|
A Personal Mission Statement
by Val Hastings, Clergy Coach
Most organizations have a mission statement. A
mission statement helps the organization define who they are and
who they are becoming. A mission statement provides focus and
offers criteria for decision making. A mission statement enables
an organization to act with INTENTION, even during times of
major change and transition.
While most organizations have a mission statement, most
individuals do not have a personal mission statement. A
personal mission statement will help you define who you
are and who you seek to become, as well as focus your attention
on actions that will bring you closer to your mission. It will
help you to sort through the barrage of advice that other people
offer and enable you to stay true to your agenda and mission. In
other words, a personal mission statement will make it
possible for you to LIVE INTENTIONALLY!
A personal mission statement is a valuable tool for
leaders as they navigate major change and transition and
turn-things-around. Laurie Beth Jones, author of The Path,
sites examples of great leaders in history who have had personal
mission statements and have LIVED INTENTIONALLY:
-
Abe Lincoln--Preserve the Union
-
FDR--End the Depression
-
Nelson Mandela--End Apartheid
-
Mother Teresa--Show Mercy and
Compassion to the Dying
-
Joan of Arc--Free France
-
Nehemiah--Rebuild the Walls of
Jerusalem (The Path, pages 3 & 4)
DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT? Do
you have a sense of direction in your life? Are you living with
intention OR is life just kind of happening? Who are you seeking
to become? Who are you here to help? Who is living the kind of
life you most desire? My personal mission statement is to
outfit those who are ready to conquer their EVEREST! My
desire is to live in such a way that others find me to be a
resource, especially during times of major change and
transition. My intention is that I will enable them to conquer
their own personal Mt. Everest.
Tips for LIVING INTENTIONALLY:
A. Write down your personal mission statement. The act of
writing something down helps us to move from intention to
action. So… write it down and place it in various locations
where you will frequently see it. Tape it to the mirror. Make it
your screensaver. Put it on the refrigerator. (Remember a
mission statement should be simple enough that a 12 year old can
say it from memory.)
B. Say your personal mission statement
frequently. Saying something again and again is also a
technique that can help you move from good intentions to action.
Personalize your personal mission statement. (IE. I am committed
to outfitting those who are ready to conquer their Everest!)
C. Create your own PERSONAL BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. A Personal Board of Directors will offer you
guidance and suggestions, recognizing that the final decision is
always yours. The value of a Personal Board of Directors is that
you will have a core group who will be fully aware of your
personal mission statement and they will respond with NO HIDDEN
AGENDAS!
D. Use your Personal Mission Statement
as a standard to make decisions. In other words, before you make
a decision ask yourself WILL THIS BRING ME CLOSER TO MY GOAL?
or WILL IT TAKE ME FURTHER AWAY FROM MY GOAL?
E. Work with a Coach. A coach has
received specialized training in human motivation and
professional & personal development. A Coach will help you
develop a laser-like focus toward your personal mission
statement and help you achieve greater results faster.
|
