A personal mission statement clarifies what is important in life to an individual. A personal mission statement is a written statement of purpose that allows individuals to define their calling in life. It helps clarify goals, values, beliefs, or passions, communicate them, and better execute a personal growth strategy.

Understanding a personal mission statement

Most statements incorporate the following elements:

• Goals, values, beliefs, or passions.
• Personal, professional, or desired attributes.
• Past achievements, awards, or honors.

Personal mission statements are often associated with building a brand. The individual can use their mission statement as a filter to determine whether new opportunities are aligned with their brand. Ultimately, this makes personal and professional life decisions much easier to make and increases the odds of success.

Writing a personal mission statement

Developing a personal mission statement can be difficult for some because it requires a certain level of introspection. One must think deeply about what is important to them, all the while remaining authentic and honest about their desires.

To make the process easier, follow these steps:

1. Identify past successes. Brainstorm past examples of personal success at work, home, or in the community. Are there any common themes? A product innovation specialist who enjoys managing fundraising events may classify creative problem solving as a common theme.
2. Identify core values. Who are you and what are your priorities in life? Are you creative, compassionate, positive, analytical, or a decision-maker? If you are struggling to describe yourself, ask others to describe you. From the list of values, choose the five that are most important. Finally, choose one value that resonates with you most deeply.
3. Identify contributions. Theoretically, how could you contribute to a work, family, or community scenario in a meaningful way? Use values and past successes as a guide.
4. Identify goals. While you should make a list of short and long-term goals, more ambitious long-term goals are more likely to result in motivation and purpose.
5. Write the mission statement. Here, brevity is important – ensure that the statement is one to two sentences at most.

Examples of notable personal mission statements

For further inspiration, consider the following examples from notable leaders:

• Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla – “If something is important enough you should try, even if the probable outcome is failure.“
• Oprah Winfrey, founder of the Oprah Winfrey Network – “To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.“
• Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group – “To have fun in my journey through life and learn from my mistakes.“
• Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup Company – “To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and apply ethical principles to make a significant difference.“

Key takeaways

• A personal mission statement is a written statement of purpose that helps an individual clarify what is important to them.
• A personal mission statement clarifies the attributes that make up a personal brand. These attributes filter out personal or professional opportunities that are unlikely to result in fulfillment or success.
• Crafting a personal mission statement requires introspection and deep thinking. Those who find this process difficult can ask friends or family for advice. They can also take inspiration from the mission statements of successful leaders.

Main Guides:

• Business Models
• Business Strategy
• Business Development
• Distribution Channels
• Marketing Strategy
• Platform Business Models
• Network Effects

Main Case Studies:

• Amazon Business Model
• Apple Mission Statement
• Nike Mission Statement
• Amazon Mission Statement
• Apple Distribution

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