Personal Mission Personal Mission StatementStatementEducation for CareersEducation for Careers

What is a mission What is a mission statement?statement?

A personal mission statement is a brief description of what you A personal mission statement is a brief description of what you want to focus on, what you want to accomplish and who you want to focus on, what you want to accomplish and who you want to become in a particular area of your life over the next want to become in a particular area of your life over the next one to three years. one to three years.

Mission statements are based on your current situation and Mission statements are based on your current situation and what you need to focus on in the next one to three years to what you need to focus on in the next one to three years to move you closer to your long-term vision. move you closer to your long-term vision.

It is a way to focus your energy, actions, behaviors and It is a way to focus your energy, actions, behaviors and decisions towards the things that are most important to you. decisions towards the things that are most important to you.

Writing a personal mission statement offers the opportunity to Writing a personal mission statement offers the opportunity to establish what's important and perhaps make a decision to establish what's important and perhaps make a decision to stick to it before we even start a career. stick to it before we even start a career.

It enables us to chart a new course when we're at a It enables us to chart a new course when we're at a crossroads. crossroads.

WHO ARE YOU?WHO ARE YOU?

What are your attitude, beliefs, What are your attitude, beliefs, values, feelings, & reputation?values, feelings, & reputation?

How will YOU be remembered?How will YOU be remembered?

Five Steps Toward Writing a Five Steps Toward Writing a Personal Mission StatementPersonal Mission Statement

Step 1: Identify StrengthsStep 1: Identify Strengths

Step 2: Identify Core ValuesStep 2: Identify Core Values

  SStep 3: Identify Contributionstep 3: Identify Contributions

Step 4: Identify GoalsStep 4: Identify Goals

Step 5: Write Mission StatementStep 5: Write Mission Statement

Step 1: Identify Step 1: Identify Strengths Strengths

Spend some time identifying four or five Spend some time identifying four or five examples where you have had personal examples where you have had personal success in recent years. These successes success in recent years. These successes could be at work, in your community, at could be at work, in your community, at home, etc. Write them down.  home, etc. Write them down.  

Try to identify whether there is a common Try to identify whether there is a common theme -- or themes -- to these examples. theme -- or themes -- to these examples. Write them down. Write them down.

Strengths:Strengths:

Helped with a school fundraiser that Helped with a school fundraiser that was very successful was very successful

Helped with production of the school Helped with production of the school playplay

Themes: Successes all relate to Themes: Successes all relate to creative problem solving and creative problem solving and execution of a solution. execution of a solution.

Step 2: Identify Core Step 2: Identify Core Values.Values.

Develop a list of attributes that you Develop a list of attributes that you believe identify who you are and what believe identify who you are and what your priorities are. The list can be as long your priorities are. The list can be as long as you need.  as you need.  

Once your list is complete, see if you can Once your list is complete, see if you can narrow your values to five or six most narrow your values to five or six most important values.  important values.  

Finally, see if you can choose the one or Finally, see if you can choose the one or two values that are most important to you. two values that are most important to you.   

Most important values: Most important values:

Problem-Solving Problem-Solving Compassionate Compassionate Decision-maker Decision-maker

Step 3: Identify Step 3: Identify Contributions.Contributions.

Make a list of the ways you could Make a list of the ways you could make a difference. In an ideal make a difference. In an ideal situation, how could you contribute situation, how could you contribute best to:best to: the world in general the world in general your family your family your friends your friends your communityyour community your future employers your future employers

Contributions:Contributions: the world in general: To have a lasting impact on the world in general: To have a lasting impact on

the way people live their lives. the way people live their lives.

my family: to maintain a good ethical code; to be my family: to maintain a good ethical code; to be a good mother and a loving wife; to leave the a good mother and a loving wife; to leave the world a better place for my children and their world a better place for my children and their children. children.

my future employers: to lead by example. my future employers: to lead by example.

my friends: for them to know they can always my friends: for them to know they can always come to me with any problem. come to me with any problem.

my community: to use my talents in such a way my community: to use my talents in such a way as to give back to my community. as to give back to my community.

Step 4: Identify Goals.Step 4: Identify Goals.

Spend some time thinking about Spend some time thinking about your priorities in life and the goals your priorities in life and the goals you have for yourself.  you have for yourself.  

Make a list of your personal goals Make a list of your personal goals perhaps in the short-term (up to perhaps in the short-term (up to three years) and the long-term three years) and the long-term (beyond three years). (beyond three years).

Goals:Goals:

Short-term: To pull up my GPA and Short-term: To pull up my GPA and graduate high school in two years.  graduate high school in two years.  

