Personal mission statements
The mariner's compass is one of the most useful and nifty
instruments ever to be discovered by man. The rough seas, in
their murderous rage, had killed scores of unsuspecting sailors.
Once shore was left behind, there really was not much that
sailors could do except trust themselves to the skill and
experience of their captain. During rough weather, it was
natural for ships to get lost and subsequently wrecked. But once
the mariner's compass came along, there was a drastic change.
Now, there was no need for fear anymore. Directions became
apparent and destinations were crystal clear. All the guesswork
was taken out of sailing.
Have you ever thought whether you own a personal mariner's
compass? Many of us blunder through life clueless about how we
are traveling and where we are headed. A personal mariner's
compass that would help us to stick to our path and deliver us
to our destination is what most people lack. So, how do you go
about making such a compass?
The first thing a traveler does when he is about to start a
journey is to fix his DESTIANTION. This is so simple when you
think of traveling, but in life, most people have no idea what
their destination is. Think hard and think deep. What is your
destination? This is where you need to make a personal mission
statement. A personal mission statement is just a simple yet
effective statement that expresses your aim in life. There is no
need to use flowery language or correct grammar. So long as it
inspires you and keeps you focused on your goals, your mission
statement is doing a good job. Here are some effective mission
statements:
"Everyday, I will remind myself why I love my kids so much and
what they mean to me. Showing patience and love is what my
mission is."
"Read, read, read - read as much as possible till I have got all
the texts at the tips of my finger. Acquire more knowledge and
more command in my field and climb the ladder to success."
Why are these mission statements so effective? First off, the
mission statements above have fixed goals. The first mission
statement says that love and patience is the destination. It
then charts out what needs to be done on a daily basis to
achieve this. The second mission statement fixes success in a
profession to be the goal. It also points out what needs to be
done everyday to achieve this goal.
The people who read these kinds of statements everyday have some
advantages: Firstly, when things are going well, most people
tend to forget that they have to keep working to achieve greater
heights. A mission statement reminds you of what you have to do
EVERY SINGLE DAY. Secondly, many a time, we get frustrated and
desperate. A mission statement breaks down the seemingly
difficult task to something achievable by laying down what needs
to be done on a daily basis. There is no room for uncertainty if
you have a well thought out mission statement in front of you.
Your mission statement is your personal mariner's compass. It
keeps you on the right path, and also reminds you when you stray
away from the right path.
Another great advantage of a personal mission statement is that
it removes your dreams from the realm of the unreal and brings
it into reality. The first step towards realizing your goal is
to set it down on paper. This simplifies the task and persuades
your psyche that you can achieve your dreams. Most people never
have the courage even to put their dreams on paper. How then
would they ever achieve their dreams?