Five Steps to Creating a Powerful  Personal Mission Statement

 

There are few things that I’ve done in my life that have helped guide me and my decisions more than a personal mission statement.

I’m not talking about a lose idea rolling around in my overly-amped mind but a thought out, written down statement that describes me and my life’s direction.

 

But I struggled developing this statement not because I didn’t see the value. I struggled because I simply didn’t know how. Every method out there seemed overly complicated and non-transferable to my life and situation. Good content, simply non-transferrable. Minor detail.

So, I spent an extensive amount of time to develop a five step process to creating a powerful mission statement that I was not only proud of but would be a source of deep conviction for me and guide my life.

 

Here are Five Steps to Creating a Powerful Personal Mission Statement:

1. Understand the Purpose

Before you even consider taking the time (and it will take some precious time) to creating a mission statement, you need to know the purpose.

What is a mission? It’s a calling or assignment.

I love when I can think my mission statement is a calling first and foremost. So, if I can find a calling, a purpose, I can be called to action that is ultimately my assignment.

And in a way, it’s a secret mission or specific assignment. People don’t offer know what I’m called or assigned to do nor should they; but hopefully they will ultimately feel the effect.

Here’s a working definition of a mission statement – provides clarity and gives you a sense of purpose. It defines who you are and how you will live.

A Personal Mission Statement could be a life mission. But more than likely it’s a season of life personal mission that is revisited and tweaked every few years.

My Personal Mission Statement at the age of 25 looks dramatically different than at the age of 46 now.

The purpose should be your why. What is at stake if you do NOT accomplish your personal mission statement?

 

2. Follow the Rules

If you’re going on a specific mission, you need rules to make it happen. Here are five quick but challenging rules to help you craft your mission statement:

• Brief – one sentence and no more
• Clear – I know exactly what I’m called to do
• Positive – uses uplifting, encouraging, empowering words
• Memorable – if you can’t remember it, what’s the point?
• Motivating – powerful words to move you to action

You may choose more rules, but I suggest you implement at least these five rules.

  

3. Work the Process

 So you may be thinking, I understand the purpose and realize there are rules I need to follow, but how do I actually come up with ideas to create my personal mission statement?

This is the subjective but magical part of the program.

For me it began by asking the following key questions:

• When do you feel you help others or the world?
• What is a problem you want to help solve?
• What do you ultimately want to accomplish?
• What would leave you with a sense of fulfillment and pride if advanced or completed?
• What gives your life meaning and purpose?

I wrote down the answers to these questions and spent some time thinking about if this sums up what defines a mission – a sense of calling and a possible assignment in my life.

If you spend time in THINK SPACE, you will develop ideas that resonate with you at the deepest level and let you know you’re on to something!

This led me to the fourth step in the process.

 

4. Use the Formula

This is the structure of the statement, the secret sauce that allows you to apply the rules for a powerful statement.

Now, you do NOT have to use this formula, but I found it’s at least a good starting point to keep your sentence brief and memorable.

1^st Suggested Formula

ACTION VERB / WHO / DO or ACCOMPLISH WHAT / HOW

What does that look like with real words? Here’s my personal mission statement:

Personal Example

Helping the Motivated Grow Holistically by Creating, Communicating, and Connecting

• Action Verb – helping
• Who – the motivated
• Do or Accomplish What – grow holistically
• How – by creating, communicating, and connecting

 

2nd Suggested Formula 

To… (what you want to achieve, do, or become)… so that… (reasons why it is important). I will do this by… (specific behaviors or actions to accomplish this mission).

Here is using my mission statement with the 2^nd suggested formula:

Personal Example

To help the Motivated so they can grow holistically. I will do this by creating, communicating, and connecting.

• To – help the motivated
• So That – they can grow holistically
• I Will Do This By – creating, communicating, and connecting

I just encourage you to keep the statement simple. You want to be able to remember and recite it in a moment’s notice.

I tweaked my statement for weeks until I felt a peace with the final outcome.

I encourage you to constantly improve the statement by concentrating on each word until you ultimately feel a pace about the final sentence.

 

5. Live the Words

I absolutely loved going through these stages to creating my own personal mission statement. But it doesn’t stop here.

Your Personal Mission Statement must be reviewed consistently. I started putting it on a 3×5 card that I put on my desk and carried it with me when I traveled.

I also chose to put my Personal Mission Statement in a document called My Three Year Vision Plan which I review a portion daily along with my Personal Core Values.

You may choose the same or some other way of reminding you to live these words out in your daily life. This is the whole point of going through this process and creating this live, life giving and directing statement.

