"The Top 10 Keys to Crafting a Compelling
Mission Statement"
Most individual or corporate mission statements contain
industry buzzwords, are so complex that no one can recite
them, and do nothing to inspire. The more elaborate it is,
the less likely it is understood and remembered. Having
a clear and concise mission statement for yourself and your
Company becomes your guiding compass as you journey through
life.
1. Your mission is larger than a job.
Ideally your job will align with your mission. For example,
you could be employed as a teacher while your mission is
education. To limit your personality and unique abilities
to such boundaries causes a profound loss of identity when
your job or career changes. The average person can expect
to have seven employment changes in a lifetime.
2. Your mission is much more than your role.
We all have various roles we fulfill: spouse, parent, manager,
friend...In our culture, men tend to define themselves by
what they do professionally. Often, women define themselves
by their roles or relationships. Linking your role to your
mission places you in a vulnerable position because your
role is likely to change--most notably through death or
divorce. Who were you before your roles?
3. Your mission is not your To-Do List.
As Stephen Covey so masterfully points out in First Things
First, there is a huge distinction between what is important
and what is urgent. Most people fill their to-do lists with
activities which appear to require immediate attention.
When writing your mission statement, contemplate the big
picture and focus on your core values. Develop your mission
first, then list corresponding goals. Otherwise, you can
be very busy following a to-do list without creating anything
worthwhile.
4. You are already living your mission on some
level.
Living your mission may not require massive changes. You
can begin right where you are now. Increase your awareness
daily of what's really important to you. What do you want
to be known for? Increased focus allows you to receive,
recognize and fully integrate your mission.
5. You are born with a purpose.
Everyone's life is important enough to warrent a mission.
In the classic movie: It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart
portrays a suicidal businessman who experiences what the
lives of his friends and loved ones would be like WITHOUT
him. Mostly, we don't have this overview or the understanding
of how interconnected we are. Every thought we have, word
we speak and action we take affects the entire universe.
6. Your mission may not appear to be grand.
You don't have to be another Mother Theresa or significantly
contribute to the Gross National Product. You've heard the
saying: For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want
of a shoe, the horse was lost; for want of a horse, the
battle was lost. The blacksmith responsible for Paul Revere's
horse's feet indirectly helped lead a nation to freedom.
Positively affect one life and you can be considered successful.
7. Your mission is a perfect fit for you.
Your mission is not something you loathe doing. Years ago,
I feared God would want me to be a missionary living in
a grass hut and I wanted to postpone this event as long
as possible. It was irrational. Think of this: what CEO
in his/her right mind would have the sales team switch to
accounting? When you are living your mission, you experience
pure joy. It is not hard and does not involve suffering.
Rather, it resonates with the essence of who you are 100%:
at work, at home, at a party and alone. Accept a mission
that fits you, not the needs or expectations of others.
8. Your mission is not the same as that of
your peers.
While crafting your mission statement, temporarily disassociate
yourself from your peers. We are often influenced by and
take as our own the values and goals of those in our network,
thus inhibiting self-discovery. This distancing will allow
you to concentrate on what is important and unique to you.
9. Your mission is your true heart's desire.
You may be in a career that parallels your dream. I'd like
to have a dollar for every magazine editor, advertising
copywriter or reporter whose real dream is to be a full-time
novelist. Go for the REAL THING. Ask yourself: Is this the
highest thing I could do in my life?
10. Your mission inspires you to take action.
Great leaders can state their mission succinctly. Nelson
Mandela's mission was to end apartheid; Mother Theresa 's
mission is to show compassion to the dying. If you don't
feel passionate about your mission, it isn't your mission.
Choose action verbs that are meaningful to you. For example,
my mission is to breathe, ignite and magnify personal power.
Join the 1% of the people in the world who have a clear
sense of who they are and where they are going.
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