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Step 1: Write a Personal Mission Statement

Step 1: Write a Personal Mission Statement

A mission statement is usually understood as a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. For example:

  • Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
  • The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
  • Nike’s mission is to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world. If you have a body, you are an athlete.

In the same way an organization’s mission statement guides a company, a personal mission statement directs your actions in life. It spells out your overall purpose and goals and keeps them front and center while providing you a path to guide your life’s decision making. It offers a framework or context within which your strategies for living a good life are formulated.

The idea of a personal mission statement was introduced by Stephen R. Covey, a self-help guru and author of The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. He encouraged people to “begin with the end in mind” by creating a personal mission statement to define the guidelines within which a person can most happily express and fulfill themselves in life.

By writing a personal mission statement, you orient yourself to aspects of your life that create meaning, and you view your career as something that should add to your sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, and purpose in the world.

A good mission statement stands the test of time and the many changes that occur throughout life. It resonates even when you change your job, your family status, your living situation, or your life path.

When you write your statement, you want it to be broad enough to encompass all of the elements of your life—not just your career or your relationship. For example, if you write, “I want to be a teacher,” you are writing a goal. Goals are important but they are usually too specific to serve as good mission statements. Instead, you might write, “My mission is to help other people learn.” This is broad enough to reflect all areas of your life—from your career to your relationships with family and friends.

To create a personal mission statement, print and complete the Mission Statement Worksheet. Then, complete each of the exercises outlined in the Plan Your Career handout. Both are available in the Picked Fresh section of this newsletter.