effective personal mission statement

How to Write a Personal Mission Statement (20 Examples)

By Status.net Editorial Team on May 3, 2023 — 6 minutes to read

How to Write a Personal Mission Statement: 20 Inspiring Examples

A personal mission statement is a declaration of your guiding principles, goals, and aspirations in life. It helps you articulate your purpose, clarify your values, and make better decisions, both personally and professionally.

Having a personal mission statement is important for staying grounded and focused, especially when faced with difficult choices or setbacks in your life. By clearly defining your mission, you can:

• Gain a sense of direction
• Set priorities
• Align actions with core values
• Improve decision-making
• Motivate yourself
• Enhance personal growth and development

Key Components

In order to craft an effective personal mission statement, it’s important to consider three key components:

• Purpose: Reflect on your passions, what motivates you, and what you believe you were meant to do in this world.
• Core values: What are the principles that govern your behavior and decision-making? Think about the qualities you value most, such as integrity, kindness, or perseverance. Learn more: Core Values List: 150+ Awesome Examples of Personal Values
• Goals: What do you hope to achieve in life, both personally and professionally? Determine what kind of impact you want to make in the world and set specific, measurable objectives that will help you reach that goal.

As you work on these components, be honest with yourself and choose elements that truly resonate with you, rather than adopting someone else’s beliefs or expectations. If your mission statement reflects your authentic self, it will be a far more effective tool for personal growth and fulfillment.

Creating Your Personal Mission Statement

Identifying your values.

Understanding your core values is essential in creating a personal mission statement. These values should reflect what is most important to you, and they will be the foundation of your mission statement. To help you identify your values, consider the following steps:

• Reflect on your past experiences and the values that were demonstrated in those situations.
• Ask yourself what values you hold most dear and which ones guide your decisions.

Learn more: Core Values List: 150+ Awesome Examples of Personal Values

Once you have a list of potential values, narrow it down to the top 3-5 that resonate with you the most. These will serve as the basis for your personal mission statement.

Setting Your Goals

Now that you have identified your values, it’s time to set your personal and professional goals. These goals should align with your values and form the framework of your mission statement. Here are some steps to assist you in setting your goals:

• Break your life into categories (such as career, relationships, and personal growth).
• Consider both short-term and long-term goals within each category.
• Be specific and realistic about what you want to achieve.

With clearly defined goals, you will be better equipped to create a mission statement that is focused and actionable.

Writing Your Statement

Now that you have defined your values and goals, you can begin crafting your personal mission statement. Keep the following tips in mind while writing your statement:

• Begin with a powerful opening sentence that encapsulates your values and aspirations.
• Be clear in expressing your goals and how they align with your values.
• Write in the present tense and use positive language to project confidence.

Your personal mission statement should be a reflection of who you are and what you hope to achieve. Revise and refine your statement until you feel it accurately represents your values, goals, and aspirations.

Examples of Personal Mission Statements

In this section, you’ll find a variety of personal mission statement examples tailored to different roles, lifestyles, and aspirations. Take inspiration from these examples and use them as a starting point for your own unique mission statement.

Example 1: Student

As a student, your mission might be to excel academically and develop meaningful relationships. Example: “To achieve academic excellence, cultivate lifelong friendships, and make a positive impact on my university community.”

Example 2: Career Professional

Your mission as a career professional could be to advance in your industry, exemplify integrity, and balance work and personal life. Example: “To grow professionally, maintain a high level of integrity, and achieve a healthy work-life balance.”

Example 3: Parent

As a parent, your mission could be to nurture, teach, and support your children, preparing them for the future. Example: “To provide a loving, enriching environment for my children, empowering them with the tools to succeed and grow.”

Example 4: Retiree

Your mission as a retiree can be to enjoy your golden years, staying healthy, and remaining active in your community. Example: “To maintain my health, engage in fulfilling hobbies, and contribute positively to my community.”

Example 5: Entrepreneur

“To create innovative solutions and provide exceptional value to my customers and my community.”

