How it Became

Many years back I was caught up in the rat race of day to day business and life. I am a father, husband, and had all the duties of family life along with running three businesses. I didn’t have time to sleep yet alone be a good family man and something had to give.

My dream was to be self – employed since I was young. Never liked to sit still much was always doing something and more then not inventing something somehow. As I grew in age my dream was becoming reality, not easy was the path of having zero dollars and then trying to make a living on your own accord.

I worked for many a company: from the common man worker blue-collar position to higher that titled me President. In all situations I always believed give it 150%. No matter what it was in the work place it seemed that others didn’t have the same vision, that all they concerned themselves with was getting a paycheck regardless of how incredibly tough, boring or abusive the job was. Something inside of me said that this was not how I wanted to live out my days.

20 plus years back I made promise to myself that first I would write an IOU to my family and myself. On this IOU I wrote: no matter how many days it took, no matter how many extra hours I needed to add to a work day – I would at all cost get to where I was in control of my destiny. I believed that all jobs regardless of what they are have purpose and that one can do a good job and be happy with themselves no matter the position, no matter the job.

I had a mission and that would lead me to this day. The day when I would launch a business that was for the betterment of mankind. A place where those that have good within themselves can share and pass it to those that need it and better yet should have it!

4 years ago this October I decided that I would shed myself of all relationships that possessed evil, greed and deceitfulness. Regardless of the amount of dollar attached or the time spent into that field or business. If it was not to helping someone in some way I was going to either sell it, give it away or be ride of it/who. This meant people included, if they had no good in them then I was to not do business with them. It did not matter how much money I could have made working with them or their organization. The high road was the only road and I was going to take it from that day forward.

I bought my business partner out in one of the businesses; I sold another and stopped one out and out. I would take a stance and that was to be the way of life from here going forward. I decided that if I took my number one problem regardless of what it was and got rid of it, I would be a better person for it.

Soon after this I was on assignment high in the far north of Sweden filming a television show. I was asked to hunt with the Sami, a very special people that live life in and around nature in particular with herding and managing large herds of wild reindeer. I was to hunt with them, experience life as it was in their part of the world. We hunted moose the way they would. They use a dog to assist them in finding and obtaining meat. A companion that they had worked many hours with, a trusted never deceitful and always possessing unconditional love for what they do and who they are with most. I took two moose with the Sami upon their request. It was hunting as it should be the goal was to fill the freezer, to take a life for the sake of food, nourishment.

I was sitting with my wife Mary in a Teepee on freshly skinned and dried reindeer hides, a fire going in the center of the open floor of the teepee. We were discussing culture and how life was there for them with our new friends. I was learning and feeling the well being these people have, the connection to the planet and respect they held for each other and their surroundings. Bente a very unique talented crafter Sami women reaches down to her belt and pulls a Sami knife from its sheath that is attached to her belt. She cuts a slice of raw reindeer from a large piece of dried yet raw piece of meat. She then makes the gesture and handed it to my wife and myself as to say it is now your turn cut and eat. She did not think twice about sharing the food that they had made, she smiled and asked if we wanted more after we did as she asked and then gently passed it to her partner. I thanked her and enjoyed the unique texture and flavor of this meal.

Her partner Toamma sat up on one knee, looked straight across the smoke filled teepee and into my eyes. He asked me what I did when I take an animals life? He spoke in his broken but well understood English? Remember now that we are Americans in a very far away land and I must answer this first with my heart but I must answer it correctly as I am here representing America. I looked back at him and first wondered why he has asked this and second how important this answer was going to be. I answered with a question as to make sure that I was clear on what the answer was to be. I asked: “do you mean me or do you mean Americans?” He answered as he looked into my eyes through the dim lite light of the fire. No I mean you Scott – what do you do?

My answer was to be that of how I felt when I have taken an animals life for the reason of food. Without hesitation I looked straight into his eyes and answered that I am probably not the normal as there are many people with many varied opinions. What I do: I walk over to the animal and have words with them. First I thank them for this moment together on Mother Earth, I thank them for the meat that they have provided for my family and others. I tell them it has been an honor to have shared this moment and space together, I wish them save travels in their journey as for today I have hunted in Honor Integrity and Purpose (HIP).

I asked Toamma what does he do? He said I do the same my words a bit different but I do the same. Then he asked me the question that changed my thought path. The one question that made me think hard, hard enough that I had to take action. He said: Do I say it out loud? I answered: “no I do not.” He commented I should as I can affect many with what I do through these films I make.

That single line, that particular moment in my life struck like a gust of cold arctic wind across my face. He was right I have the ability to effect, share and to educate through what I do for a living. This was what I was going to do.

I have used the words Honor Integrity and Purpose for a very long time. I decided it was time to pass this thought path and message onto to others. It was time to draw this community of like people together. It is time to share in a much greater capacity of numbers then I could imagine. HIP – Honor Integrity Purpose was not just the words I say to an animal but it is a way to live, it is a path to a better cause.

The world has changed fast, it is a much different place today then it was when I was a child and it is not necessarily for the better. There is so much dismay and deceitfulness, is it possible that through these simple little but powerful words we the people can make a mark on mankind? This is what I said – we! It all starts with one and that can be me. But if the there was one thing I learned on at mountain in Sweden. This is not a time to be shy, say it like it is and stand for who you are. Regardless of opinion of others, make a move for a betterment of mankind. Get Hip and Live HIP. Is this not how you wish your children to be, your neighbor or the person you see when at work?

1 becomes TWO – 2 becomes FOUR! I am one – which number are you? Pass it on make a difference. Banding together to make a difference is worth every second spent doing so.

Scott Anderson
Founder HIP
Written 6/10/2012 Transcribed.