Translating Inner Purpose Into An Authentic Mission Statement

"More men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent"
- Billy Sunday

I recently submitted an article to Buzzle.com on connecting with inner purpose to write your mission statement. If you are not clear about your purpose or need to reconnect, here are some steps to help you reflect on your past, present, and future to arrive at what is important to you.

Step 1) Make a list of activities you have participated in the past that you felt most inspired to do so at the time.

Step 2) List people who inspire you and what are the qualities in these people that inspire you

Step 3) Think of the challenges in your life that have impacted you profoundly – what did you learn from those challenges?

Step 4) What are you naturally curious about?

Step 5) Make a list of things that you enjoy doing most. These could be related to your work or not.

Step 6) What characteristics or traits do you love most about yourself?

Step 7) What is the one change you would like to see in this world?

Step 8) If money and any other limitations were not a problem, what work would you dedicate yourself to?

Step 9) How do you want to be remembered?

Using the answers to the above questions, identify words and phrases that stand out and see themes emerging across your answers. From the emerging patterns connect with your inner purpose and use that to write your mission statement.

An authentic mission statement has five parts:

1) Your core purpose - the overall mission
2) How you will achieve your purpose - your products and services
3) Who you will benefit - your target market
4) How you will benefit them - specific benefits you provide
5) What is unique about you - your core competencies that make you unique

If you would like further details about each of the points above, you can access my full article at Buzzle.com