Write A Mission Statement
The 2nd V - Vision

When you write a mission statement, you are creating a constitution for the world of you. Exciting, yes. Trepidation, yes. Gratifying - a resounding yes! Professional sales people review their mission statement daily. It is their compass for a gratifying life - work, family, spiritual, personal! It is their pathway to success.

In the book, Second Acts, the authors quote Margaret Young, "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they really want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."

To write a mission statement, start with Values. They are the essence of who you are. Completing a Value self-assessment will answer questions such as "Who am I?", "What excites me?", "What stresses me?", "What is it about me that I admire?", "What behaviors are not pleasing?", and more. A healthy self-diagnosis reveals the roots from which you build your Vision statements.

When you write a mission statement, Vision is the proclamation describing a core Value. For example, lets say a core Value is "Well Being". The Vision statement might be "To respect my mental, physical self".

Vision statements generally start with the word "To". Vision gives direction. It is the desired result. Vision is the destination. It is a brief statement of what the Value means. And, Vision statements are personal. It is not uncommon for people you associate with, close confidants, to have similar Values. Yet, within this group, each would write a mission statement framed in a word picture specific to her/his desired outcome for a Value. In a corporate setting all members share in and focus on a common mission statement. On an individual basis, even in a family unit, there may be similarities in Values but the emphasis will be different.

Here is another example of a Value with its associated Vision statement.
Value: Work
Vision: To be a positive role model, inspire others, earn income for family needs, retirement

For the writer, "Work" clearly has a purpose. Odd isn't it that many people look on work as a necessary evil, something that one needs to do to get by, to survive, a drudgery of life. However, in this light, there is a definite personal purpose for working. There is a reason to leave home each day. That is what separates high income sales professionals from the rank and file. They have identified their Values. They have decided what outcome, Vision, each value represents. They have discovered that being confident in this builds self-esteem. And, when you believe in yourself, living a brilliant life is the natural progression.

John Hagee, in his book the Seven Secrets, pens it this way, "Realizing your goals and dreams - success - begins with self-esteem... No matter what has happened in your life, you are not 'a complete failure'. You are not 'a total washout'. You are not what other people may say you are." When you write a mission statement, you start with a clean page. Last decade, last year, last month, last week, yesterday, an hour, a minute ago is gone. Start fresh - but do start.

The third V is Validation. V number two is Vision. The first V is Values.

Imagine you are planning a trip. The answer to what to pack depends on the purpose of the trip. Romantic get-away? Sales conference? Family outing? Heading across the country to pay final respects to a friend? Values are the gut wrenching, right-from-wrong beliefs that always accompany you. Vision is the word picture describing what you desire your core Values to look like. Validation are the mile markers as your journey toward the Vision for each core Value. On any journey, sign posts are essential to ensure you are going in the right direction. When you write a mission statement, you also need markers to keep you on track.

An ancient proverb says, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step." So it is also when you write a mission statement. It starts with the first character on a fresh sheet of paper. It starts with acceptance that anyone can have a brilliant life. Anyone, that is, who understands the journey starts with him or herself. It is an inward expedition with an outward result. The adventure continues - Validation is next....

Remember: Nothing happens until someone sells something.

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