Answer: Use The FrankinCovey Mission Statement Builder program.
It’s free! Clever questions guide you all the way. After just a few minutes, you press the last button and Voila! There’s your mission statement!
From the site’s home page:
You have a purpose in life. You know in your heart what’s most important to you. In fact, your mission and values are expressed every day, by how you live—you just may not realize it. We’re here to help you find the right words to put that mission down on paper.
The program produces a great first draft of a mission statement. You’ll probably need to edit it. I copied mine onto Word and fixed it up there.
Here’s my first draft effort. I’m very happy with it, considering I was dreading having to write it on my own. Now I’ve got the first draft done, I can easily add bits to it and change it as I think of things.
My Mission Statement
I am at my best when :
- I finish what I start
- turn good ideas into action
- organize stuff well
I will try to prevent times when I:
- get overwhelmed with self-doubt
- flit from topic to topic
- get over-inclusive
I will find enjoyment in my personal life through:
- influencing people for the better
- forming close nourishing relationships with others
I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as:
- having a good practical sense
- being self-aware
- being curious
- having creative ideas
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will collect all the proven practical stuff on how to change people’s behavior for the better and present that stuff in a way that makes people want to “have a go.”
My most important future contribution to others will be:
- to help them to flourish
- to support their dreams
- a good model
- fun to be with—a real positive force.
I will stop procrastinating and start working on:
- listening better;
- not being so quick to find fault;
- being more accepting of “the total package” and enjoying people more;
- trying harder to see the other person’s point of view;
- being more understanding and compassionate;
- being more joyful of other people’s good fortune;
- lowering my expectations of others and upcoming events;
- practicing equanimity;
- being kinder to myself;
- not being so frightened of making mistakes and of being rejected and appearing foolish
I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:
- wisdom
- selflessness
- ego-control
- emotional maturity
- vision
- confidence to achieve big things
I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:
- exercise daily; do less sitting; get back to 57 kg.
- grow closer towards my “better me”
- improve my concentration; practise better learning and memory habits
- become ‘forged steel’ in my emotional health, listen better; feel more loving towards others; build others up more and criticize less; develop stronger inner security and true independence
