I’ve sat down with a lot of exceptional people over the years, but every once in a while, a conversation hits differently. That’s how I felt talking to Otis McGregor—Green Beret turned leadership coach, founder of Tribe + Purpose, and one of the most intentional men I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.
This episode wasn’t just about leadership or business growth—it was about identity, service, and the long road it sometimes takes to figure out what we’re truly here to do.
From Green Beret to Wandering the Job Desert
Otis’s journey started in Texas, led through the Army National Guard and West Point, and eventually landed him in the Arctic tundra of Fairbanks, Alaska—just south of the Arctic Circle—for his first assignment as an Army officer. He later became a Green Beret and, as he put it, “did way more cool stuff than any man should be allowed.”
But when he retired, things didn’t fall into place the way he thought they would.
He described those years after the military as wandering “the job desert.” He’d land a promising role—say to himself, This is it, I’ll do this for 20 years—then 90 days in, everything felt off. The coffee wasn’t free enough. The commute felt too long. And before long, he’d quit and take the same job somewhere else.
Even when he landed what he called “the perfect job” as Chief Strategy Officer for a small business, working remotely with full autonomy, he still wasn’t fulfilled.
That’s when he sat back and asked a crucial question: What in my life has actually brought me joy and consistency since leaving the Army?
The answer? Family… and rugby.
Coaching Rugby Changed Everything
What started as volunteering to support his youngest son in a high school rugby club turned into something far more meaningful.
Their house became the clubhouse. Otis and his wife, Suzanne, “adopted” 35 extra sons. And for years, they poured themselves into that community.
But it wasn’t the sport that lit Otis up.
“The game, the boys, the coaching—that third piece was the key. Teaching, mentoring, pushing them to do what they didn’t think they could, and holding them accountable.”
That realization shifted everything. He started talking to friends and eventually discovered the world of executive coaching. Not long after, Tribe + Purpose was born.
Living With Purpose
Otis’s purpose is one that deeply resonates with me:
To create a legacy of great leaders.
Because, as he says, great leaders build great organizations. Great organizations strengthen communities. And when communities thrive, the world becomes a better place.
But he also made a distinction I hadn’t heard phrased this way before:
“A goal is achieved. A purpose is fulfilled. A true purpose has no end state. It’s the cup that never overflows and is never empty.”
That metaphor landed hard.
He explained that when you live aligned with your purpose, yes—some days will still suck. But even in those moments, you’ll know you’re headed in the right direction. You’ll have energy, clarity, and forward momentum. Because your purpose is fueling you every day.
The Most Practical Way to Discover Your Purpose
Otis shared one of the best frameworks I’ve heard for discovering purpose—and I’ve already started using it with my own team and clients.
It goes like this:
- Write down 5 passions—things that energize you, where you lose track of time.
- For each one, list 3–5 components that make it fulfilling.
- Look for the trend line across them—what connects the dots?
- From that, identify a central theme, and test it by living it.
- If it feels off, keep iterating.
“Your purpose is the umbrella. Everything you do should fall under it. And if something falls outside it, you’ll feel it.”
This wasn’t theory for Otis. It’s how he found his own path.
And importantly, he made a point I think more people need to hear:
“Your purpose doesn’t have to pay you. You can use your paycheck to fund your passion.”
Before Tribe + Purpose, he used his job to afford coaching rugby. That was his way of fulfilling purpose even when his work didn’t align.
Why Tribe Matters
The second part of Otis’s framework—tribe—is just as powerful.
“Even Jesus had 12 disciples. The perfect one had a tribe.”
He reminded me: none of us gets there alone. We need people around us to push us, pick us up, celebrate us, and call us out when needed.
He runs a men’s group called Steel Men Tribe, built on aligned values and a desire to serve. His philosophy is this:
“The right tribe is made up of people who care about your success more than their own.”
That’s what real leadership is built on—relationships, not transactions.
And I’ve found that to be true in every exceptional company I’ve worked with.
Tactical Wisdom for Entrepreneurs
One thing I loved about our conversation is how practical it was. Otis offered clear, actionable guidance—especially for younger entrepreneurs navigating chaos.
His biggest lesson?
“Your most precious asset is your time.”
He challenged us to control our calendars, not let others fill them. Live intentionally. Design your life—don’t just react to it.
He has every client walk through an “ideal day” exercise:
Five years from now, what does your ideal day look like?
Start there—and reverse engineer your time, energy, and business decisions.
He also challenged the myth of work-life balance:
“It’s all life. Learn to shift priorities, manage your seasons, and stay aligned.”
Tools and Resources Otis Recommends
A few resources Otis shared that had a big impact on him:
- On Selling by Mark McCormack – A book that changed his perspective on sales. Otis realized he’d been “selling” his whole life—his team, his ideas, his leadership—just not in the way we traditionally think about it.
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – A Stoic classic that aligns deeply with his worldview. As he put it:
“Jesus wasn’t a Stoic, but he would’ve made a good one.”
That line alone tells you a lot about how Otis thinks.
If You’re Just Getting Started
If no one’s ever talked to you about leadership or purpose, start now.
“Find something you’re passionate about, dissect it, and figure out why it fuels you. Then build your life around it.”
Start messy. Test it. Iterate. You don’t have to monetize it. But you do have to live it.
That’s how legacy begins.
Otis, thanks for the cigars, the wisdom, and the clarity.
And to everyone reading: if you’re not living on purpose, you’re just moving.
Let’s change that.
AND MORE TOPICS COVERED IN THE FULL INTERVIEW!!! You can check that out and subscribe to YouTube.
If you want to know more about Otis McGregor, you may reach out to him at:
- Website: https://www.10xyourteam.net/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/otismcgregor
- YouTube: 10x Your Team with Cam & Otis
Connect with Chris Seegers:
- Website: https://exceptionalcos.com/
- Email: Ch***@************OS.com
Other Resources:
- Books: Selling Main Street by Chris Seegers
