weLEAD Leadership Tip - What is Your Personal Mission Statement? Part 2

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Leadership Tip of the Month

October 2002

What is Your Personal Mission Statement?

Part 2

This month we continue to discuss why and how you should create your own personal mission statement. To read part 1 of “What is Your Personal Mission Statement” click here!

When sitting down to write your own mission statement, remember that it should be composed of at least four basic parts. If your mission statement is too short it will be ambiguous and have very little real meaning (some organizations suffer from the same problem). On the other hand, if it is too long it will lose its motivational impact and read like a journal. Four to five paragraphs is a good readable length.

Here are the four basic parts we recommend be included as part of your document.

•PART 1 – Beliefs and Values.

•PART 2 - Personal family goals…parent, spouse, child

•PART 3 - Personal career goals…job, purpose, skills

•PART 4 - Personal life goals…education, spiritual development, extend talents, maintain health, serve others, proper attitude, loving relationships, philanthropy, etc.

Here are some more details on what it should include:

•Beliefs and values. What is your moral code? What values give guidance to your daily life? Whether it is the “golden rule”, religious scriptures or another source, this is where you should begin! In this opening paragraph of your mission statement, strongly state your deeply held ethical principles and moral code. If you haven’t thought intensely about this before, it could be the most revealing part of your mission statement.

•Personal family goals. This includes your relationship with your parent(s), spouse, and children. If you want a happy and balanced family life you also need to have these essential goals. Of course, input from all family members will make these goals more attainable and fun to achieve! How do you want to “coach” each member to become all they can possibly be?

•Personal career goals including job fulfillment, purpose, and skills. Why do you work? Is it to find personal fulfillment or simply to generate income for other interests in life? Do you want to change your career path? If so, how do you plan on making this change? Are there career skills you want to enhance or acquire? At the end of your career, what do you want others to say about your contribution in the workplace?

•Personal life goals including your education, developing talents, maintaining health, philosophical attitude, loving relationships, philanthropy, etc. This part includes some of the most satisfying aspects of human life, and sadly most people put these off until retirement or forever! How do you plan on maintaining a healthy body and mind? Do you need more education to fulfill a lifelong personal goal? Do you desire to “give back” to others for the blessings you have been granted? What would you do for the rest of your life if money were not a limitation?

Now it is time to sit down in a quiet environment and write it. Don’t rush the process, let your

creativity express what is in your heart. Allow this document to be a vital extension of you! Take pride

and ownership in what you write. If you get a feeling of mental gridlock, step away for a few hours and

come back to it later. Work on it until the document reflects what you truly feel and believe. Allow your

personal mission statement to inspire you.

Good Luck!

For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you that it was Mark Twain who said, “Let us endeavor

so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry”.

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