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Finding Your Internal Compass
Missions Are Personal
As a business or an organization, there are a few must-haves such as a Mission Statement. Behind every successful business, you’ll find a person’s vision. Even the largest organizations were and still are extremely personal. To bring that vision into reality a course was charted, and that path was a Mission Statement. A Mission Statement expresses why an organization exists and how that business will pursue its vision. It determines the organization’s approach, strategies, and character. It shapes goals. A Mission is more than the products or services. The Mission Statement determines what is offered to customers and how benefits are conveyed. A business Mission Statement is a compass that points to the direction to be traveled.
A Personal Mission
Now let’s take the same idea but make it personal. It doesn’t get more personal than selling yourself and your own ideas. As a professional, you need a plan based on your strengths and unique perspective. This plays a significant role in what differentiates you. A personal mission statement helps you establish what is important to you, in return giving you guidance when building a profession or simply searching for employment. A personal mission statement is a map that keeps you on the right path to achieve what matters the most to you while ensuring that you’re well-positioned to maximize your strengths and passions.
What is the Purpose Anyway?
As Shakespeare wrote in Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet, “To thine own self be true.” Unfortunately, old Bill never told us how. That’s one reason why so many self-help books have been written on this subject. A Mission Statement is a matter-of-fact understanding of what defines you. It provides a platform for you to elaborate on what you believe separates you from everyone else. Conveying your unique purpose is important because this is what an employer will focus on when researching and interviewing candidates to fill a job opening or solve a problem. The clearer you are in representing your unique values and qualities as they pertain to bringing solutions, the more likely you are to stand out as the clear choice. But even more important, it helps you not to lose sight of your path.
Where To Begin?
While creating your personal mission statement, this is a perfect time to self-reflect on your core values – the beliefs that you refuse to compromise. Examples you might consider include:
• Honesty: This speaks for itself. Honesty is the best policy. As Bill wrote, also be honest with yourself. Sometimes this is the hardest to accomplish.
• Integrity: Acting with strong ethics should be a priority for everyone, whether it be yourself or those around you. This should be the expected behavior as a whole and never forget – guilty by association is a real thing.
• Learning: If you fall complacent, you are failing nobody but yourself. Set personal goals and objectives to keep yourself constantly learning while holding yourself accountable to meet your goal(s).
• Responsible: Hold yourself accountable by giving a guarantee to your clients or your future employer. Building trust, which is so important, starts by showing others that you keep your word. This also builds a reputation, which starts you off on the right foot with others.
Reflection
Developing or reviewing your Mission Statement is a great time to reflect on your professional history. Sit back in a chair and close your eyes. Now think about your current role, and how you interact in that position. Can you identify patterns such as the type of challenges you gravitate toward? Do you stay away from certain situations? Are there common themes that can provide an idea of where you excel, where you feel uncomfortable, and what excites you? What opportunities piqued your curiosity? These are all clues for where you may find insight to shape your personal Mission Statement. Now step back through your prior roles and ask yourself the same questions. Do patterns start to emerge? Perhaps the real themes that are your personal Mission Statement transcend titles. Maybe your title is Project Manager, but what you really enjoy is bringing ideas to life. That is a much more robust self-image and one that gives you room to explore fresh new directions. Your Mission Statement really is your opportunity to discover, beyond your profession, who you truly are as a person.
Who Defines Your Success? You Do!
Success comes in many different shapes and sizes. By definition, success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. If you have accomplished YOUR purpose while holding yourself accountable with YOUR defined core values and ethics, then YOU have succeeded in making your mission statement your reality. If you are an individual creating a personal mission statement, or even a small business just getting started, always make sure your objectives are direct and concise. You may be a small fish in a big pond, but a clear purpose is a core value that shapes your personal objectives. This is what defines the who, what, where, when, and why that will frame your path to success.
How Do Momentum Consultants Define Success?
Here at Momentum, we pride ourselves on being the best consultant for our client’s needs. We asked some of our consultants how they define their own client success and here is what they said:
One measure I use for myself in this job is being seen as a trusted advisor – random client staff will contact you because someone says you will/can help based on your previous interactions with them.
Gaining the trust and respect of a stakeholder.
I feel good at the end of the day when I know that I have done everything I can to let the people that work for my client go home feeling good about their day’s work.
Do You Have a Mission?
A personal Mission statement takes your thoughts and creates a tangible guide that gives you direction through your professional career. Additionally, it demonstrates that beyond talking the talk, you are walking the walk. Do you have a personal mission statement? What core values define you? We’d love to hear your thoughts – connect with us today.