Note that the information presented below is from the
Nightingale-Conan website. In my search to add value I
have discovered a FREE tool to help you create a
personal or corporate mission statement. Click on the
Success Tools link below.
Look under the "Success
Tools" title on the index bar located on the left
hand side of the webpage. This is an incredibly
enlightening exercise for us all.
What's a mission statement?
Imagine if you were the captain of your own ship. You
wouldn't let the ship sail just anywhere. You would have
a direction and a destination to sail to. Either you're
sailing to a predetermined port of call, or your ship is
in port, getting ready to sail to another
destination.
It's the same with our lives. A mission statement
clarifies what you want out of life. It gives you a
clear sense of direction. You know where you need to
focus your attention to create the desired outcome.
As Zig Ziglar has said, "You cannot make it as a
wandering generality. You must become a meaningful
specific."
A mission statement is only a paragraph long, but it
has specific, measurable outcomes and a deadline for
accomplishing that outcome. It's truly the best way to
start your journey to success.
However, once you reach your destination, you may
find yourself ready for the next challenge and the next
and the next. Like a ship going from port to port, your
life is a series of goals.
Why it's better to build a mission statement before
you set goals
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying
to make you something else is the greatest
accomplishment." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Setting goals is crucial. But a mission statement
helps you set goals based on what's truly right for you.
Imagine once again that you are the captain of your
own ship. When you know the destination you want to go
in, you will program the ship's computer system to take
you there. A mission statement programs your core values
into the direction you would like to go with your life.
That way, you reach the right direction for you.
Once the process is complete, you'll find your values
are clarified and are in line with the goals you want to
achieve. You'll find it easier to make decisions and to
do the right thing because you can simply ask yourself, "Will this help me achieve my mission?"
You can even put your mission statement in
an area where your family or even co-workers will see
it. For, a mission statement defines who you are and
what you stand for. This lets people see how you
operate, which in turn, will help them respect, think
and act in line with your values too.
It's wise to look at your mission
statement every day too. Let it guide you. Let it
help you stay true to the values you stand for as you
journey towards goal achievement.
