Why write a mission statement?

[hkalchemy]

I believe that a personal mission statement can, as part of a package of changes, be a very effective way of bringing more meaning and happiness into your life.

Most individuals don’t have a mission statement. They don’t have a clear idea of where they are going in life. They don’t know what they want to achieve. They just drift along, year after year, decade after decade. Most people live like that and they die like that. Napoleon Hill, in his famous book Think and Grow Rich wrote that most people did not have a goal, did not now where they were going. He also presented a six step plan by which anyone could achieve financial success. This plan does not involve a lot of effort, incidentally – it’s essentially a method for clear about what you seek to achieve. If you want to find out about the plan, it’s presented in chapter 2 of the book, but the key element in the plan is clear statement of purpose, and a mission statement can be a powerful way of achieving this.

A mission statement, however, cannot just be thrown together. It needs to be carefully crafted. Here are the elements of a good mission statement.

Your goals should be specific and clear – What are your values? What do you stand for? What are you going to achieve? What are you going to contribute to the world? This isn’t about what you want to achieve – it’s not a wish list; it’s a definite statement of intent, it’s your ‘order’ from the menu of the universe, it’s what is going to happen. When you start to get bogged down in the details of daily life, think back to your mission statement – it will act as a compass to keep you on track; your decisions and actions will be guided by it. In this sense, it provides you with a wide angle lens through which you can keep the bigger picture in view.

Your goals do not need to be (SHOULD not be) ‘realistic’ or ‘attainable’ – we’ve all heard about ‘SMART’ targets which have to be measurable, realistic etc., etc. The point here is that the universe can do anything, however unbelievable or ‘unrealistic’ it is.

It should indicate how you are going to achieve your goals – this does not contradict the previous statement. You must not include a specific, detailed plan, but a statement about what you are going to offer in exchange for meeting your goal. For example, your goal is to be the best sales person in your company – you will achieve this goal by giving outstanding service to every customer. There’s nothing here about sales targets, how many clients you need to see, how many sales you need to make etc. Once you have written down the ‘how’ in general terms, the universe will do the rest.

It should be short – some organizations produce long rambling mission statements which nobody ever reads! Napoleon Hill suggests you read through your ‘mission statement’ every morning and evening; you’re not going to do this if it’s going to take twenty minutes. And the ideas aren’t going to be as powerful if they’re not focused. So keep it short, focused and powerful, like a laser beam.

It should make you feel good – If you know where you’re going, you’ll live a life of eager anticipation and joy. Just as if you are sailing somewhere on a ship – you know you’ll get to your destination and in the meantime you’re enjoying the view. This attitude of anticipating a future you have already chosen (you bought the ticket, you got on the ship, the ship’s moving) whilst living in the present moment (you’re looking out at a wonderful sunrise, enjoying the view) is, to me, the only sensible way to live.

Taking time to write and regularly review your mission statement is one of the most important things you can do in life. It will clarify your vision and it will keep you moving on the right course. Your life is like a ship – of course, you need a crew, busily working away to keep afloat and keep moving, but even more importantly, you need a map, you need a compass and you need a captain. Without them, your ship just won’t get anywhere.

[simonsta]

Great post there hkalcemy! I think a personal mission statement goes hand in hand with the Law of Attraction (maybe the mission statement is the articulation of the factors you want to attract?) Having a clear statement of who you are and who you be is a very powerful guidance mechanism for what you do, and therefore the kind of people you attract, associate with and further your mission.

Some folks might see this (and express their opinions openly) as garbage - but I bet they're the same folks who haven't written a mission statement and given it a try - and if they have then they must have a mission statement that says 'I will ruin anything I don't understand'.

[ProjectX]

Just like to clarify personal mission statements should be more of a guideline with your values, not your goals. It is supposed to help you keep you on track when trying to achieve your goals.

[PerDev]

Originally Posted by ProjectX

Just like to clarify personal mission statements should be more of a guideline with your values, not your goals. It is supposed to help you keep you on track when trying to achieve your goals.

Is there any simple method through which we can discover our personal mission statement .. Is personal mission and purpose the same thing or diffrent ?

[Smarky]

I still remain concerned that we write down our ideas, philosphies, visions and mission statements but we don't live from our hearts. These just become words on paper.

However here is mine:

Goal: Have fun, create insanely great things.
Everyday my goal continues to be to create insanely great things and to do what makes me happy.

My entire life is focused on three things, creating insanely great things, enjoying life to it's fullest and sharing it with others. I surround myself with what I like, what I enjoy and what makes me smile and I avoid anything that doesn't. Passion is my life and I simply do what feels good, I live from my heart. I just say what I say, do what I do and live the life I know i was intended to live, independent of the good opinions of others or anything else. I am a creator and creators create. That's just what I do.