A personal mission statement is like a compass for your life: it keeps you on track and moving in the right direction. Write yours in under an hour by going through this process developed by Michelle Villalobos.

1. Developing Your Personal Mission Statement
Workshop Outline
1. Overview: 15 minutes.
a. Why are you here, what do you hope to accomplish with this? Ideas:
i. Focus
ii. Clarity
iii. Decision-making
iv. Meaning
v. Self-awareness
vi. “It’s the me I’ve always wanted to be” (Jerry Macguire)
b. "Why worry about saving minutes when you might be wasting years?" Stephen Covey
c. The iceberg analogy - work from the bottom up
i. Top: Behavior/Actions: HOW do you act?
ii. 2nd from top: WHAT do you want in your life?
iii. 3rd from top: WHAT VALUES/PRINCIPLES do you hold dear - even when things are tough?
iv. 2nd from bottom: WHY are you here? What is your PURPOSE in life?
v. Bottom: WHO are you?
d. Agree on the model
e. A useful mission statement should who you are, who you want to be, what you value, what you want
from life and an idea of what behaviors and skills you need to develop to get there.
2. IDENTITY: Who Are You? 15 minutes. Discussion.
a. What are your passions? What do you love? Think back to your childhood: what brought you
greatest joy? Exploring, learning, activity, games, other people, performing...
i. What are your natural talents (not skills)? Singing, physical prowess, art/creativity, talking to
people? Performing.
ii. What magazines intrigue you most at a newsstand? What sections or articles most catch your
attention?
b. Are there any intersections here that you can draw into an identity?
3. PURPOSE: Why Are You Here? 15 minutes. Discussion.
a. What is the purpose of your life? (keep in mind your passions & talents)
b. What would you like your obituary to say?
c. Imagine yourself 132 years old and surrounded by your descendants and/or those descendants of
your friends. You are in a warm and relaxed atmosphere (such as around a fireplace). What would
you say to them is important in life?
4. PRINCIPLES: What Do You Believe In/Value? 15 minutes. Discussion
a. What principles do you hold dear, even when things are tough?
b. What values will you not sacrifice?
c. Examples:
i. Golden rule
Copyright 2007, Mivista Consulting, Inc.
www.mivistaconsulting.com

2. ii. “When the going gets tough...”
iii. Hard work, discipline
iv. Fun, enjoyment
v. “Family first”
5. VISION: What Do You Want? 15 minutes. Discussion.
a. What does your life look like in 20 years?
i. What are you doing?
ii. What do you have?
iii. Where are you?
iv. What have you achieved?
v. What about you has changed? (i.e.: calmer, less stressed, more balance, working
independently, retired, etc...)
vi. What is your day like? Describe your ideal day. This is not about being practical. It is designed
to include as many sides of you and of your enthusiasms as possible: creative, competent,
artistic, introverted, extraverted, athletic, playful, nurturing, contemplative, etc.
6. BEHAVIOR/ACTION: How Do You Get There? 15 minutes. Discussion.
a. Thinking back to what you want your life to look like, what would you have to do to get there?
b. What behaviors will you need to change?
c. What skills will you need to develop?
7. PUT IT ALL TOGETHER:
a. I am...
b. I believe in/my purpose in life is
c. These are my principles, the values I hold dear
d. I want my life to be...
e. In order to achieve that life, I need to be/do/buy/have/develop...
8. WHAT TO DO WITH IT:
a. Carry it with you, post copies in visible places at home and work, and revise and evaluate.
b. Evaluate it: How does your mission affect the other areas of your life, like relationships, work or
activities. Is it consistent? Will it conflict with or contradict something else? Is it balanced?
c. Ask yourself if your statement gives you feel direction, motivation and inspiration when you read it.
d. After a few weeks, write another draft.
e. Over time, reviewing and evaluating will keep you on the path you set out, or show you when you
need to make adjustments
9. OTHER IDEAS:
a. Who are the people you find yourself voluntarily getting together with, again and again, for deeper
discussions? What are your deepest discussions about?
b. Like many successful organizations, gather a “board of directors” for your life
c. Ask them to meet with you once a month, once a quarter, ideally all together, to discuss your
direction
Copyright 2007, Mivista Consulting, Inc.
www.mivistaconsulting.com

3. Tips:
• Keep it simple, clear and brief. The best mission statements are only 3 to 5 sentences long.
• Make sure your mission statement is positive. Rather than saying what you don't want to do or don't
want to be, say what you do want to do or become. Find positive alternatives to negative statements.
• Make it emotional. This will make it even more compelling, inspiring and energizing.
Copyright 2007, Mivista Consulting, Inc.
www.mivistaconsulting.com