Create Your PersonalCreate Your PersonalMISSIONMISSION

STATEMENTSTATEMENT

BENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENTBENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENT

1.1. Gives meaning and significance to Gives meaning and significance to our actions and our lifeour actions and our life– At the end of our lives we will be able to say, At the end of our lives we will be able to say,

““I did what I was created to do. I contributed I did what I was created to do. I contributed to this world in a significant manner.to this world in a significant manner.””

2.2. Clarity for Your Role in Life Clarity for Your Role in Life CircumstancesCircumstances– Provides a singular focus to all of our different Provides a singular focus to all of our different

roles (parent, employee, friend, spouse, etc.)roles (parent, employee, friend, spouse, etc.)– Eliminates confusion and emotional conflictsEliminates confusion and emotional conflicts

BENEFITS OF A MISSION BENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENTSTATEMENT

3.3. A Measuring Stick for Life DecisionsA Measuring Stick for Life Decisions– The best tool to measure any large life The best tool to measure any large life

choiceschoices– Ask Ask ““Does it support your mission?Does it support your mission?””

4.4. A Magnet for Staying on Track in LifeA Magnet for Staying on Track in Life– Keeps our mission in the front of our mindsKeeps our mission in the front of our minds– Helps to eliminate unproductive activitiesHelps to eliminate unproductive activities– Puts first things first.Puts first things first.

BENEFITS OF A MISSION BENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENTSTATEMENT

5.5. Ability To Communicate Clearly What Ability To Communicate Clearly What You Bring To Personal and You Bring To Personal and Professional OpportunitiesProfessional Opportunities– Have a single sentence that states what you Have a single sentence that states what you

are here to do (taken from your mission are here to do (taken from your mission statement)statement)

– Have it memorizedHave it memorized– This allows you clearly tell others what you This allows you clearly tell others what you

can do for themcan do for them6.6. Motivation to Do Your BestMotivation to Do Your Best

– Keeps one centered on their purposeKeeps one centered on their purpose– Keeps circumstances from distracting usKeeps circumstances from distracting us

BENEFITS OF A MISSION BENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENTSTATEMENT

7.7. Maximize your talentsMaximize your talents– Calls us to use all of our skills and talentsCalls us to use all of our skills and talents– Requires that we use them for the benefit of Requires that we use them for the benefit of

othersothers– Talents grow with usTalents grow with us

8.8. Strength to Stand Tall in the Strength to Stand Tall in the Fluctuating Winds of ChangeFluctuating Winds of Change– It provides a rock of stabilityIt provides a rock of stability– Provides a forward direction that brings peace Provides a forward direction that brings peace

and integrity to changing timesand integrity to changing times

BENEFITS OF A MISSION BENEFITS OF A MISSION STATEMENTSTATEMENT

9.9. Creates Action Rather than ReactionCreates Action Rather than Reaction– Keeps us from letting others take the steering Keeps us from letting others take the steering

wheel of our liveswheel of our lives– Helps us respond with intentionHelps us respond with intention– Helps us choose the best course of actionHelps us choose the best course of action

10.10.Attracts People and Opportunities Attracts People and Opportunities That Support Your LifeThat Support Your Life– The more you live your mission, the more The more you live your mission, the more

those around you will respect and support those around you will respect and support your actionsyour actions

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

1. Reflect on the key values and 1. Reflect on the key values and principles you want to use as a guide principles you want to use as a guide for your life. Values may vary among for your life. Values may vary among us, but correct principles are shared us, but correct principles are shared by all people of good will.by all people of good will.

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

2. Ponder questions like: What do you 2. Ponder questions like: What do you want your life to be about in order to want your life to be about in order to give it purpose and meaning? Think give it purpose and meaning? Think about how much better this world about how much better this world would be if each person were would be if each person were dedicated to lifting the lives of dedicated to lifting the lives of everyone we touch.everyone we touch.