 

Complete Not Complex…

One major struggle and conflict is not trying to include EVERYTHING into the sentence, which would make it a paragraph. It’s the essence of your calling / purpose / assignment in your life right now.

And remember, the five rules:

• Brief
• Clear
• Positive
• Memorable
• Motivating

 

Closing Challenge…

So, are you ready to use these five steps to create your own powerful personal mission statement?

This is not an exercise for the faint of heart. It takes time, thought, soul searching, and a desire to make a difference with your life in a powerful way. That’s where the descriptive word of “powerful” comes in to play and not just a formality of words on a paper.

My prediction is if you’ve read this far, you’re motivated to take this challenge and follow the five steps necessary to creating this life changing statement:

• Understand the Purpose
• Follow the Rules
• Work the Process
• Use the Formula
• Live the Words

I would absolutely love to hear your final personal mission statement. If you have any questions or would like to share your statement with me, please email me at: Bryan@BryanPaulBuckley.com

My hope and desire is this process will be revealing and a catalyst to living a life of purpose. Find your mission and accomplish it!

 

Closing Question…

What is holding you back from taking the necessary time to creating this life changing statement?

 

Are You Reading More Than the Average Professional?

Three Things You Need To Find with Reading

 

I’m absolutely amazed at one thing I find over and over with professionals. You would think because of their education this would happen more often but it simply rarely happens.

And the excuses. Oh, the excuses! They sound like a kid who didn’t get their homework done. To them, they sound valid but to the teacher, simply unrealistic and weak.

Maybe it’s the busyness of life. But we’re all busy.

Most professionals simply don’t read anymore. I’m not talking about emails, texts, presentations, and words on social media or tv.

I mean a good old fashioned book, ebook, or a document with substance.

There are two things that usually surprise people about me (210 lb guy into nutrition and sports)

1. I play the piano (college minor degree)

2. I absolutely love to read

It goes to show that you just never know when you’ll come across a reader.  Anyone can do it. Even a health-conscious sports guy.

This post isn’t discussing the value in reading. That should be a given. My angle is how to make it happen if it’s not a regular and consistent part of your routine.

But how? Life is so busy. 

Here are three things you need to find with reading…

1. FIND the TIME

As educated as most professionals are, we still fall for the belief of these four words, “when I have time”.

Has it ever happened? We fill our time with the things that matter to us. There is never extra. (imagine that)

We simply need to find time to read. It’s there. You just have to look at the rhythm of your life and make wise decisions.

I really didn’t start reading until ironically AFTER college. My first job had the team read one book a month and discuss it. I found myself needing to be forced to read but it ultimately created a hunger for reading.

After four years at this job and this monthly rhythm, I was hooked. There’s rarely a day that goes by that I don’t take at least a few minutes to read. Most of the time it’s a minimum of 30 minutes and often twice a day.

James Clear writes a great post on How I Read More: The Simple System I’m Using to Read 30+ Books a Year.

So, here are some suggestions:

• If you drive more than just a few minutes, start listening and turning your vehicle into a mobile classroom. Use audiobooks as your means of using your time wisely. (check out: Audible)

• Choose a realistic amount of time to get started. Pick just 10 minutes and schedule the time so it’s not something you “hope” to get to within your day.

• Look for the most ideal time in your day that you would enjoy this few minutes to read. I listen to an audiobook in my morning 30 minute run or bike time then 30 minutes in the evening after the kids go to bed and before the tv comes on every night. (note: usually two different books and subjects)

The point is make it a priority to find the time, just 10 minutes of time to implement this new habit.

2. FIND the SUBJECT

I’ve found that one of the biggest reasons people stopped reading beyond not having time is not finding something they like to read.

After you’ve found the time, you now need to find the subject you like to read. Fiction or nonfiction? History? Biographies? There are SO many options.

I regularly search for new books in two ways:

• Barnes-N-Noble – nothing beats walking into a bookstore with all of the subjects right there in front of you and a ton of books right there to peak my interest. I’ll find the sections that interest me the most (Business / Leadership / Health / Christian Growth / Self-Improvement) then get out my phone and take pictures of the covers.I usually grab about a half dozen books, find a chair, put my headphones on, and find the ones that really interest me. I then search my local public library’s vast database and often find most of the books there. The ones I really like, I buy off Amazon in print or ebook.

• iTunes / Amazon – I also look at the book section online to see what’s new. iBooks or the Kindle store on Amazon will not only have new options but also tracks my clicks and interests. (kinda cool and spooky)

Once you find the subject, you’ll be completely amazed at how many options you’ll have in a matter of minutes. I absolutely love searching for new books. Crazy, huh?!

