Defining Your Mission

Why do we need a Mission? “ One cannot lead a life that is truly excellent without feeling that one belongs to something greater and more permanent than oneself.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Author “Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life” “Purpose becomes a more powerful and enduring source of energy in our lives in three ways: when its source moves from negative to positive, external to internal, and self to others.” Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, Authors “The Power of Full Engagement”

Ask yourself these questions On a scale of 1 -10: 1. How excited are you to get to work in the morning? 2. How much do you enjoy what you do for its own sake rather than what it gets you? 3. How accountable do you hold yourself to a deeply held set of values?

Writing Your Personal Mission Statement Goal: Write a Mission Statement that will clearly articulate your life’s purpose, will be compelling to you and others, and will serve as your compass for how you live your life Review sample Mission statements Begin writing your Mission Select verbs that excite you Identify Core Values Bring these together in a short, concise, memorable Mission statement Identify one thing you will do differently to live your Mission Prior to class, please complete a DRAFT of a Mission Statement.

Stretch your thinking with these questions Write your answers to these questions: What dreams have you always had that have not been realized? What have you always wanted to do and have never What do you feel passionate about in this world?

Example Mission Statements To discover potential, create opportunities, and live on purpose To inspire, drive, and accomplish justice To sacrifice for, dream and appreciate love To create, connect, and inspire others in humility To support, safeguard, and worship trust To motivate, envision, and encourage integrity To inspire, dream, and surrender to wisdom To educate, lead, and heal through spirited service To inspire, mold, and motivate through integrity To communicate, educate, and foster others through service

There are Three Elements to a Good Mission Statement 1. Single sentence long 2. Easily understood 3. Recited by memory

Four False Assumptions about Missions 1. “My job is my mission.” 2. “My role is my mission.” 3. “My ‘To-Do’ list is my mission.” 4. “Missions must be grand or help a lot of people.”

Every mission requires action, and action words are verbs Every mission requires action, and action words are verbs. Circle 10 verbs that most excite you accomplish acquire adopt advance affect affirm alleviate amplify appreciate ascend associate believe bestow brighten build call cause choose claim collect combine command communicate compel compete complete compliment compose conceive confirm connect consider construct contact continue counsel create decide defend delight deliver demonstrate devise direct discover discuss distribute draft dream drive educate elect embrace encourage endow engage engineer enhance enlighten enlist enliven entertain enthuse envision evaluate excite explore express extend facilitate finance forgive foster franchise further gather generate give grant heal hold host identify illuminate implement improve improvise inspire integrate involve keep know labor launch lead master mature measure mediate model mold motivate move negotiate nurture open organize participate pass perform persuade play possess practice prepare present praise produce progress promise promote provide realize receive reclaim reduce refine reflect reform regard relate relax release rely remember renew resonate respect restore return revise sacrifice safeguard satisfy save sell serve share speak stand summon support surrender sustain take tap team touch trade translate travel understand uphold use utilize validate value venture verbalize volunteer work worship write yield

Write your three most meaningful, purposeful and exciting verbs 1._________________, 2._________________, and 3._________________.

Core Value The essence of your person The characteristic deep within The heart of who you are What you center your life around Choose three core values – examples on next page

Accomplishment Discovery Hope Performance Risk-taking Accountability Diversity Humor Persistence Rootedness Accuracy Education Inclusiveness Personal Growth Safety Achievement Efficiency Influence Philosophy Satisfying Others Adventure Empowerment Inner Peace Pioneer Spirit Security Aspiration Equality Innovation Pleasure Selflessness Attitude Excellence Improvement Popularity Self-reliance Authenticity Expression Integrity Positive Attitude Seriousness Authority Fairness Intuition Power Service Autonomy Faith Involvement Practicality Sexuality Beauty Fame Joy & Delight Preservation Simplicity Challenge Family Justice Prestige Sincerity Change Fitness Knowledge Pride Stability Commitment Freedom Learning Privacy Status Communication Free Will Leisure Prosperity/wealth Strength Community Fun Love-Romance Punctuality Style Competence Generosity Love-Care Purity Success Competition Giving/Charity Love-Concern Quality Timeliness Concern for Others Goodness Loyalty Rationality Tolerance Conformity Gratitude Mobility Recognition Tradition Conviction Hard Work Money Reliability Tranquility Cooperation Harmony Nurturing Religion Trust Creativity Health Openness Resourcefulness Truth Decisiveness Helpfulness Optimism Respect Variety Democracy Heritage Patriotism Responsibility Well-being Determination Honesty Peace Responsiveness Wisdom Discipline Honor Perfection Results-oriented

What are your most important Core Values What are your most important Core Values . . . The ones you center your life around? 1._________________, 2._________________, and 3._________________.

Combining your verbs and your core values To ____________, ____________, and ____________ verb verb verb _________ Core Value OR To ____________, ____________, and ____________ ___________ verb Core Value verb Core Value OR A combination of the verbs and core values that demonstrates your passion, can serve as your compass, and will inspire you to greatness

What will you do differently to live your Mission? How will you choose to spend your time? What relationships will you encourage and develop? How will you develop yourself? What habits do you need to change?

What must I do differently to live my mission? My Mission is to What must I do differently to live my mission? Work I need to do more : I need to do less: 1. 2. 3. How I spend my time Start or Continue Stop 1. 2. 3. Relationships Grow or Develop Let go 1. 2. 3. Habits Start or Continue Stop 1. 2. 3.

Resources Jones, Laurie Beth, The Path: Creating your Mission Statement for Work and Life (New York: Hyperion, 1996) Leider, Richard J., The Power of Purpose (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 1997, 2004) Loehr, Jim and Tony Schwartz, The Power of Full Engagement (New York: The Free Press, 2005). Pink, Daniel H., Drive, The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us” (New York: Riverhead Books, 2009)