The Walking Leader’s 5 Step Guide to creating your Personal Mission Statement
If someone asked you what drives you, could you answer in one clear sentence?
Now, I am not talking about a corporate-sounding sentence that collects dust in a drawer or looks pretty on the corporate letterhead but is quickly relegated to the background, the scenery. The Personal Mission Statement that I am talking about is a living, breathing declaration of who YOU are, what YOU stand for, and how YOU are going to show up every day.
In the following paragraphs, I will walk you through why your mission statement is the most powerful leadership tool you can carry because when you know exactly what drives you, decision-making gets clearer, distractions lose their power, and your path forward becomes undeniable.
So, let us start. Let us craft a personal mission statement that does not just inspire you, it drives you.
What is a personal mission statement?
Think of a personal mission statement like your North Star. A short, powerful sentence that captures your values, your purpose, and your vision for life. It is the statement you can come back to when you are faced with a big decision or when life throws you a curveball.
Here is the thing: without a personal mission statement, we risk drifting or going off course. We then make choices based on convenience, or what other people want, instead of what truly aligns with who we are. But with it? Every step you take has direction.
When I first started my walking in leadership, I did not have a personal mission statement. I made decisions reactively, sometimes chasing opportunities that looked good but did not really fit my long-term purpose. Once I took the time to write my own personal mission statement, everything changed. It became my filter. If an opportunity did not align with my mission, it was an easy “no.” And if it did? It was a confident “YES.”
That is the kind of clarity we are talking about here.
Now, time to shift gears and get practical.
Now, let us walk through the simple, step-by-step framework you can use to craft your own. No fluff, no over-complication just a clear process that will help you capture your values, your vision, and your purpose in a way that speaks directly to you.
So, grab that notebook, open your notes app, or just keep these ideas in mind for later because this is where your mission statement starts to take shape.
STEP 1: IDENTIFY YOUR CORE VALUES
Your values are the foundation they are the principles you stand for no matter what. To uncover them, ask yourself: What qualities do I admire most in others? What makes me proud of my own behavior? What do I want my kids, friends, or team to always know about me?
Make the list of your top ten values.
Circle three to five that feel like your non-negotiables.
STEP 2: CLARIFY YOUR PURPOSE AND VISION
This is your “why” and your “where.” Why do you do what you do? What do you want your life to represent? And when you picture yourself at the end of your life, looking back, what would you want people to say about you?
STEP 3: DRAFT YOUR STATEMENT
Now, take those values and your vision and put them into a short, memorable sentence. Something like:
“To lead with integrity, inspire growth in others, and live a life of curiosity and compassion.”
or
“To challenge myself daily, serve my community with respect, and leave every place better than I found it.”
or
“Be a better human being”
STEP 4: REFINE IT
You want it short enough to remember, but rich enough to inspire you. Keep it personal this is for you, not for public approval.
STEP 5: LIVE IT
Print it out. Make it your phone lock screen. Put it on your bathroom mirror. Read it every morning until it becomes second nature. The mission statement is powerful when it moves from being just words to being the way you act.
COMMON PITFALLS
When people write personal mission statements, I have seen a few common pitfalls, I should know I have fallen into some of theses, a time or two:
- Being too vague. If your statement could apply to anyone, it is not personal enough.
- Trying to sound impressive. This isn’t a resume it’s your compass. Write it in words that sound like you.
- Treating it as set in stone. You will grow, your circumstances will change, and your mission can evolve. That is a good thing.
Your mission statement is not a document to hide away it is meant to be lived. Keep it visible. Refer to it when you are making choices. Share it with people you trust so they can hold you accountable.
I keep mine in my journal and on my phone. And on tough days, I read it before I make any big decisions it keeps me grounded and reminds me of the bigger picture.
DAVE’S CHALLENGE
Before the day ends, block out 15 minutes. No phone, no distractions just you, a pen, and a blank page. Start answering the questions: What do I value most? Who do I want to become? How do I want to be remembered? From there, craft the statement that will drive you forward.
And as an added bonus, I have a downloadable PDF just for you.
Click here to download the Walkign Leader Podcast Episode 321 Companion with its three questions that you can print and use to create your Personal Mission Statement.
ALWAYS REMEMBER & NEVER FORGET
Self-leadership is not built in one big leap; it is strengthened step by step, decision by decision. And your mission statement is your guide for every step ahead.
-Dave