Long-term: To pursue a successful Long-term: To pursue a successful career after high school. career after high school.

Step 5: Write Mission Step 5: Write Mission StatementStatement

.. Based on the first four steps and a Based on the first four steps and a better understanding of yourself, better understanding of yourself, begin writing your personal mission begin writing your personal mission statement. statement.

5. Mission Statement: 5. Mission Statement:   

To live life completely, honestly, and To live life completely, honestly, and compassionately, with a healthy dose compassionately, with a healthy dose of realism mixed with the of realism mixed with the imagination and dreams that all imagination and dreams that all things are possible if one sets their things are possible if one sets their mind to finding an answer. mind to finding an answer.

Northshore High SchoolNorthshore High School

Mission Statement:Mission Statement: Northshore High School enables every student to reach their Northshore High School enables every student to reach their highest potential by establishing a curriculum that meets or exceeds government highest potential by establishing a curriculum that meets or exceeds government standards for education; providing extracurricular programs that develop children’s’ standards for education; providing extracurricular programs that develop children’s’ mental, physical and social skills; and partnering with parents and the community to mental, physical and social skills; and partnering with parents and the community to create an environment geared to the success of all students. create an environment geared to the success of all students.

A challenging and caring community encouraging lifelong learning for all students.

Zachary High SchoolZachary High SchoolMission StatementMission Statement

The mission of Zachary High School is to The mission of Zachary High School is to provide each student a safe environment that provide each student a safe environment that fosters academic excellence, self worth, and a fosters academic excellence, self worth, and a commitment to lifelong learning.commitment to lifelong learning.

What is your mission statement? What is your mission statement?

Consider your Consider your principles.principles. ValuesValues MoralsMorals BeliefsBeliefs

Begin with the end in Begin with the end in mind.mind.

My Mission Statement is…My Mission Statement is………To be the best I can be.To be the best I can be.

……To continue to be a role model to To continue to be a role model to my younger cousins.my younger cousins.

……To graduate from high school and To graduate from high school and college.college.

……To continue to help people with To continue to help people with their situations.their situations.

……To be a good student.To be a good student.

……To be a wife and mother later in To be a wife and mother later in life.life.

……To be a successful business To be a successful business woman/owner.woman/owner.

……To one day save a lot of money To one day save a lot of money and help the needy.and help the needy.

……To donate my organs to someone To donate my organs to someone who needs them when I die.who needs them when I die.

Example…Example… To continuously promote and foster a cooperative environment To continuously promote and foster a cooperative environment

wherever I go, making everyone feel welcome in my presence, and wherever I go, making everyone feel welcome in my presence, and yet retain my strength and individuality.yet retain my strength and individuality.

To use my talents as a communicator to teach others and use my To use my talents as a communicator to teach others and use my social skills to bring people closer together.social skills to bring people closer together.

To forgive but not forget, so as to learn from each experience and To forgive but not forget, so as to learn from each experience and find my inner strength while I overcome obstacles that hide my goals.find my inner strength while I overcome obstacles that hide my goals.

To be guided by my values and beliefs and give thanks in some To be guided by my values and beliefs and give thanks in some measurable way each day.measurable way each day.

To laugh every day and act as if I have nothing to lose, because in To laugh every day and act as if I have nothing to lose, because in reality, there truly is nothing to lose.reality, there truly is nothing to lose.

To strive to be loyal to my friends and family, lead a successful career To strive to be loyal to my friends and family, lead a successful career that I will enjoy, stay healthy, and take on any challenges that come that I will enjoy, stay healthy, and take on any challenges that come my way.my way.

Your Mission StatementYour Mission Statement

Using the worksheet, write a mission statement Using the worksheet, write a mission statement for yourself.for yourself. Must be at least 3 linesMust be at least 3 lines

Create an animoto presentation for your mission Create an animoto presentation for your mission statement.statement. Include your name and mission statement in Include your name and mission statement in

your animoto.your animoto. Email your animoto to your teacher.Email your animoto to your teacher.

Guidelines: Keep it simple, clear and brief.

The best mission statements tend to be three to five sentences long.

Your mission statement should touch upon what you want to focus on and who you want to become as a person.

Make sure your mission statement is positive. Instead of saying what you don't want to do or don't want to be, say what you do want to

do or become. Find the positive alternatives to any negative statements. Include positive behaviors, character traits and values that you consider particularly

important and want to develop further.

Think about how your actions, habits, behavior and character traits in this area affect the important relationships in your life.

Make it emotional. Including an emotional payoff in your mission statement infuses it with passion and will make it even more compelling, inspiring and energizing.