Mission Statement

I got to the part in The 7 Habits last night about writing your personal mission statement. I really like this idea, not instead of, but in addition to writing down your goals. For me, goals are something that change all the time. I mean, there's a few that remain like eat healthier, exercise, spend more time with my family, be more patient and loving with everyone, etc....but the mission statement focuses more on values. What are the things that define who you are, what do you want to define you, what do you want to bring to all your interactions in your business life and in your personal life? Steven Covey says that you will revise your mission statement many times, but I'm guessing it won't change nearly as often as your goals. Let's be real, I'm still in my twenties. Knowing what I want is like trying to figure out what kind of meat I'm actually being served at a NY street cart. Some things I know, other things I'm clueless, and some things, just when I think I know, it changes...or I change, or the wind blows, or who the hell knows what...but the core values of who you are, those don't change often. You can try to hide them or ignore them, but you know what's important to you, and if you live life from a value driven center (says Mr. Covey) you aren't affected (well, not as much) as when you live life from other more changeable center, like work, marriage, friends, etc.
I started my personal mission statement, which I don't think is ready for public consumption now, or maybe ever...but here are some steps to making your own:
Your Personal Mission Statement should answer three questions:

1. What is my life about (Purpose)?
2. What do I stand for (Values)?
3. What actions do I take to manifest my Purpose and my Values?

Stephen Covey says "an empowering Mission Statement…
• Represents the deepest and best within you. It comes out of a solid connection with your deep inner life.
• Is the fulfillment of your own unique gifts. It's the expression of your unique capacity to contribute.
• Addresses and integrates the four fundamental human needs and capacities in the physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions.
• Deals with all the significant roles in your life. It represents a lifetime balance of personal, family, work, community-whatever roles you feel are yours to fill.
• Is written to inspire you-not to impress anyone else. It communicates to you and inspires you on the most essential level."

“Creating a Personal Mission Statement will be, without question, one of the most powerful and significant things you will ever do to take leadership of you life. In it you will identify the most important roles, relationships, and things in your life – who you want to be, what you want to do, to whom and what you want of give your life, the principles you want to anchor your life to, the legacy you want to leave. All the goals and decisions you will make in the future will be based upon it. It’s like deciding first which wall you want to lean your ladder of life against, and then beginning to climb. It will compass – a strong source of guidance amid the stormy seas and pressing, pulling currents of you life.”
Stephen Covey, author or The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People