start living a more meaningful, balanced life.”

As Peter explains, “the lesson is to enjoy life every day – don’t save up to have a great time later or when you retire, and don’t blow it all on any one thing.” Quoting Ernest Hemingway “it is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

Pause to recognize what you value most in life. Don’t be too quick to throw it away in search of a seemingly magical solution.
Spend time on what you value and weed out the time-wasters.
Learning how to break away from negative patterns and habits begins at a fundamental level – get to know yourself better and consciously identify what you really value.
Once you identify your personal values and begin consciously living by them, they will guide you through every decision you make. They will tell you when to say yes, when to say no, and what to do under extreme stress.
To achieve equilibrium in your life means continually adjusting the weight of your values and priorities against your behaviors and actions.
Working to bring your inner life and outer life into alignment creates the dynamic for success.
What you feel is what you manifest – and what you manifest nourishes your deepest longings.

Christmas is only three months away, and Peter’s book, LifeManual, would be an outstanding gift, not only for you but for your children and grandchildren, as well. You may obtain more information about LifeManual by going to >www.lifepilot.org<

I urge you to forward this information on to your friends, and anyone else you feel may be interested in this subject.

“My purpose is to love, share my light, be a world leader, enjoy the experience of life and the journey – and to lead, educate and inspire wherever I go” - Peter H. Thomas.

In my two previous commentaries connected with LifeManual, written by former RCASC Soldier Apprentice, Peter Thomas (1954-56); Peter talks about the individual becoming “what they value.” Peter also counsels the reader by means of comprehensible metaphors, and personal life experiences, how to “navigate” ones daily life, by focusing on ones values.

In this commentary, Peter assists the reader on how to “Define Your Destination” noting that “a goal is a dream with a deadline.” Peter goes on to say “when you set goals and put them into action, you actively determine the way you will live your life, rather than just allowing life to happen to you.”

Peter never set out to become the multi-millionaire he is but he always set a goal of “reaching higher than wherever I was.” To do this, Peter had to believe in his ability to achieve the next stage of success and he never once considered “lowering my goals.” Peter encourages the reader not to just focus on “accomplishments to date” but rather to “look deeper and you may uncover assets that are sleeping within you, and only need to be awakened.” Peter sites several examples of people who have written him after attending his “LifePilot workshops” to say they “discovered parts of themselves they had ignored or felt uncertain about.”

In simple language Peter addresses the “fear” some people have setting goals because of their “fear of failure.” He also provides sound principals on how to “discover” ones power and logical tips for “setting goals” such as keeping your goals “specific” noting that if they are too abstract you will lessen your chances of achieving them. Quoting Eleanor Roosevelt “happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product” noting that Ms Roosevelt “wisely knew that abstract goals like happiness, peace of mind and success are only achieved by setting and accomplishing concrete goals.”

To help readers articulate their goals Peter introduces the RUMBA method of writing personal goals, motivating one-self and focusing ones energies. As Peter states “to really RUMBA, your goals must be Realistic, Understandable, Meaningful and Measurable, Believable, and Agreed Upon.”

In terms of being “Realistic” Peter counsels the reader that goals must have some basis in reality, i.e. shooting at the moon with a 22 caliber rifle is not a realistic or attainable goal. As for being “Understandable” the reader is counseled to “describe your goals using specific language so you are very clear about what you want to achieve.” Meaningful and Measurable – “your goals should be important to you. They should not be things others think you should do.” Believable - “if you don’t believe you can reach your goal you won’t be motivated to attain it.” Agreed Upon “if you set personal goals and don’t share them with anyone, you often lose the benefits, encouragement and fun of involving stakeholders in your success.”

I need to point out that my commentary does not do justice to the outstanding book Peter Thomas has written. As previously stated, more information about Peter, his book (LifeManual) and how to obtain it, may be found at Peter’s website >www.lifepilot.org<

This will be my final review of LifeManual but I encourage anyone who wishes to glean more information from this excellent tutorial, written by Peter Thomas, to acquire it by way of Peter’s website. This would be a wonderful book for people of all ages, and a gift which would have a notable effect on any secondary, or post secondary school enrollees.