You Need A Mission Statement

Why do you need a mission statement? To paraphrase the old parable, imagine you're climbing a ladder in your life, higher and higher you climb, not looking down, just climbing. One day, you look down and you realize you've been climbing up the right ladder, but it's set against the wrong house. The wrong house problem happens because you didn't set your mission.

So what are some of the characterstics of a good mission statement?

  • It should be hand-written, and 3-5 sentences will do just fine. Hand writing it will help you commit it to memory, and being brief allows you to bend it as time goes by.
  • You should post it someplace you can see it frequently. I would recommend you put it on an index card and put it in your wallet or purse and pull it out frequently. The more often you review it, the more it will become part of you.
  • You should commit it to your memory, as it is the central theme that runs through your life.

    Looking for help? Here a few tools that might help you build your own personal mission statement:

  • The Franklin Covey mission builder
  • Nightingale-Conant mission statement builder
  • List of Corporate Mission Statements

    Phil Gerbyshak - EzineArticles Expert Author

    Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil's personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders' fantastic book Love is the Killer App: "Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow." Read more of Phil's ideas at http://makeitgreat.org