What is your mission statement?

If you’ve worked for a large company, a small company, a non-profit, you’ve worked for an organization on a stated mission. The mission statement tells all the internal and external stakeholders of that organization why it exists. Its purpose. Something about the compass heading directing the path of the organization. When it is well conceived and well written, it serves as the conscience of the employees. It helps them make decisions, big and small, on a daily basis. Sometimes they are written on the back of business cards, as a constant reminder of that mission.

Often, the mission statement is less powerful. Less compelling. These declarations are merely generic wordsmithing of mission statements written by other companies. They have a less collaborative foundation reflecting the values and objectives of the organization. They sound nice, but don’t inspire actions and decisions of the employees. In these organizations, employees are less likely even to know or be able to repeat the mission statement.

About 15 years ago, I was at a career crossroads. I was a solid performer in the company I worked for. Some thought I had potential. I certainly thought I was cut out for bigger things. But, I had just competed for a big promotion and came in second to the successful candidate. I had made a complete effort, gone all in on my attempt. I had clearly impressed the panel through several rounds of interviews. I had effectively introduced myself to senior leadership. But, I came up short. I was quite disappointed. Devastated.

For a few months, I pretty much dragged myself to work each day, and grinded my way through my daily tasks. I took care of business, my team, my customers, and my family. But there was a spark missing. Was this it? Did I just stamp my personal brand as limited to how I was presently defined by others? Did my career just change into a job?

At that time I was introduced to a person named Deborah. Deborah worked for our company in the continuous learning function. I was given the opportunity to work with Deborah on my own development and she became my personal coach. It turned out that I had made a good enough impression on the hiring team that they thought further development of my skills would be a good thing for me and for the company. A glimmer of light for me. Maybe my career was still a thing.

Deborah and I spent a lot of time surfacing my strengths and my opportunities for improvement. Rather than trying to fix my weaknesses, we focused on tweaking some of those, but mostly worked on accentuating my strengths as a means to increase my effectiveness as a rising leader. We talked more about values than skills. Credibility. Authenticity. Engagement with my team. It was very enlightening and constructive. Confidence was on the rise.

At some point in the process, Deborah hit me with the big question. Why are you here? Not here as in the company. Why are you on the planet? What is your purpose? Why do you matter? What is your mission?

That was big. Bigger than my current situation, my career, my desire for a promotion and for more success. I may have thought about it before, but never in such a consequential manner. I had to answer these questions. There was no turning back.

Deborah and I embarked on a process, which she facilitated beautifully, that led me to the answer. We considered my values. Lessons I had previously learned and what those told me about myself. Good and bad. Times that I soared and times that I stumbled. Decisions I had made. Mistakes. Successes.

We constructed a map that led me to a deeper understanding of myself and my purpose in the world. We constructed a personal mission statement that I have adopted and held closely for 15 years:

“I am committed to my personal journey of enhancing the lives of others, through being my best, and sharing myself.”

It seems like a simple statement. Every word matters and we took great effort to choose each one. For 15 years this has been my guide. My moral compass. Each year I take time to review it, to see if it needs changing, tweaking. Every year for 15 years I have left it just as we originally wrote it. Since I authored my mission statement, I stopped thinking about promotions and politicking and climbing ladders. I think about making decisions in alignment with my mission, about doing the “right” thing, for me. I let the other stuff take care of itself.

My mission statement helps me make decisions. Every day. Big decisions and small decisions. Am I behaving right now, in this moment, according to my stated mission? It is incredibly empowering and comforting to be able to fall back on this core principle no matter what situation I find myself in.

Sometimes I slip, but then, it’s a journey. My next choice gives me a chance to get back on track and in alignment with my mission.

Are you on a mission? How do you make decisions? Have you established a compass, a moral code for yourself? Something that can help you navigate an increasingly complex and risky world? It’s a liberating thing to know why you’re on the planet and what you stand for.

It’s also your brand. Define it for yourself and own it.

Get on your mission.

Lead well.

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