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

3. 3. ““BrainstormBrainstorm”” with yourself, with yourself, parents, relatives, teachers, religious parents, relatives, teachers, religious leaders, counselors and friends about leaders, counselors and friends about your strengths, talents, deep-felt your strengths, talents, deep-felt values and principles which are most values and principles which are most important to you. important to you.

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

4. View your personal Mission Statement as 4. View your personal Mission Statement as your your ““Personal ConstitutionPersonal Constitution”” Like the Like the Constitution of a country, your Personal Constitution of a country, your Personal Mission Statement can be amended over Mission Statement can be amended over time if so inspired. It will always reflect time if so inspired. It will always reflect your fundamental values, purposes and your fundamental values, purposes and principles which will guide you through the principles which will guide you through the thousands of decisions you will make in thousands of decisions you will make in your lifetime. your lifetime.

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

5. Find a quiet place, where you can 5. Find a quiet place, where you can spend some quality uninterrupted spend some quality uninterrupted time pondering and reflecting in time pondering and reflecting in order to write your Personal Mission order to write your Personal Mission Statement. It need not be too long Statement. It need not be too long - no more than a sentence or two. - no more than a sentence or two. It should inspire you and cause you It should inspire you and cause you to stretch but not break.to stretch but not break.

Steps for Writing Your OwnSteps for Writing Your OwnPersonal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

6. Ask, 6. Ask, ““Does this statement inspire mDoes this statement inspire me?e?”” While it does not totally reflect where While it does not totally reflect where you are today, it helps you to stretch to you are today, it helps you to stretch to become better and is a guide as you become better and is a guide as you make it difficult decision. Write in the make it difficult decision. Write in the ““present tensepresent tense”” as if you are doing it. as if you are doing it. You will enjoy the You will enjoy the ““power of purposepower of purpose”” as as a result of getting a vision of what you a result of getting a vision of what you want your life to be.want your life to be.

Personal Mission StatementsPersonal Mission StatementsVICTOR FRANKL saidVICTOR FRANKL said

– Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in lifelife

– He/she cannot be replacedHe/she cannot be replaced– Nor can his/her life be repeatedNor can his/her life be repeated– Thus, everyoneThus, everyone’’s task is as unique as is his specific s task is as unique as is his specific

opportunity to implement it.opportunity to implement it.– We We detectdetect rather than rather than inventinvent our missions in lifeour missions in life

Each of us has an internal monitor that gives us Each of us has an internal monitor that gives us an awareness of our own uniqueness and an awareness of our own uniqueness and contributions that we can make.contributions that we can make.

Examples of a Mission StatementsExamples of a Mission Statements

Our mission is to foster a safe learning Our mission is to foster a safe learning environment that values diversity, honors environment that values diversity, honors heritage, and builds on tradition. We are a heritage, and builds on tradition. We are a community dedicated to inspiring all community dedicated to inspiring all students to achieve academic success students to achieve academic success while infusing the ideals of democracy and while infusing the ideals of democracy and citizenship. citizenship.

– Bellevue East HSBellevue East HS

Continuous Learning for All.Continuous Learning for All.– Bellevue West High SchoolBellevue West High School

Examples of a Mission StatementsExamples of a Mission Statements

My mission is to make the most of My mission is to make the most of my high school experience by my high school experience by actively learning in all my classes, actively learning in all my classes, forming lasting friendships, lettering forming lasting friendships, lettering in basketball and track, and in basketball and track, and graduating on time with at least a B graduating on time with at least a B average.average.

Utah Education NetworkUtah Education Networklesson planlesson plan

Bibliography:Bibliography:"7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" by Stephen Covey "7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" by Stephen Covey and various web sites. "Maximum Achievement" by Brian and various web sites. "Maximum Achievement" by Brian Tracy. "The Psychology of Winning" by Dr. Denis Waitley. Tracy. "The Psychology of Winning" by Dr. Denis Waitley.

Author:Author:WENDY CRAPO

Created Date :Created Date :Jul 12 2003 17:40 PMJul 12 2003 17:40 PM

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