The Mission

Creating the Mission

Sometimes, learning something the hard way is the best way to learn. I have shared with you what I believe to be my core purpose and that is to coach, teach and lead. Through this effort, I have come to realize the need for a clear personal mission. This was the focus of my first book in this series Enhanced Life Performance. What then of the corporate world, Is it any different?

I grew up during the technology boom, so at first, I thought all this hoo-hah about Mission, Vision and Values was something for those liberal west coast companies and had nothing to do with actually “Getting Stuff Done!” After all, everyone at MY company, Vista Information Systems knew exactly what was expected and what we were trying to accomplish as an organization …  Right? WRONG!

I was so wrong on this one, and it undoubtedly delayed the massive growth we eventually experienced. Our eventual transaction to a private equity buyer, would have never happened if we did not take the time to document and deliberately adopt and execute on the reason we existed. The more I have worked with organizations in consulting engagements, the more I realized that trends of departmental confusion and multi-directional goals seemed to be more normal than I expected. It seemed easier to expose in the companies that had not gone through the exercise of establishing a clear mission and vision.

Your company’s mission and vision are not the same thing and people may become confused if you are not completely clear on this subject. The best way to look at this is to simply categorize the mission as the purpose your organization is trying to fulfill and the vision as your aspirational outcome or future state. This vision is more of the influence you want your organization to have on stakeholders and the world.  The most important considerations when writing a good mission or vision statement is to be concise, clear, and the statements should create stability. All too often the mission and vision statements are littered with industry buzz words and it never really conveys the message or rallying point for your organization.

This should work for you personally as well, Yes, you should indeed have a personal mission statement. In fact, I would argue that just a mission is not enough. Consider the following:

I have my Core Purpose or Mission written below along with my Epitaph. At our Enhanced Life Performance seminars we help you create this. Read the following

Core Purpose (Mission Statement): Through the sweat of my brow, the God given gift of my mind and the foundations of my faith, I want to be the best father, husband, friend and man that I can be. The world has far too few real men left and I choose to do the difficult task when others choose easy. I choose to stay late when others leave early, and I choose to take responsibility when others cower. Knowing that I have done everything in my power on earth to stand before God with a clear conscience, fulfilled heart and satisfied mind will sustain my longest days and saddest moments. I will die fulfilled, having left a legacy for others to hear about and read of, and my death will be met with triumph, victory, and with curiosity of the things to come in paradise!

Epitaph: I will stand before God knowing I have done all that I can!

Family’s Statement (what my family will say about me): No matter what the situation, Pops was always willing to give of his spiritual, physical, or mental strength, to make us stronger to get through what we once thought was insurmountable. God makes all things possible, Pops made us aware that nothing is impossible through God. 

Stranger Statement (what strangers will say about me): By placing an extremely high value on execution, it is apparent that coaching and teaching is his gift, and he chooses to use it in a manner that makes others believe in themselves even when they believed in nothing.

T-Shirt slogan: Civilize the mind! Make Savage the Body!

In conclusion, consider only that you can’t get where you are going in business or personal unless you know where you are headed, know how you will get there and clearly define how you will behave as you execute