The Building of a Personal Mission Statement

The Building of a Personal Mission Statement
By
Bob Atlas, Battalion Chief

You have a purpose in life. You know in your heart what’s most important to you. In fact, your mission and values are expressed every day, by how you live–you just may not realize it ! In this segment we are going to work on how to build a Personal Mission Statement. A Personal Mission Statement is critical to your success. With one you can continue to be focused each day on your goal, without one, you will be leaving your success to chance. The only question is, why would I want to leave my dreams and success up to chance ?
Once you have answered this question you can move on to the development of your Mission Statement.
In an effort to clearly define your mission you will need to answer the following questions. After you have the answers written down take them and make them into sentences that you can read. This will become one of your Three Guiding documents. We will discuss the other two in later posts. So you have a little something to look forward to, the other two are a vision and values statements. But let’s focus on the Mission Statement for now.
PERFORMANCE
1) I AM AT MY BEST WHEN…
2) I AM AT MY WORST WHEN…

PASSION
1) WHAT DO I REALLY LOVE TO DO AT WORK?
2) WHAT DO I REALLY LOVE TO DO IN MY PERSONAL LIFE?

TALENTS
1) MY NATURAL TALENTS AND GIFTS ARE: (EXAMPLES MAY BE ART, MUSIC, DECISION MAKING, BEING A FRIEND, ETC.)

IMAGINATION
If I had unlimited time and resources, and knew I could not fail, what would I choose to do?
1) I WOULD:

VISION
Imagine your life as an epic journey with you as the hero/heroine of the story. What do you imagine your journey to be about? Complete the following statement by describing what you are doing, who is it for, why you are doing it, and what the journey’s results are.
1) MY LIFE’S JOURNEY IS…
2)
CHARACTER
1) IMAGINE YOUR 80TH BIRTHDAY. WHO WILL BE THERE WITH YOU? WHAT TRIBUTE STATEMENT WOULD YOU LIKE THEM TO MAKE ABOUT YOUR LIFE?
2)
CONTRIBUTION
1) WHAT DO I CONSIDER TO BE MY MOST IMPORTANT FUTURE CONTRIBUTION TO THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE?
2)
CONSCIENCE
1) ARE THERE THINGS I FEEL I REALLY SHOULD DO OR CHANGE, EVEN THOUGH I MAY HAVE DISMISSED SUCH THOUGHTS MANY TIMES? WHAT ARE THEY?
2)
INFLUENCE
Imagine you could invite to dinner three people who have influenced you the most—past or present. Write their names below. Then record the one quality or attribute you admire most in these people.
NAME:
ATTRIBUTE:
NAME:
ATTRIBUTE:
NAME:
ATTRIBUTE:

BALANCE
Let’s think of balance as a state of fulfillment and renewal in each of the four dimensions: physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional. What are the single most important things you can do in each of these areas that will have the greatest positive impact on your life and help you achieve a sense of balance?
1) PHYSICAL:
2) SPIRITUAL:
3) MENTAL:
4) SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL:

Now you’ve discovered your mission!
You have the beginning of a mission statement built on a foundation of your values. You have more clarity into you want to be and to do in your life. You can also start to detect the values and principles upon which your life is based. You can continue to write and revise your mission statement until you feel it reflects what you live for.
LIFE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
Over the years, your circumstances will change. Your priorities will change. Your goals and dreams will change. That’s okay – because change means growth. As you grow, transform, and broaden your horizons, allow yourself the freedom to expand and refine your mission statement.
For now, congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Life is a journey. And your mission statement is your map.
The next step is learning how to build your value statement.
STAY TUNED !

Special thanks to the Franklin-Covey company for their contribution.

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