How to Write a Personal Mission Statement

HOW TO WRITE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT I have read Steven Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People several times and it still remains one of the most influential books that I’ve ever read. One day I will probably write a more in-depth post about this personal development classic, but today I want to focus on one powerful concept introduced in that book: a personal mission statement. While many companies proudly display their corporate mission statements, few individuals take the time to create one for themselves. The basic idea, however, is the same - a personal mission statement is the statement of your core values, of what is truly important to you in life. The power of having a mission statement lays in enabling you to align your everyday actions with what is truly important to you. When your actions and values are not aligned, you feel depressed, anxious, and dissatisfied. When they are in alignment, you feel happy and fulfilled because you are leaving your life’s purpose. Mission statement serves as a compass to ensure that you stay on that course.

Here are some tips for writing a personal mission statement, adapted from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and my own experience (for an example, see my personal mission statement):

1. Create a Vision.In order to identify what truly matters to you in life, you first have to expand your perspective.  You can do that by visualizing your twenty-fifth and then fiftieth wedding anniversary, your retirement from your current occupation, or even your own funeral. In each of these visualization exercises, try to capture the essence of what you want to have created/achieved by that time. Personally, I have found meditation to be a very powerful tool for visualization and a good starting point in formulating my mission statement. The key steps are:

1. Begin with stretching exercises and coordinate them with long deep breaths.2. Lie on your back or sit in a comfortable upright position.3. Relax your body and empty your mind by concentrating on your breathing. You

may play soft music or light a scented candle for relaxation. 4. Once you feel completely relaxed and your mind is calm, begin the meditation.5. Visualize yourself at the end of your life, feeling completely content and satisfied

with everything you have achieved and having done everything you wanted to do. The key here is to actually feel what it would be like being in that state.

6. Translate what you have seen into long-term, ambitious goals for your self, and then work back to more realistic objectives by filling in details of what you need to do in order to reach those goals. If you have never done meditation or visualizations before, it may take several practice trials, but when you do get the clear vision of what you want your life to be, it will be a profound experience. This exercise should also be repeated as many times as necessary and on a regular basis in order to realign yourself with your vision, as well as to accommodate any changes as your life progresses.

2. Identify Your Roles and Goals. A way to achieve a balanced mission statement is to break it down into specific roles in

your life (for example, mother, daughter, writer, etc.) and the accompanying goals that you want to accomplish in each of these areas. It is important to balance all of your roles to ensure that one doesn’t completely take over your life. Your goals for each role should be long-term, focused on results rather than activity. They identify where you want to be and give focus and purpose to your everyday activities.

3. Compose the Mission StatementWrite a mission statement based on what you have learned through the above exercises. It should incorporate your roles and goals, and be specific as to what you want to be (Character) and what you want to accomplish (Contributions and Achievements). It may take days or even months to write a strong mission statement (it took me almost a year to do my first one), and even then it should be consulted regularly and revised as necessary.

If you still want some help with writing your mission statement, the FranklinCovey website has this free tool, which will take you through the entire process step by step. They also offer many other tools and products that help incorporate your personal mission statement into your everyday planning process. (As a special offer, readers of BusyBeeMama.com will get a discount on FranklinCovey products by clicking through the button below).

(http://busybeemama.com/2007/08/02/how-to-write-a-personal-mission-statement/)

Benjamin Franklin included under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occurred to him as necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressed the extent he gave to its meaning.These names of virtues, with their precepts were:Temperance ->Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.Franklin began his list of virtues with temperance because it was the virtue that would develop the self-discipline necessary to adhere to the other 12 virtues. Temperance calls for a man to avoid overindulgence in food or drink. By conquering your primal urges for food and drink, you’ll have the confidence to start making improvements in other areas of your life.

Silence ->Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; Avoid trifling Conversation.We live in an age of constant noise and chatter. Etiquette and polite manners have sadly not kept pace with developments in technology and our quickly changing culture. In the virtue of silence we took a look at how a man can practice this virtue in regards to cell phone use, customer service, and the internet. A man must learn when and when not to open his mouth.