Example 6: Freelancer

“To deliver outstanding work to my clients while maintaining flexibility and work-life balance.”

Example 7: Community Volunteer

“To dedicate my time and skills to causes that make a meaningful impact in my community.”

Example 8: Environmentalist

“To contribute to a sustainable future through conscious choices and meaningful actions.”

Example 9: Artist

“To express my creativity, tell compelling stories, and touch the lives of others through my art.”

Example 10: Innovator

“To think critically, explore new possibilities, and develop groundbreaking solutions for the future.”

Top-20 Examples of Personal Mission Statements:

• To live a life of purpose and make a positive impact on the world around me.
• To constantly learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and inspire others to do the same.
• To be a compassionate and empathetic listener, and provide support to those who need it.
• To live a life of integrity and honesty, and always act with kindness and respect towards others.
• To use my creativity and innovation to solve problems and bring new ideas to the table.
• To make a difference in my community and give back to those in need.
• To be a role model for others, especially young people, and inspire them to pursue their dreams.
• To live a life of balance, and prioritize my relationships, hobbies, and passions alongside my work.
• To be a leader who empowers others and helps them reach their full potential.
• To embrace challenges and failures as opportunities for growth and learning.
• To live a life of mindfulness and presence, and appreciate the beauty of the world around me.
• To be a responsible and ethical citizen, and contribute to the betterment of society.
• To be a lifelong advocate for social justice and equality.
• To be a positive force in the lives of those around me, and spread joy and positivity wherever I go.
• To be a lifelong learner and teacher, sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.
• To be a steward of the environment, and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
• To be a supportive and loving partner, parent, and friend.
• To prioritize my physical and mental health, and encourage others to do the same.
• To be a lifelong learner and seeker of truth, always questioning and challenging my own beliefs.
• To be a champion for diversity and inclusion, and celebrate the unique qualities of every individual.

As you embark on this journey of self-discovery and reflection, it’s important to remember that a great mission statement should resonate deeply within you and help to shape your decisions and actions. Keep in mind these key points when crafting your statement:

• Be genuine and authentic
• Keep it concise and focused
• Reflect your core values and purpose
• Use clear and inspiring language

As you work on your statement, be open to revising it over time. Your life experiences and evolving goals may call for adjustments, so ensure that it remains a relevant reflection of your aspirations. With your personal mission statement in hand, you can now approach your life and decisions with a sense of purpose and direction.

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55 Personal Mission Statement Examples

A personal mission statement defines your purpose. It explains what you want to achieve in your life, career, personal relationships, and so on.

It differs from a career or educational mission statement because it’s more holistic: it’s not just about your job or school. It’s about what you want to achieve with your life overall. and what your personal philosophy is in life .

Here is my personal mission statement:

“I will be generous with my time both with family and strangers. I will consciously and intentionally spend quality time with my parents, my wife, and my children. I will pass-on love of life and self-belief to my children by living as a positive example. I will commit my career to working on projects that are meaningful to me. And I will be responsible with my health and finances for the longevity of my life and to ensure I can care for my family for many years to come.”

When I was asked to write a personal mission statement for applying for my job as a teacher, I tweaked it to focus more on my career:

“My personal mission statement as a teacher is to inspire and support my students, help them see their own potential, and build them up each and every day. I will commit my time to letting each student know they are capable of success, and I will help show them the path to personal and academic success.”

Below is a range of ideas for a personal mission statement. As the mission statement is personal, I recommend using these ideas as inspiration, but make sure you pick and choose the sentiments that are meaningful to you, and write your own.

Personal Mission Statement Examples

The following examples can be used as stimuli for you to think about what you want to include in your own mission statement. But, as the word suggests, a personal mission statement should be personal and unique to you . So, pick and choose key ideas from below, while coming up with your own mission statement that reflects your uniqueness.

