I'm on a mission!
"You're on a mission and I'm wishing someone could cure your lonely condition..." -Young MC
Ask any business planning expert the required elements of a kick ass plan, and Mission and Vision will be at the top of almost every list.
One of the top reasons companies create and Mission and/or Vision Statements is to clearly communicate to its stakeholders who they are, what they do and why they do it.
This may seem like a nice to do vs. a need to do, but a solid mission and vision statement enables companies to articulate who they are, what they do and what they aspire to do in a clear and concise manner.
For this business of life, and crafting a Big Bold Life Plan, mission and vision statements become tools to provide clarity and focus in the navigation of your day-to-day life. They are also powerful tools to help make decisions, craft a plan, and ultimately take action toward creating your own big bold life.
Ultimately a mission and vision statement give you focus and purpose. Whoop Whoop!
The difference between Mission and Vision
A Mission statement is a written declaration of what it is you do now, in the present time. For businesses it describes how a company plans on achieving its goals and objectives. The intended audience of a mission statement are the people interested in what the company is doing; think employees, shareholders, or investors. A quality mission statement clearly and succinctly articulates what an organization is doing, how they are doing and most importantly why they are doing it.
Your Big Bold Life Mission Statement will answer your What, How and Why:
What you do
How you do it
Why you do it
Applying this concept to your life, a personal mission statement answers:
Who am I?
What do I do, what benefit do I provide?
What matters to me?
Why do I do it?
A Vision statement differs in the element of time. Where a Mission Statement is now, a Vision Statement addresses what the organization or individual hopes or plans to be in the future. Vision statements are inspirational and aspirational, the goal to motivate the team and clearly demonstrate goals to shareholders and investors.
I like to think of a vision statement as a battle cry, or common goal to rally behind.
A personal vision statement is a wonderful tool in beginning to manifest all that you want to have, be and do in life. It brings to life your aspirations of how you want to pilot your journey. What your desired vision is for your life.
Mission Statement is your: Present State
Vision Statement is your: Aspiration
If we apply these same business principles to life, and specifically your life, Mission is where you are and why you do it and Vision is where you aspire to go.
Creating your Mission and Vision Statements
Mission Statement
Let’s start with crafting your basic Mission Statement. A great starter template looks like this:
My Mission is to DO WHAT (live the biggest, boldest and best version of my life) by TWO TO THREE ACTIONS (gaining clarity on what matters most, navigating life from the inside out, and showing up and being seen); ENABLING (a new way of working and living).
My mission is to ______________________________________________________________________
by _________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ and _______________________
____________________________________________________________; enabling
________________________________________________________________________________
Example:
My mission is Educating and inspiring individuals and organizations to transform their work and life, opening up a pathway and plan to a new way of living and working for maximum, success, joy and inspiration.
Vision Statement
Your vision statement is what you aspire to in your life. A basic format looks like this:
My vision is to ________________________________________________________________________
(verb: cultivate, inspire, grow, create, design) a _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
(Noun: Family, book, lifestyle, revolution, new way of working) that will____________________________
_________________________________________________________(how it will add value for you and serve you and/or your stakeholders.)
Example:
To inspire individuals and organizations to create a new measuring stick for success in life and work.This measurement is inclusive of both external and internal benchmarks for success and incorporates the human element valuing authenticity, work life integration and connection.
Taking the time to think about your personal Mission and Vision for your life is a powerful exercise. Perhaps take a few minutes at the start of this new season to think about your Mission and Vision for Spring! If you need inspiration, grab a pen and notebook and journal your answers to the following prompts to get your creative juices flowing:
I am...
I care deeply about
I value
What do I want more of in my life?
What do I want less of in my life?
Enjoy!
Make a Moment, Make a Day, Make a Life!