Order ->Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.If a man wishes to thrive in this world, he must develop order. But the laws of physics tell us that the universe and everything in it tends towards chaos and disorganization. A man must fight against these natural laws and the path of least resistance. Yet taking on complex organization systems will only cause more imbalance in your life. Instead, make small changes by rectifying each slip into disorganization the moment it happens. Do it now.

Resolution -> Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.Resolution is the firm determination to accomplish what you set out to do. In this post, we looked at the story of Alexander the Great conquering the island of Tyre as an example of manly resolution. From Alexander’s conquest at Tyre, we extracted four ways to help improve your resolve in life.

Frugality -> Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.American’s savings rate is negative. That’s right, Americans are spending more than they’re saving. With the sluggish economy and soaring gas prices, practicing frugality is quickly coming back into style. While there are countless blogs that go into detail about how to live frugally, it all comes down to one principle: spend less than you earn.

Industry -> Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.Hard work has been the hallmark of every manly man. However, industriousness has gone out of style. People today are looking for get rich quick schemes that will afford them a huge payout with minimum effort. In reality, honest work is a beneficial and refining endeavor that should be embraced, not disdained. In this post we take on the cult of “The Four Hour Work Week,” illuminate the value of work, and explain how you can be more industrious in your life.Sincerity ->Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

If you frequent blogs or internet message boards, you’ve probably noticed the prevalence of gossip, sarcasm, and lying. Unfortunately, we’re starting to see the demeanor that pervades the internet rub off on people in the real world. In this post we discuss how gossip, sarcasm, and lying can harm you and others and how you can work on avoiding these vices.

Justice ->Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.When I look back at the men I admire most, they all had one thing in common: each of them stood up for the little guy. In a society plagued with apathy, what this world needs now more than ever are men who will stand up for justice. Find out how you can develop the virtue of justice in your life as well as areas that you can implement the virtue.

Moderation -> Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.Are you looking for more fulfillment and satisfaction in your life? Society will tell you that “more” is the answer, that more money, more stuff, more women, and more pleasure are the keys to gaining satisfaction in life. In reality the secret to a fulfilling life is moderation. In this post, we offer five tips on how you can practice moderation in your life and in turn increase your happiness and pleasure.

Cleanliness ->Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.While many would say cleanliness is more a sign of femininity than manliness, the reality is that developing cleanliness develops a man’s attention to detail, discipline, and order. Of all the virtues, the meaning of cleanliness has changed the most over time. In this post, we discuss that history and then offer suggestions on meeting today’s standard of cleanliness in your home, dress, and personal grooming.

Tranquility -> Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.The irritations of modern life have left many men hot under the collar. Controlling one’s anger is the mark of a cool and composed gentleman. There are many social and health benefits to controlling your anger. In our discussion on tranquility, we provide 5 suggestions on how men can control their anger and start living more peaceful and tranquil lives.

Chastity->Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.Of all the virtues, chastity is probably the least popular these days. We live in a society in which that glamorizes and exploits sex. Sex is everywhere, on the internet, on T.V. and in our magazines. But the ubiquity of sex has only cheapened a once sacred act and turned it into just another consumer good to be selfishly consumed. In this post, we take a look at the harmful effects of today’s “hook-up” culture.

Humility ->Imitate Jesus and Socrates.The typical image of a manly man is one who is supremely confident, bordering or arrogance. Humility doesn’t seem to fit in that manly image. However, some of the greatest men in history have been the most humble. Humility isn’t weak, submissive, or self-abasing. Humility means having the quiet confidence to allow your actions to speak for themselves. After discussing a lesson on how not to be humble from Greek legend Achilles, we discuss five things you can do to be a little more humble.

The method used by Benjamin Franklin for conducting that examination proceeds as follows:

Make a little notebook and allot a page for each of the virtues.

Rule each page with red ink (or other color, as you wish), so as to have seven columns, one for each day of the week, marking each column with a letter for the day.