• Live a life that aligns with my core values : “I will strive to live a life that is consistent with my own values and ethics. To achieve this, I will ensure I reflect every day on how my daily actions and interactions with others will reflect upon me, and whether they’re consistent with who I strive to be.”
• Seek to be a catalyst for change: “I will dedicate my life to being a catalyst for change in my world. The change I want to see is change toward greater social equality, fairness, and prosperity. To achieve this, I will advocate for the disadvantaged, seek career opportunities for supporting the underprivileged, and donate generously to causes I care about.”
• Commit to a journey of self-discovery: “My daily mission is to embark on an ongoing journey of self-improvement and self-discovery, always on track to find my deeper purpose in life.”
• Empower myself and others: “I will always strive to empower myself and others through positive affirmation, constructive feedback, and making smart choices. I will remove barriers to self-determination and always respect people’s choices in life.”
• Seek opportunities to give back to the community: “I am grateful first and foremost to my community for their support and nourishment, and my personal mission from here on out is to find opportunities where I can give back to my community in both my career and volunteerism.”
• Strive for excellence in all endeavors: “ My credo is to always hold myself to a high standard. To me, this means always putting in maximum effort and trying to be the best I can be each and every day.”
• Always have a growth mindset: “My core mission is to always maintain a growth mindset each and every day. For me, this means embracing challenges rather than shying away from them, having persistence and resilience when I face setbacks, and viewing effort as a pathway to mastery. “

