Personal Mission Statement

If you are working for a large or (even a small) corporation; you have probably seen a “Company Mission Statement”. Typically mission statements encompass the values of a company—what they stand for and what their goals and direction are.

Not many of us have seen or created a “Personal Mission Statement” but we all should. How wonderful and helpful to have a short paragraph to guide us in our careers; keep us moving forward and on track.

A personal mission statement should be brief. Three to five sentences are sufficient. Tack it up on your computer; save it on your iPhone, stick on your refrigerator. Your mission statement is meant to guide you in your day-to-day activities and help you meet your goals. A mission statement is just as useful for job seekers as it is for those who are happily employed. Your statement should:

·      Serve as a “GPS” for your career and life choices

·      Set the stage for what you want to focus on and who/what you want to become in this stage of your career

·      Be authentic and sound like “you”

Sample Personal Mission Statements

OPRAH WINFREY:

·       "To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be."

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."

SIR RICHARD BRANSON, FOUNDER OF THE VIRGIN GROUP

·       "To have fun in [my] journey through life and learn from [my] mistakes."

Learning how to build your personal brand is critical for everyone-- whether you are happily employed or a job seeker.  When building your brand, it’s important to:

·      Do your own personal public relations

·      Become a thought leader/develop relationships with experts

·      Utilize social media to build and communicate your brand

·      Be the “go to” person in your company for something --this helps you stand out