The Path You Take: The Path You Take: Developing a Mission Developing a Mission

StatementStatement

Seven Counties ServicesSeven Counties Services

May 12, 2011May 12, 2011

Shannon D. Staten

University of Louisville

sdstat01@louisville.edu

Why have a mission Why have a mission statement?statement?

►Help you make decisions at work and at Help you make decisions at work and at homehome

►Harness you to what is trueHarness you to what is true

►Cut away what is false or less importantCut away what is false or less important

►Serve as career insurance, the job Serve as career insurance, the job becomes the means rather than the end becomes the means rather than the end or side tripor side trip

““If one advances confidently in If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and the direction of his dreams and endeavors to lead a life which endeavors to lead a life which he has imagined, he will meet he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in with success unexpected in

common hours.” common hours.”

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Pay It ForwardPay It Forward

In Pursuit of In Pursuit of HappynessHappyness

Past InfluencesPast Influences

““Nothing affects the environment of a child Nothing affects the environment of a child so much as the unlived life of a parent.” so much as the unlived life of a parent.”

Carl JungCarl Jung

Past InfluencesPast Influences

ValuesValues

Values: something of great Values: something of great importance.importance.

According to the According to the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus,Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus,

1996 Edition 1996 Edition

“ “the worth or desirability of a thing, the worth or desirability of a thing, or the qualities on which these or the qualities on which these

depend”.depend”.

PrinciplesPrinciples

Differ from Values in that they are Differ from Values in that they are the guidelines for human conduct the guidelines for human conduct

that reflect that valuethat reflect that value

The The Oxford Dictionary and Oxford Dictionary and ThesaurusThesaurus defines principles as defines principles as

““a personal code of conduct”.a personal code of conduct”.

Present Gifts and TalentsPresent Gifts and Talents

►Skills or strengths that have been developedSkills or strengths that have been developed

►Skills or strengths that seem to come Skills or strengths that seem to come

naturallynaturally

Values and PrinciplesValues and Principles

►What excites you?What excites you?

►What motivates you?What motivates you?

Take ActionTake Action

►Do you prefer to:Do you prefer to:

RoadblocksRoadblocks

What self habits slow What self habits slow you down?you down?

Purpose or ProjectsPurpose or Projects

►What stories in the news tend to draw What stories in the news tend to draw

your attention?your attention?

►Where do you spend your voluntary time?Where do you spend your voluntary time?

►What keeps you in the job?What keeps you in the job?

What do you Stand for?What do you Stand for?

To have a true mission that To have a true mission that encompasses your life, your career, encompasses your life, your career, your dreams, and your talents, you your dreams, and your talents, you

must be able to identify the key word must be able to identify the key word or phrase at the center of your soul. or phrase at the center of your soul.

What is the one thing that you What is the one thing that you believe the strongest about?believe the strongest about?

Pulling it togetherPulling it together

►Fulfilling life statementFulfilling life statement

►Mission statementMission statement

My personal mission is to use my My personal mission is to use my unique talents of __________ and unique talents of __________ and

____________________to ____________ and ___________to ____________ and ___________as I honor the importance ofas I honor the importance of____________ and _______________________ and ___________

for ____________ and ____________.for ____________ and ____________.