Cross these columns with thirteen red lines, marking the beginning of each line with the first letter of one of the virtues.

On which line, and in its proper column, you might mark, by a little black spot, every fault you found upon examination to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day.

Give a week’s strict attention to each of the virtues successively. Thus, in the first week, your guard should be to avoid every the least offense against Temperance, leaving the other virtues to their ordinary chance, only marking every evening the faults of the day.

So, as you can see, you have a course complete in thirteen weeks. But it’s really difficult to have a clean notebook (to achieve moral perfection) just after your first course, that is, a thirteen weeks’ daily examination. That’s why he decided to repeat the process of examination as many times as necessary in order to allow those good habits take root, or in other words, until he had a clean notebook.So, get rid of garden weeds (bad habits) in your garden and let good herbs grow.

당신은 어디에 가치를 두십니까? 당신의 가장 중요한 우선순위는 무엇입니까? 어떤 것을 갖고 싶으십니까? 어떤 사람이 되길 바라십니까? 어떤 일을 가장 좋아하십니까? 이 사회에 어떤 공헌을 하고 싶으십니까?

Tempat dimana Anda akan menghargai? Apa prioritas Anda yang paling penting? Ingin memiliki sesuatu? Apakah Anda ingin menjadi seorang pria? Apa yang Anda suka melakukan paling? Apa yang ingin memberikan kontribusi kepada masyarakat?

say something good or keep quiet

Six Step Weekly Planning Process(adapted from Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and First

Things First)

1. Review your mission/purpose statement

If you'd like a tool to help you begin drafting your mission, go to the Mission Statement Builder page at http://www.franklincovey.com/missionbuilder/. Your mission statement represents your values, vision, and purpose for your life.

Values - Be clear about what's most important to you -- what you value -- from the deepest place in your heart. Ask yourself, "Is my value what I really want, or is it what others think I "should" do?"

Vision - who you are being. We are human beings, not human doings!

Purpose - what you want to do as a result of who you are being...your life purpose. This is your road map to direct where you want your life to go. Your mission reflects the following:

- What is most important to me?

- What gives my life meaning?

- What do I want to be? (Review vision statement above.)

- What do I want to do?

2. Define your key roles

Start with self, and then identify a maximum of seven roles of greatest importance to you. I share my own personal roles below as an example, including sub-roles for my "business owner" role. 

Example:Self: physical, mental, spiritual, social

Role #1: Wife Business Owner

Role #2: Mother Organizing Consultant

Role #3: Family Member (sister, daughter, niece...) Paper Tiger Authorized Consultant®

Role #4: Business Owner Life Coach

Role #5: Friend Speaker/Presenter

Role #6: Community Volunteer Marketing Director

Role #7: Singer Manager/Administrator Lifelong Learner

3. Identify weekly goals/choices -- in writing

Think of two or three important results you want to accomplish during the coming week in each role you identified in step two. Write this week's goals/choices next to each role.

Goals can be focus areas (example: focus on using reflective listening skills with my daughter) or scheduled activities (example: work out at the gym three times for one hour each). Remind yourself of this truth: Every time I say "yes" to someone or something, I am saying "no" to someone or something else!

Values + Roles = Goals

Your goals reflect the following elements:

They are driven by conscience and align with your personal vision and mission/purpose. Your focus is on the "important" rather than just the "urgent" They are driven by "I choose to..." rather than "I have to..." or "I should..." These four basic human needs:

Physical (doing)Social (relating)Mental (learning)Spiritual (understanding/being)

Paauwer QuestionWhat is the most important thing I can do in this role this week that will have the greatest

positive impact?

4. Organize your time weekly

Schedule a weekly one-hour appointment with yourself and follow this Six Step Planning Process as you plan each week. Look at the week ahead with your goals in mind and schedule time to take the action required to achieve them.

NOTE: Schedule some unscheduled time. If every minute of every day is already booked, you are setting yourself up for failure. Allow time for some unexpected but important activities when planning your week.

