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THE VALUE OF A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

Guest post by: James Ladd

Article Overview: I am sure that all of you who work in a corporate environment are familiar with your corporate mission statement? It is the one that typically hangs in the front reception area or perhaps on the wall in the boardroom. But do you have a personal mission statement and/or understand in a meaningful way what your purpose for living actually is?

THE VALUE OF A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

I am sure that all of you who work in a corporate environment are familiar with your corporate mission statement? It is the one that typically hangs in the front reception area or perhaps on the wall in the boardroom.

Corporate mission statements are supposed to describe in general terms the reason for an organizations existence. Strategically speaking, the mission statement comes very early in a comprehensive planning process. Everything that takes place from that point on is intended to support the realization of that mission. That includes such things as; Strategic Business Modeling, Performance Auditing, Gap Analysis, Goal Setting, Action Planning and Contingency Planning just to name a few.

The key of course to the realization of the corporate mission is to stick to the plan or go the distance and too always keep your eye on the ball (mission).

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

What about you, what is your reason for existence? How many of you, who have dedicated yourselves to the accomplishment of your goals and objectives in support of your corporate mission have ever considered writing a personal mission statement for your life?

Some of the benefits of writing a personal mission include;

- forces you to think deeply about your life, clarify the purpose of it, and identify what is really important to you,

- forces you to clarify and express succinctly your deepest values and aspirations,

- it imprints your values and purposes firmly in your mind so that they become a part of you rather than something you only think about occasionally,

- makes it easier to define your goals and actions that will be required for you to achieve the vision you have for your life,

- it allows you to continually evaluate your values and needs to ensure continued congruence and minimization of need tension,

As your personal coach I put a great deal of value in the preparation of a personal mission and would spend considerable time assisting you in its writing. It represents one of the key steps in a process that leads to a more fulfilling personal and professional life.

James Ladd
Your Personal Coach

THE COLOUR VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND/OR PRINTED FROM THE "NEWS" SECTION OF MY WEBSITE.

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Article Tags: accomplishment, aspirations, auditing, boardroom, business modeling, comprehensive planning, congruence, contingency, corporate environment, corporate mission statement, corporate mission statements, gap, gap analysis, goals and objectives, minimization, personal coach, personal mission statement, realization, reception area, writing a personal mission statement



Related Forum Posts
Mission & Vision Statements - Oops my bad. A mission statement is for employees as well. Author of "Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases", Fred R. David says "The mission statement answers the question 'What is our business,'" while "the vision statement answers the question 'What do we want to become?'" (60). Furthermore, "A good mission statement reveals an organization's customers; products or services; markets; technology; concern for survival, growth, profitability; philosophy; self-concept; concern for public image; and concern for employees" (73).
Re: Mission & Vision Statements - [quote="BuzzAroundBooks":18511jx0]Oops my bad. A mission statement is for employees as well. Author of "Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases", Fred R. David says "The mission statement answers the question 'What is our business,'" while "the vision statement answers the question 'What do we want to become?'" (60). Furthermore, "A good mission statement reveals an organization's customers; products or services; markets; technology; concern for survival, growth, profitability; philosophy; self-concept; concern for public image; and concern for employees" (73).[/quote:18511jx0] Often when I'm researching a company, I'll look for their mission statement. Its a great way for an outsider or a potential employee to find out more about the business, to learn their goals and what they offer. As a potential employee, this is an interesting way to see if its a company that you would like to be involved with. Shri
Why not a Mission Statement AND a Mantra? - Is it possible to make a statement that incorporates the pros from both the mission statement and the mantra? If so, do you think it would it be more effective?
Do you believe in "Mantra" or "Mission Statem - In the Strategic Management course I'm currently taking, my group and I were supposed to come up with an improved mission statement for the organization we're analyzing or explain why the existing one doesn't need to be revised. However, business expert and author, Guy Kawasaki says "Forget mission statements; they're long, boring, and irrelevant. No one can ever remember them-much less implement them. Instead, take your meaning and make a mantra out of it. This will set your entire team on the right course" ("The Art of the Start" 3). Which do you use for your own businesses: Mantra, Mission Statements or neither? Thanks
Mission Statement - Personally, I would use a mission statement - because you can get a heckuva lot more information in that than a "mantra." If it's properly written, people would read it!


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