3. FIND the GROWTH

We find time for the things that matter most to us. And if we could find the subjects that already interest us, we cannot help but find the growth. It’s a natural by-product.

Do you realize that a subject you enjoy can lead to a stress release by escaping for a few minutes into a book? Added bonus at no additional charge.

It can also lead to confidence. You have something of value to add.

I love usually being the most read person in the room. I’m confident in referencing something I’ve read and not offering a mere opinion only.  This comes from growth.

Nothing beats a rare conversation that switches from mere weather, jobs, and sports to what you’re learning from reading. How would you do? Could you contribute or would you have to quote tv or movie lines instead?

Growth really increases when you begin reviewing and tracking what you’ve been reading. There’s nobody better than Jonathan Milligan in this area. He’s written on how he daily, weekly, and monthly reviews his past books and how he does it. Love this process! Check out these awesome posts:

Read. Review. Recall. A Simple Book Review System

And if you really want a challenge…

How to Read One Book a Week for a Year

Closing Challenge…

You’ve probably heard the phrase “leaders are readers”. Catchy and true. But the same should be true with professionals especially motivated, busy professionals.

Are you reading more than the average professional? Has this content challenged you? Should you be reading something on a consistent basis? Don’t worry about finishing a book in a week right now. But how about a month?

Start today. Read at least ten minutes. Get on Amazon or iTunes for iBooks. Visit Barnes-N-Noble.

Do something. Make a commitment. I promise you won’t regret it. You will be the rare motivated busy professional who can and does actually read!

Closing Question…

What do you need to do today to begin the process of becoming a consistent reader?

The Biggest Daily Lie I Tell Myself

Three Challenging Reasons Why Something, Anything Is Better Than Nothing

 

So, I have a plan for my day but somehow it goes sideways.

I know that I need to get a workout in and even planned a time but for circumstances beyond my control (or at least I tell myself that), I’m at the place of asking this question.

Now, it’s not like I’ve never asked this question and ironically, it’s a question that has the same answer every time. Yet I ask it like it’s brand new to me.

Here’s the question:

“Do I have time to workout?”

 But here’s the point. It ALWAYS leads to a lie that creeps in every single time. Ready for it:

“IF I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR A FULL WORKOUT, DON’T WORKOUT AT ALL. IT’S NOT WORTH IT.”

Do you hear it’s subtleties and persuasive tone? And sadly, too many times I all for the lie. I actually want to believe the lie some days. I rationalize how much time it’s going to take to get to the gym, or get changed, warm up (which I rarely ever do but count it as one more excuse).

But here’s the truth, “SOMETHING, ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING” when it comes to working out!

And Here are Three Challenging Reasons Why Something, Anything Is Better Than Nothing:

 

1. MINDSET

The more serious I become about fitness and getting into great shape, the more important my mindset becomes in making healthy choices in this area.

Here is my current mindset: I’ll take what I can get and make the absolute most of it!

It’s changed from looking for excuses to get out of a workout to looking for reasons to actually workout!

Did you catch the difference? It was the mindset. One was MAXIMIZING and one was MINIMIZING.

My mind is my biggest challenge, even more than time, soreness, or simply just being tired. If I can convince my mind to “show up”, most of the battle is fought with my body.

 

2. ROUTINE

I’m a routine person in certain areas of my life. I absolutely love variety and creativity but not in my workout schedule. I thrive on CONSISTENCY.

And here’s a secret my mind has not figured out: it doesn’t remember if I spent 15 minutes or 45 minutes working out. It just remembers that I worked out yesterday which makes it easier to workout today and not justify skipping because I missed yesterday.

And EVERY SINGLE TIME I show up to workout for “just a few minutes”, I not only stay longer but often have a better workout. Imagine that.

Absolutely use this psychology to your advantage. Have the right mindset that “something, anything is better than nothing to start then play the consistency card and lock in that routine.

 

3. NUTRITION

EVEN if I only work out for a few minutes, I have FAR LESS of a chance to be lazy on my food choices the remainder of the day. I feel better about myself and as a result, want to keep that momentum going.

Now, if I’ve believed the biggest lie, that if I don’t have enough time for a full workout, don’t workout at all… it has a domino effect and I easily justify poor eating choices.

If my workout is in the morning, my lunch is ALWAYS healthy. If I workout in the late afternoon, my dinner is ALWAYS healthy. Crazy how that works, huh?

And here is when the key is just showing up. Don’t believe the biggest daily lie that wants to take down both your fitness and your nutrition. Check out the post on the Direct Correlation Between Nutrition and Fitness here.

