Personal Mission Statement

Overview Objectives Definition Seven Steps Exercise

Objectives To have a basic understanding of a personal mission statement. To build a better understanding of the person you want to become and your values. To formulate a personal mission statement.

Personal Mission Statement A tool to guide you towards your objectives and goals, both personal and professional. Helps define your purpose and can help you guide your priorities, activities, and responsibilities. A personal mission statement can help us to better assess how our values line up with those of our organization.

Organizational Mission Statement A one-sentence statement describing the reason an organization or program exists (what they do), which is used to guide priorities, activities, and responsibilities. “Air Force champion focused on infusing Air Force Core Values within the Profession of Arms.” “Dedicated champion strengthening Air Force professional culture.” Derived from: topnonprofits.com

7 Steps Past Successes Identify Values Identify Contributions Identify Goals Build Mission Statement Revise Mission Statement Post Derived from: https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/creating-personal-mission-statements

Past Successes Step 1: Identify Past Successes Spend some time identifying four or five examples where you have had personal success in recent years. These successes could be at work, in your community, at home, etc. Write them down. Try to identify whether there is a common theme — or themes — to these examples. Write them down.

Past Success Examples Past success: Designed an adult learning course that affected 30K AF members. Changed the culture throughout the AF leading to increased volunteers, standardized process. Raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Breast Cancer research. Passed uncommon medical information to multiple parents of children dealing with the same issues my son had. Themes: Successes all relate to creative problem solving and leaving things better than they were before.

Identify Values Step 2: Identify Values Develop a list of five to ten values that you believe identify who you are and what your priorities are. They are reflections of what you care about most in life. You may want to use a personal assessment, such as PACE-LBDNA, to help you list your values. Once your list is complete, narrow your values to the three most important values. Finally, choose the one value that is most important to you. Now lets apply this to behavior…

Identify Values Example Hard-working Autonomy Creativity Problem-Solving Decision-maker Humor Authenticity Optimism Growth Friendships Family Honesty Wisdom Empathy Spirituality Respect Passion Contemplation

Identify Values Example Narrow to top three   Hard-working Autonomy Creativity Problem-Solving Decision-maker Humor Authenticity Optimism Growth Friendships Family Honesty Wisdom Empathy Spirituality Respect Passion Contemplation

Identify Values Example Choose the one most important to you   Hard-working Autonomy Creativity Problem-Solving Decision-maker Humor Authenticity Optimism Growth Friendships Family Honesty Wisdom Empathy Spirituality Respect Passion Contemplation

Identify Contributions Step 3: Identify Contributions. Make a list of the ways you could make a difference. In an ideal situation, how could you contribute best to The world in general Your family The Air Force or future employers Your friends Your community

Identify Contributions Example Identify Contributions in each category: World in general: develop habits of thinking that change how people function in their personal and professional lives. My family: to make the world a better place for my son. My employer or future employers: lead by example and demonstrate how development, innovation and problem-solving can increase productivity and loyalty. My friends: to do my best to always do what I say I’m going to do. My community: to find my niche in helping the community flourish.

Identify Goals Step 4: Identify Goals Spend some time thinking about your priorities in life and the goals you have for yourself. You may want to use a personal assessment, such as PACE-LBDNA, to help you list your goals. Make a list of your personal goals in the short-term (up to three years).

Identify Goals Example To establish a career with a progressive employer who will allow me to use my skills, talent, and values to achieve success for as many people as I can. To create a service or product that will make people’s lives more fulfilling so they contribute to the greater good.

Personal Mission Statement Step 5: Write Mission Statement  Based on the first four steps and a better understanding of yourself, begin writing your personal mission statement. Make it clear, memorable, and concise. You may also want to make it inspiring.

Personal Mission Statement Example Always driving for growth, creativity and problem solving while staying authentic, keeping my sense of humor and passing on valued experiences to others.

Personal Mission Statement Rewrite Step 6. Revise Take a relook at your common words and themes. Creativity, innovation, leading, demonstrating development (teaching or coaching), using my skills, developing Airmen, improving the Air Force. To continuously improve the Air Force culture by leading by example and teaching Airmen, using innovative methods and products, to strengthen their character development.

Post Step 7. Post Post your personal mission statement where you will see it daily.

Examples To have fun in my journey through life and learn from my mistakes. Richard Branson, CEO, The Virgin Group To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate self-worth and net-worth of women around the world. Amada Steinberg, CEO, Daily Worth To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be. Oprah Winfrey, CEO, OWN To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and teach Airmen ethical principles to make a difference.

Questions?

Situational Workshops Using in Situational Workshops: What have I done in the past 2 weeks that showed I was aligned with my values? What have I done in the past 2 weeks that displayed I was not aligned with my values? What objectives can I put into place to help me meet my short term goals? Long term goals? What have I done in the past 2 weeks that showed that one or more of my personal contributions are realistic? Alternately, what have I done in the past 2 weeks that showed that one or more of my personal contributions may need revising?

Situational Workshops Using in Situational Workshops: What have I done in the past 2 weeks to make sure I am living my Personal Mission Statement? Alternately, what have I failed to do that would have helped further my Personal Mission Statement?