Most churches have mission statements. Corporations and businesses have mission statements. Mission statements are meant to infuse an organization with long-term vision and set the tone for all company goals, accomplishments and efforts. So, what’s a mission statement?
What is a Mission Statement
A mission statement acts as an invisible hand that guides the people in the organization. It explains the organization’s reason for being, and answers the question, “What business are we in?” However, a personal mission statement is different. And there’s a scene from the movie Selma illustrates the power of having a personal mission statement.
The scene takes place in the social hall of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama. Two Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee college students are being taken to task by Southern Christian Leadership Conference leader Reverend C.T. Vivian as Coretta Scott King looks on. And then a voice from the back of the room speaks. “That’s enough,” reprimands Martin Luther King Jr. “Enough of this, now. I don’t have time for this. None of us got the time for this. The way our organization works is simple:
We negotiate, we demonstrate, we resist.
We raise white consciousness. And in particular, the consciousness of whichever white man happens to be sitting in the Oval Office.”
Why You Should Have a Personal Mission Statement
Your personal mission statement is a bit different from a business mission statement, but the fundamental principles would be the same. Having a personal mission statement does 2 things:
- A personal mission statement provides clarity and gives you a sense of purpose.
- It defines who you are and how you will live.
Composing a personal mission statement offers the chance to build focus on what’s important and stick to it. The purpose is to create an end goal, an image of oneself at their very best. Steven Covey in First Things First refers to developing a mission statement as “connecting with your own unique purpose and the profound satisfaction that comes from fulfilling it.” If you don’t have a personal mission statement, please carve out time and draft one. You can use this tool and create your personal mission statement.
Remember, our personal mission statement should be as clear as MLK’s…We negotiate. We demonstrate. We resist.