Here’s the SIMPLE POINT for me:

[tweetthis]Some of my best workouts are when I’m pressed for time. I’m more focused & motivated because every minute counts. [/tweetthis]

 

ADVICE AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE:

Plan ahead and think through your day to determine two decisions:

• When you CAN / WILL find time for a workout
• What you will do with those precious few minutes

Often, I know when my day is going sideways and there is little to nothing I can do about it. But I also know when I could find time to “sneak in” a quick workout. Plan ahead.

For example, when I’m traveling, I don’t always have control of how early my morning begins like I do when I’m at home. So, I have a couple of options:

1. Sneak in an AB workout in my hotel room

2. Look for margin within my day which is usually after the day and before dinner

Now, if I choose #1, it’s only 10-15 minutes (currently Insanity Max:30 ab workouts) and I definitely eat a healthier breakfast AND more likely to do #2 and MAKE time later in the day for a workout.

It simply goes back to Mindset, committing to your Routine, and letting the Big Mo of Nutrition drive it home.

 

CLOSING QUESTION:

Assuming I’m not the only one who struggles in this area of fitness…

 How do you handle this lie each day?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do You Have It?

Three Foundational Reasons to Live a Life of Purpose

 

So many people just simply don’t IT.

They think they do. They may even fake they do, but the reality is they don’t have IT.

Some people go through their entire lives and find out at the end they didn’t have IT and as a result feel like they wasted their entire lives.

How could someone live their life and even see that other people have IT yet still never find IT themselves?

IT ironically will look different for each person but the reality is in the end, IT has common characteristics to anyone who has IT.

So, What is IT?

IT can be defined in just seven letters: P U R P O S E

The definition of Purpose is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”

 

My simplified definition of Purpose is as follows:

“Doing something bigger than me or living for something bigger than myself”

 

Living with purpose is bigger than money, power, or prestige. So many thought that was their purpose but when they achieved IT, they found themselves hollow and left wanting more.

IT was NOT what they had thought or hoped it would be and often SO much valuable time was lost that will never be regained.

There are countless stories of people who go through life assuming IT was one thing and found out IT was something completely different. Let me give you an example.

 

IT IS OBVIOUS WHEN YOU SEE IT

Most days I don’t run across someone with Purpose. Its just business as usual. But when I meet someone with purpose, I am drawn to him or her.

The irony is they don’t have to announce to me “I have Purpose”. Why? It’s just evident in everything they do and they way they approach life.

I may not even understood or agree with their Purpose but I instantly respect IT.

 

There are three foundational reasons to live a life of Purpose:

1. Purpose Gives Life Meaning – Why I’m Here

Mark Twain was once quoted for saying, “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you found out why.”

[tweetthis]Life must have meaning. Too many people walk around on a self-imposed life sentence just doing their time. – Bryan Paul Buckley[/tweetthis]

Is this you? Do you know why you’re here and does your purpose give your life meaning?

 

2. Purpose Gives Life Direction – Where I’m Heading

Once I know the why, I know where I am headed. Most people have little to no direction in their lives.

They simply log another day in the books, saying “thank God it’s Friday” then “oh God, its Monday.”

This is language of someone who lives his or her life without direction. If you had a direction you were heading, you would have the motivation to live life with purpose.

 

3. Purpose Gives Life Focus – What I Should Be Doing

When I know why I’m here (meaning) and where I’m heading (direction) then I will know EXACTLY what I should be doing (focus).

This will unfold the rare gift of clarity and will affect everything else in your life most specifically, how you should use your time.

The guesswork and meandering through your days are gone. There is no longer time to waste. You have a purpose and you are compelled to accomplish IT.

 

Closing Thoughts

The sad part is just how many people use SEVEN LETTERS to describe their lives:

S U R V I V E

 I believe most people would not readily offer that as their actual life purpose but their day-to-day behavior and decisions point to that as simply surviving.

You can hear it in their language:

• Just trying to make it through the day
• Can’t wait for the weekend
• What’s the point anyway?

 Question and answer with complete honesty:

So, where are you in this process? Do you have IT yet? Are you fulfilled right now in this place in your life? If not, do not lose heart.

If you’re a motivated busy professional, you have the desire and motivation to make the necessary changes in your life to make a difference.

What if you had a true and clearly defined purpose to guide your life? I mean intentionally guide your life.

I hope this challenges you to begin thinking about finding IT and changing your seven words from merely S U R V I V E to P U R P O S E.

In future Purpose posts, I plan to unpack each one of the three main reasons to live a life of purpose but wanted to give you something to think about right now.

 

Closing Question:

What is your IT in your life right now…?