Tool Tip: Use a weekly planner rather than a daily or monthly planner. If you use a hand-held organizer, do your planning at a computer screen where you can see the whole week at once.   

5. Exercise integrity in the moment of choice

When making schedule adjustments, connect with your mission to stay on track. If something more important comes up, reschedule the planned activity for another time. Decisions are based on your priorities. Be a gatekeeper - say no to activities or responsibilities which will derail you from living your mission. Don't play the victim; it's your life and you are in control! 

"I choose to..." vs. "I have to..."

6. Evaluate and learn

"If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting! One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expecting different results." (Stephen Covey)

Evaluate weekly - learn from what didn't work the week before - and try something different in the coming week.

1. Define my core values:a. Belief

Believe in God as a fundamental reason to do or not to do something in my daily lifeb. Sincerity

Being sincere to myself and to everybody is important because sincerity will create trust and harmony

c. ObedienceObedience is a fundamental attitude for me especially to obey God’s will.

d. LoveLove is a fundamental value in a relationship. For me, love means happiness. Love myself and give love to people means give happiness to me and people.

e. BraveryBravery is an attitude to do or not to do something that comes up in an uncomfortable situation. For me, bravery is a very challenging attitude because until right now, I feel uneasy to do it.

f. PassionPassion is a gift of the spirit combined with the totality of all the experiences we've lived through. Passion enables us to overcome obstacles (both real and imagined) and to see the world as a place of infinite potential.

2. Define the role and actiona. Moslem

As moslem, I believe in God so I praise to God. Action: Do the responsibility as moslem such as pray, fasting, read and obey Qur’an (God’s will )

b. DaughterAs a daughter, I love, respect, and obey my parent. Action:

I chat with my parent everyday to build good communication and I inform them my daily activity because they want me to do so.

I give flower to my mom in mother’s day.c. Younger sister

As a younger sister, I love my sister more than anyone because on her I can share anything. Action:

Helping each other such as take cares her son, ask opinion, and attend her graduation day or singing contest and many more.

Celebrate on her birthday and give her presentd. Professor’s research assistant

As a professor’s research assistant I have responsibility to study hard and do the research and follow his direction.Action:

Work in the lab on office hours Study the related subject Do the research, use time management as effective and efficient as possible

Do Professor’s assignment Have a good communication with him

e. QUADLAB memberAs a lab member I have responsibility to always bound in honour, respect and care of my lab team.Action:

Have a good communication among others Keep clean in the lab, obey the lab’s rules Help team members when they need my help with pleasure ( even until right

now, I’m the one who always ask for help on them)

f. Student of Kyung Hee UniversityAs a student I’m responsible to always bound in honour, study, and obey the rules.Action:

Always attend the class Do the assignment from professor Study hard

3. 1. What is the most influence thing that I can do in my job?I’m best as a doer (better than be a conceptor) and have a good analysis in a work field. I am full of optimism and always think in positive way. I do agree with the secret’s writer, Rhonda Byrne, that what we are thinking is what will happen. Therefore, thinking positively is important because what we are thinking is what it will be.

2. What is the most influence thing that I can do in my life?I’m the sanguine who devotes attention to the external. I share love and happiness as I can. I have eagerness to be friendly, pleasant, and willing to accommodate others.

4. What I like to do in my lifeI want have a good life. The parameter of “good life” for me is everything related to my values. Therefore, I like to do anything in this world in line with my values. I like to live my life with passion. I love making friend and relationship.

5. What I want to doI want to reach every single dream that I have. I also have eagerness to deal with all my weaknesses. I want to have a quality life by pursuing my dream and implementing my values.

실행 4: 되는 것, 하는 것, 갖는 것 (willingness to be, to do, and to have)

되고 싶은 것(willingness to be): 어떤 사람이 가장 되고 싶으십니까? What kind of person do you want to be

most? (당신이 가장 존경하는 사람들을 생각하고, 그들의 자질을 적어보십시오. 예를 들어 관대한,

열정적인, 유머러스 한, 열심히 노력하는, 책임 감 있는) Think about your idol, and write down those people talent. For example people who kind, passionate, humorous, do best in his life, have responsibility).

