What’s Your Mission and Why?
In Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Habit 2 is “Begin With the End in Mind”.
In other words, if you don’t know where you’re going, how can you get there? And even if you do know where your going, you will inevitably run into an obstacle or more along the way. By beginning with the end in mind, you will be better prepared to deal with any roadblocks and develop the flexibility to reach your destination.
Corporations, organizations, and businesses typically have a mission statement. Mission statements are brief descriptions of an organization's reason for existing and communicate the organization’s direction to employees, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
Do you, however, have a personal mission statement? If not, why not?
If you do have a personal mission statement, have you just thought about it or do you have it written down so you can see it on a daily basis?
A personal mission statement should guide the decisions you make, the beliefs you hold, who you spend your time with, how you behave in private and in public, how you view the world, how you navigate life, et cetera.
Think of it as your personal rule book.
Developing a personal mission statement will add direction and purpose to your life. It’s worth spending the time it takes to develop. Not only will you gain clarity on your personal and professional lives, but you will be more focused and successful.
On the first day of my seminars and retreats, I have everyone develop and write their personal mission statement as well as why they do what they do.
Let’s develop your personal mission statement and your why...
(NOTE: I have put my mission statement and my why below these instructions as a reference if you would like to see an example.)
Your Personal Mission Statement
Begin your mission statement with a sentence or two. Start with “I believe...”
List the guidelines, rules, or principles that you follow that shape your life.
Now write how you make your mission possible. I like to begin this section with “To realize my vision...”
Your Why
I’ve found the easiest way to discover your “why” is use the format...
To ____________ so that ____________.
For example...
To help humans overcome their challenges so that they can live a better life.
Here are my mission and why...
My Mission
I believe that humans should optimally communicate with others, learn how to run their own mind, build deep emotional connections, experience countless exceptional moments, and have massive fun throughout their life.
Regardless of the vehicle I use to help humans achieve these things, I hold myself accountable to 6 guiding principles...
Provide massive value.
Be unique.
Grow every day.
Have fun.
Love what I do.
Spend 90% of my time on the solution and only 10% on the problem.
To realize my vision... I consistently write to teach humans what I believe they should know to have an amazing life. I also consult with individuals and groups to help them learn and master the skills they need by providing private sessions, keynotes, seminars, workshops, retreats, and entertainment. I do all of this while being an example of what can happen by using what I teach.
My Why
To help my clients live a life that most humans only dream about so that they can help others and leave the world better than it was before they existed.
