In case you are not familiar with what a mission statement is let me share the following definition I found with you.
Mission Statement: A statement that outlines the vision.
Obviously, a mission statement can comprise a lot more then the few simple words described above, but I want you to consider that having a mission statement isn’t something that is unique to the business world.
I’m a firm believer that we as individuals would benefit greatly from developing a personal mission statement for ourselves as well. In order to differentiate things a bit you may even choose to refer to it as your personal vision statement.
Whatever you choose to call it, really isn’t what’s important. What matters is that you take the time to define for yourself the overall direction you want to go in your life. What things do you place the most value on? What would give you a sense of joy, if upon looking back on your life, you would know you had lived a solid and worthwhile life during your time here on earth.
This is no small question I admit. Taking the time to answer these questions honestly will take a bit of personal reflection time. This is not meant to be some quick exercise that only takes a few minutes to complete. It is also very likely that as you move through your life, you will find yourself adding to and perhaps even redefining your personal mission statement. Josh Hinds was explaining more about this.
Why you need a mission statement …
Once you have your mission statement you will have an excellent measuring stick for your life with which you can measure the goals you set for yourself. Your mission statement will literally keep you on course and making sure you are doing the little things that are in line with your strongest beliefs and values.
For example, if you are given an opportunity, but upon measuring it against your mission statement you find that it doesn’t fit with your long term vision you will know that it is likely to be something that you should pass on for now — or let go of all together.
Your mission statement will keep you in check as you move through your life. Certainly at points in our life we will find ourselves veering off course when it comes to the things we strive to accomplish in our mission statement. However, we will find it that much easier to get back on course and moving in the right direction since we can refer back to our vision statements as we need to.
Basically what you are looking to do is to build an overall blueprint of how you want to lead your life. Think of your vision statement as a living thing in the sense that as you grow in your life, new things will become more important. You should re-evaluate and adjust your mission statement accordingly to make sure it is in-line with who you are, and want to become.
Once you have written out your personal mission statement, spend time with it each day. Give thought to it often, ask yourself and recount times in your life where you are living in accordance with your personal vision statement, as well as those times that you are not. The point in doing this is not to get down on yourself when you find that you are veering from what you have listed as most important, but rather to use it as a time to correct your course and get back to doing the things that are most likely to give you the results of achievement that will come as a result of living in accordance with your personal mission statement.
Take the time now to write out your personal mission statement. Keep it handy and make an honest commitment to review it from time to time. Give yourself the room to adjust it as your life changes.
