TENACITY - WEEK 2
“We can’t live without making money, but we don’t live to get rich. We can’t live without eating, but we don’t live to eat.”
Inspired by Stephen Covey |
Creating Your Personal Mission StatementA large percentage of companies, including most of the Fortune 500, have corporate mission statements. Mission statements are designed to provide direction and push to an organisation; an enduring statement of purpose.
A mission statement acts as an invisible hand that guides the people in the organisation. A mission statement explains the organisation’s reason for being, and answers the question, “What business are we in?” A personal mission statement is a bit different from a company mission statement, but the fundamental principles are the same. Writing a personal mission statement offers the opportunity to establish what’s important and perhaps make a decision to stick to it before we even start a career or major change. Or it enables us to chart a new course when we’re at a career crossroads. Steven Covey (in First Things First) refers to developing a mission statement as “connecting with your own unique purpose and the profound satisfaction that comes from fulfilling it.” |
A personal mission statement helps students, or those changing path to identify their core values and beliefs. Michael Goodman (in The Potato Chip Difference: How to Apply Leading Edge Marketing Strategies to Landing the Job You Want) states that a personal mission statement is “an articulation of what you’re all about and what success looks like to you.” A personal mission statement also allows students to identify companies that have similar values and beliefs and helps them better assess the costs and benefits of any new career or educational opportunity.
The biggest problem most students face is not in wanting to have a personal mission statement, but actually writing it. So, to help you get started on your personal mission statement, I have created our next quest to walk you through step by step how to write your mission statement. Take as much time on each step as you need — and remember to dig deeply to develop a mission statement that is both authentic and honest. And to help you better see the process, we’ve included an example of my own process in developing my mission statement.
The biggest problem most students face is not in wanting to have a personal mission statement, but actually writing it. So, to help you get started on your personal mission statement, I have created our next quest to walk you through step by step how to write your mission statement. Take as much time on each step as you need — and remember to dig deeply to develop a mission statement that is both authentic and honest. And to help you better see the process, we’ve included an example of my own process in developing my mission statement.
The Spider WebFor todays activity, we got a ball of yarn and attached it to one end of a room; tying it at different places and heights to form a giant spider web. I sang (poorly, but that doesn't matter) the mission impossible theme song and challenged the students to see who could get through to the other side of the room without touching the 'laser beams'. We got into two teams and looked at how it could be done.
We had some students try and get through as quickly as possible, and that led to a few hits from the 'laser beams'. One student jumped over the yarn. One climbed over the tables and several wove in and under the yarn. Many different techniques were used. |
What did we learn? How you play the game in here. (being at school, at home, what ever strategies you are using) is how you play the game out there (in the workforce etc). It also goes to show that there is always more then one way to do things, and it is worth investigating the different options.
What does this activity tell you about who you are and how you get things done?
Some students took time to come up with a strategy that they thought would work and then gave it a go. Others came up with a strategy, but never put it in to practise (as in they didn't give it a go).
In the workplace, some people are in a hurry to get the job done and get out of there and back to their 'real lives' as quick as possible. Some people are competitive and try and beat their best or others. Some people look for more effective ways of getting it done.
Todays questions:
What is your style? How do you get things done?
Do you believe that your style (your way of doing things) is going to support you in life, especially when it comes to gaining and sustaining employment?
What aspects might be good to improve on to help you get better results?
What does this activity tell you about who you are and how you get things done?
Some students took time to come up with a strategy that they thought would work and then gave it a go. Others came up with a strategy, but never put it in to practise (as in they didn't give it a go).
In the workplace, some people are in a hurry to get the job done and get out of there and back to their 'real lives' as quick as possible. Some people are competitive and try and beat their best or others. Some people look for more effective ways of getting it done.
Todays questions:
What is your style? How do you get things done?
Do you believe that your style (your way of doing things) is going to support you in life, especially when it comes to gaining and sustaining employment?
What aspects might be good to improve on to help you get better results?
QUEST 3: CREATE YOUR PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT |
![]()
|
TO THINK ABOUT (AND FOCUS ON) THIS WEEK
If you haven't already done so, It is really important to complete your Personal Mission Statement. Please email to me at [email protected]