You may think of a mission statement as something that businesses create, but a well crafted personal mission statement can be invaluable in helping you focus and stay on track with your goals.
Mission statements in business
Large organisations use mission statements to guide what they do. They help businesses make decisions about what to focus on, and what to say no to. Ideally, every single member of staff will know what their organisation’s mission statement is, and how they contribute to delivering it. When President John F. Kennedy was visiting NASA headquarters for the first time in 1961 he introduced himself to a janitor who was mopping the floor and asked him what he did at NASA. The janitor replied “I’m helping put a man on the moon”. NASA had succeeded in making every employee understand their mission, and that they were a part of making it happen.
See if you can match these companies to their mission statements.
If a company has a good mission statement, it should be reflected in the work that they do, and you should find it easy to determine what their mission statement is, even if you’ve never heard it before. A personal mission should try and achieve the same thing. It should be extremely personal to you, say who you are, what you care about and what you are trying to achieve.
Why should I have a personal mission?
I am constantly having ideas about what I want to do with my life. Businesses to set up, podcasts to listen to, countries to visit. My to do list is overflowing with options, which can be paralysing. A personal mission statement can help focus you, and help you decide what you should be saying yes to and where you should be allocating your time. I have written a personal mission statement that I return to often when I feel a little lost about what to do next, and it reminds me of what is important to me.
Your mission statement should identify what makes you great, what your values are, and what you are passionate about. You should revisit it regularly and ensure that still reflects you as you grow and your interests and focus change.
How do I create a personal mission statement?
- On a blank piece of paper, ask yourself what you want to achieve in your life, regardless of money. Write whatever comes into your head (5 minutes).
- Review these goals, add or change them where necessary. Highlight the three goals that are most important to you (5 minutes).
- Ask yourself how you would like to spend the next five years. Be honest and creative (5 minutes).
- Review and edit your answers. Again, highlight the three goals that most appeal to you (5 minutes).
- Ask yourself “How would I live if I knew I only have six months left? (5 minutes).
- Review your answers and highlight the three things that matter most to you (5 minutes).
- Copy your highlighted goals onto a new piece of paper, and merge any that are similar.
- Finally, you are ready to create your mission. Look through the list you created at step 7. Are there any patterns? Are they related to each other? Is one more important to you than all the rest? Use the list to create a Mission Statement. It should be concise and convey your goals in life.
Some examples of famous people’s mission statements:
“Have fun in your journey through life and learn from your mistakes” Richard Branson
“To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” Oprah
Personal business mission
If you are setting up your own business, or selling yourself as a brand, your mission is more likely to reference other people, and how you are helping them. A simple formula for a successful business mission is
The value you create + who you’re creating it for + the expected outcome.
For example, Teach for America’s mission is
“Growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education”
This can be broken down into
The value they create (Growing)
+ Who they’re they’re creating value for (movement of leaders)
+ The expected outcome (kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education)
When you have created your personal mission, it is important to return to it often and use it to keep on track. If you have ideas that do not align with your mission, do not pursue them. Your mission represents who you are as a person. If you are able to find projects, tasks and ideas that align with who you are as a person, you will find it a lot easier to stick with them, to pour your heart into them, and to make them a success.
Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission. Zig Ziglar
