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Writing a Mission Statement
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| Photo: Kenn Kiser |
There are at least three kinds of entrepreneurs: those who invent better mouse traps, those who manufacture them, and those who sell them. At every level people make money, but it all starts with an idea.
Someone once said, "Money follows good ideas." The market place is driven by ideas that become inventions that eventually populate shelves in retail stores and shopping centers. When products are derived from knowledge of what people actually want and need, they are purchased.
A Personal Mission Statement
While your concern here isn't necessarily business-related, you can benefit by applying business thinking to your life. In order for a business to be successful it needs to have a clear focus, and so do you!
Example: Here's the mission statement for NWS (The National Weather Service)
"The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community. "
This tells us about NWS, but what does a personal mission statement look like?
Here's a one-sentence mission statement written by a college professor: To live life completely, honestly, and compassionately.
It's good to have a short sentence (or two) that succinctly describes your mission. This example was actually written by Dr. Randall Hansen, who helps people write mission statements. More words are needed to unpack what it means.
Getting Started
Why not take a few minutes to write your own mission statement. You can start by filling a page with words that describe who you are now, and who you wish to become in the future. Then do your best to condense it into one concise sentence.
Break it Down
When you sit down for a meal you can't eat a whole enchilada in one bite, you have to take several small bites. The way to turn dreams into reality is to pull them apart and organize the pieces into categories of things you must do.
For example, if your dream is to publish a book of poetry, you can be sure it will involve the following elements:
1. Deciding on what kind of poetry
2. Deciding how many poems it will include
3. Writing the poems
4. Organizing the chapter or poem sequence
5. Deciding what graphics (if any) you will use
6. Finding the right printer (with the right price) for the job
7. Deciding how many books to print
8. Securing the funds
9. Applying for a copyright
10. Submitting the material to a layout artist
11. Signing off on the proofs
12. Printing the book
Marketing the book is a whole other issue that will have its own details and steps to be followed.
Whatever you believe God is calling you to do, think about the steps necessary to get there.
Think of your personal mission statement as a sentence that articulates your passion or dream in life. It should describe the ultimate destination toward which you point your energies and desires.
"Dreaming is not about trying to get a celestial genie to grant our wishes, nor is effective prayer manipulating God to give us what we want. It is asking God to accomplish His purposes through us. It's requesting that He make us part of what He already plans to do. The more we understand His Word, the better we will know His will—and pray according to it. Christ promised, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7). ---Discover Your Destiny, Bill & Kathy Peel.
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