I want to be a pious and faithful person and follow my idol of life who is a prophet, Muhammad saw. He is described as a modest, pious, and faithful person. I’m trying to follow His sunnah to have a good life as a muslim.

I want to be a person who is active, discipline, and smart in managing time like most of successful people. I have a lot of Idol for these characteristics who are Indonesian politician (Amin Rais who always down to earth), the former president (Sukarno who used to be the most influential president, very active, and able to inspire his people) the former vice president of Indonesia namely Habibie (He was smart and intelligent), Indonesian artist namely Agnes Monica who always show her confidence, passion, and work hard.

I want to be a person who always have positive thinking, cheerful, and never give up on good thing like Mario Teguh, one of the most Indonesian motivator.

하고 싶은 모든 것(willingness to do): 당신의 인생에서 하고 싶은 것은 무엇입니까? What kind of thing do

you want to do in your life? (예: 세계여행, 박사 학위 받기, 공직선거에 입후보하기, 극빈자를 위한 안식처,

짓기) For example: travel around the world, get PhD, join political view, build house for poor people.

I want to travel around the world and broaden my horizon and meet a lot of people with my family. I want to see various people’s perspective about life and know more about how people live their life.

I want to graduate from my master in Kyung Hee University and want to work as a lecture in Indonesia. I also have dream to continue my PhD in Europe by looking for scholarship from my country.

갖고 lv 은 모든 것(willingness to have): 당신이 인생에서 갖고 싶은 것은 무엇입니까? What kind of things do

you want to have?(예: 새 집, 보트, 건강한 몸, 사랑스러운 가족, 노후 지금, 마음의 평화 등 유형, 무형의 것) for example:

I want to be healthy I want to have a lovely family I want to have job that I love and have passion on it I want to have house, car, and run my own business (build a boarding house)

실행 5: 받고 싶은 찬사 (compliment I want to get)

Imagine your 80th birthday, you have lived in fruitful life. Imagine that people whom you love (like family, friend, etc) come to congratulate and to give you compliment. What do you want to hear from them about who you are ? What do you want about how they remember you? What compliment do you want to hear from them regarding your great contribution? Write down the compliment that you want to hear from each of them! These all is useful for you to think about what you want to be and to write the mission statement.

People whom I want them to come:

1. Family: children, grandchildren with their lovely family. I want hear from them that as a mother and grandmother, I give them good examples; freedom; motivation; and always bring jubilation whenever I was with them.

2. Professional: My job partner and colleagues. I want hear a compliment about how I always do my job successfully and how I always make them happy when they were with me.

3. Social relationship: friend from the same organization. I want them to make compliment about how I always care for them and give them happiness.

실행 6: 평가 질문 (assessment question)4. What is your great moment when you feel very happy and feel great of accomplishment?

When I was accepted in one of the most favorite senior high school in my hometown.When I was chosen as one of female student who able to represent my faculty to attend and do some project in Pukyong National University When I was successfully join to be assistant laboratory in my college

5. What activities do you like most and feel accomplishment in your professional life?I like doing my role when I run an event held by the organization and give the best contribution on it so that the event can be held successfully.

6. What is your most valuable activity in your personal life?Starting my research and join the QUADlab in Kyung Hee University. I have a lot of challenges internally and externally that I need to deal with. I get a lot of precious moment here, because I learn a lot of things here.

7. What kind of talent and ability do you have or what kind of talent and ability do you want to have? I think I don’t have any talent or ability to be proud, but I want to have ability in managing time efficiently and effectively.

8. How can you contribute to your society at most?By doing my role regarding to the place where I work. I want to give my best effort and give a real contribution for my society. For example: When I was an assistant in my previous lab, I did my role as an assistant there. In QUADlab, I also want to be successful person by submitting and publish paper because I think that is the most valuable thing for QUADlab .