Every nonprofit has a mission statement to guide their work. So, why shouldn’t you? I developed a personal mission statement a few years ago and it changed my life. Since then, I have trained over 100 people to develop their own personal mission statements and it is often a life-changing process for them as well. It is truly an eye-opening process to write out your goals and values for your life and then compare them to how you actually balance your priorities. There’s something really powerful and empowering about being able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to opportunities that come into your life based on how you want to live out your personal values. But what, exactly, is a personal mission statement? Productivity website Dumb Little Man offers this great definition:
Your personal mission statement should be a concise representation of what’s most important to you, what you desire to focus on, what you want to achieve, and, ultimately, who you want to become. In its purest form, it’s an approach to your life, one that allows you to identify a focus of energy, creativity, and vision in living a life in support of your inner-most beliefs and values. Also remember that your mission will change over time as you and your life change.
There are many ways to go about creating your own personal mission statement, but I will highlight an easy three-step process here. In my sessions, we usually only have about an hour and a half, so this entire process can be expedited if you so choose. However, you should take as much time as you need to reflect and write out your mission statement. It can be short-term or long-term, and should encompass your goals for both work and life. The key is really just to get down on paper what values and visions you want to manifest in your life. The process and the final statement can help you make many different kinds of decisions. And if you’re in a career rut, it can certainly help you figure out what to do next!
Step 1: Identify Your Values
What matters most to you in life? What matters most to you right now? You may find that you’ve forgotten about that which you really care about because you’ve stuck in a rut doing something else. Take at least 15 minutes to jot down a free-for-all list of everything that means a lot to you. Be as specific as possible. To get you started, here are just a few examples of values might include:
- Achievement, fame, advancement, leadership
- Money, power, authority, economic security
- Having a family, children, love, community, friendships
- Nature, religion, public service, ecological awareness, healthy living, physical challenge
- Democracy, civic involvement, wisdom, integrity, truth
- Location, privacy, country, adventure, fast-paced living
Step 2: Identify Your Goals
Once you’ve reflected on what matters most to you, then take at least 15 minutes to think about how you want to be remembered. How do you want to contribute or what goals do you want to accomplish for yourself or your career? This question is really relevant to nonprofit professionals who come into this field to make a difference. What kind of difference do you want to make before you die? Your goals can also be related to how you want to go about building your career, and of course you will have more than one! To get you started, here are just a few ideas of goals might include:
- Career aspirations
- Volunteer interests
- Ways to make social impact
- Ways you want to grow in your career or personal life
Step 3: Write Your Mission Statement
Now that you’ve identified your values and your goals, you should now take at least 30 minutes to begin drafting your personal mission statement. It can be as short or as long as you think it needs to be. And remember, it will continue to change as you change over time, so don’t worry about it being perfect and final. This should be a work in progress, just like you!
Here is what my mission statement looks like:
I value education, achievement, adventure, creativity, and independence. I especially value authenticity in myself and others. I appreciate laughter, good food, music, art, poetry and Black history & culture. Before I die, I want to have made a positive impact on the world for young people, women, and people of color. As a writer, professor, consultant, and board member, I can lead according to my values by teaching others and helping nonprofits reach their goals. I will network to stay connected to others who are living a life of purpose. In my journey to take care of others, I will not neglect my own family, friends, finances, health, or spirituality.