• Aim to leave a meaningful legacy: “At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and know that I’ve left a legacy for the world and my family. To achieve this, my mission will be to always give more to the world than I take, so I leave the world better off. I will leave a legacy of kindness and a spirit of service and community.”
• Continually redefine personal goals and aspirations: “I believe that a person is most successful when they self-reflect to achieve ongoing improvement. So, in my personal mission, I am committed to the ongoing process of personal evolution that will help me continue to refine myself over time. “
• Seek the silver lining: “The silver lining is the positive that we can extract out of every situation, even our failures. With this in mind, my mission is to cultivate optimism and to focus on what can be learned from every situation. This approach will both enhance my personal resilience and inspire others to adopt a similar perspective.”
• Develop resilience, adaptability, and grit in the face of adversity: “My mission is to develop and embody qualities of resilience, adaptability, and grit. I am determined to approach adversity as an opportunity for growth, learning to navigate through challenges with grace and tenacity. In doing so, I will become stronger and more capable.”
• To be generous with my time: “I will be generous with my time because I believe my time is the greatest gift I can give to others. This means I will commit to quality time with my friends and family and make sure I maintain a work-life balance so I can commit my time to the people who deserve it.”
• Empowering people around me: “My mission is to empower the people around me, including my colleagues at work, my friends, and my family. By empowering others, I can bring out the best in my community, and leave my community a better place.”
• Living with gratitude: “I will commit to expressing gratitude each and every day of my life. To do this, I will commit to meditating, reflecting on what I have, and being grateful for my health, wealth, and family.”
• Develop wisdom : “My mission is to continue to develop wisdom. To me, wisdom is knowledge, intelligence, and insight developed through experience and humbly listening to people who have knowledge and experiences beyond mine.”
• Seek authentic self-expression: “My mission is to express myself authentically , reflecting every day on how my words, actions, and creations align with my core values. This journey towards authenticity is ongoing and evolving, helping me understand and articulate who I truly am.”
• Change what’s in my control: “I pledge to focus my energies on what I can control in my life. I will strive to change my circumstances when possible, and adapt my attitude when it isn’t. By understanding and accepting this distinction, I will bring about the most positive outcomes for myself and those around me.”
• Creating harmony between mind-body-soul: “I am committed to fostering harmony between my mind, body, and soul. This means balancing mental challenges with physical exercise and spiritual nourishment, nurturing every part of my being, and achieving a healthier and more balanced life.”
• Cultivate emotional intelligence : “I am committed to nurturing my emotional intelligence. This involves understanding my own emotions, demonstrating empathy, and adapting my attitude when necessary, leading to stronger and more effective personal and professional relationships.”
• Foster innovative thinking: “My mission is to foster innovative thinking. I will strive to always question, explore, and reimagine the world around me, aiming to leave a legacy of creativity and change.”
• Live sustainably and promote environmental consciousness: “I pledge to live sustainably, focusing my energies on what I can control to reduce my environmental impact. Moreover, I will advocate for environmental consciousness within my community, contributing to a healthier planet.”
• Encourage diversity and inclusivity in my surroundings: “My mission is to promote diversity and inclusivity. I will strive to empower all voices and create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued, thereby fostering a sense of community and belonging.”
• Be a mentor and guide to others: “I will dedicate my time to mentoring and guiding others. By sharing my wisdom and experiences, I can help others navigate their own journeys, leaving a legacy of kindness and service.”
• Lead with integrity and honesty: “I am committed to leading with integrity and honesty in all endeavors. I will hold myself to a high standard, aligning my actions with my core values and striving for transparency in every interaction.”
• Cultivate a balanced and peaceful lifestyle: “My mission is to cultivate a lifestyle that is peaceful and balanced. I will practice mindfulness, express gratitude for my blessings, and strive to find harmony between my personal, professional, and spiritual life.”
• Maintain physical fitness and promote healthy living: “I pledge to maintain my physical fitness and promote healthy living in my community. I will strive to make smart choices regarding diet, exercise, and self-care, thereby embodying and promoting a vision of holistic health.”
• A lifelong learning mindset: “With a commitment to growth and a spirit of exploration, I will always seek to broaden my knowledge and perspectives. Embracing challenges and viewing effort as a pathway to mastery, I believe learning is an ongoing journey, not a destination.”
• Advocate for social justice and equality: “I am committed to advocating for social justice and equality. I will dedicate myself to being a catalyst for change, promoting fairness, and empowering the disadvantaged, contributing to a more equitable society.”
• Practice mindfulness and presence in daily life: “My mission is to cultivate mindfulness and presence in my daily life. By committing to this practice, I will enhance my emotional intelligence, develop resilience, and foster a deeper connection to the world around me.”
• Enhance personal and professional relationships: “I pledge to improve and deepen my personal and professional relationships. By demonstrating empathy, respect, and honesty, I will foster meaningful connections and contribute to a vibrant, supportive community.”
• Invest in self-care and well-being: “My mission is to invest time and energy in self-care and well-being. Through this practice, I will ensure a balanced life, promote a positive mindset, and prepare myself to better serve others.”
• Strive for financial independence and stability: “I am dedicated to achieving financial independence and stability. By making smart and informed decisions, I aim to create a secure foundation that enables personal growth , adventure, and service to my community.”
• Foster a spirit of exploration and adventure: “I commit to embracing a spirit of exploration and adventure. By welcoming new experiences and fostering curiosity, I will maintain a lifelong learning mindset, and continually evolve as an individual.”
• Practice empathy towards all: “My mission is to cultivate empathy in all my interactions. By striving to understand others’ perspectives, I will empower those around me and contribute to a community rooted in kindness and mutual understanding.”
• Embrace change and maintain flexibility: “I am dedicated to embracing change and demonstrating flexibility. I see change as an opportunity for growth, and I will cultivate resilience, adaptability, and a positive attitude in the face of evolving circumstances.”
• Nurture a positive and optimistic mindset: “My mission is to cultivate a positive and optimistic mindset. By seeking the silver lining in every situation, I aim to inspire myself and those around me to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.”
• Advocate for the welfare and rights of animals: “My mission is to advocate for the welfare and rights of animals. I will use my voice and actions to promote humane treatment of animals, contributing to a more compassionate and ethical world.”
• Make informed and responsible choices: “I pledge to make informed and responsible choices that align with my values and the greater good. I am committed to reflecting on the implications of my decisions and acting in a way that contributes positively to my community and the environment.”
• Create meaningful connections with people: “I strive to create meaningful connections with people. Through empathy, open-mindedness, and genuine engagement, I aim to nurture relationships that enrich my life and the lives of others.”
• Develop and demonstrate leadership skills : “My mission is to develop and demonstrate effective leadership skills. I strive to lead with integrity, empathy, and resilience, inspiring others to achieve their best and fostering a spirit of teamwork and mutual respect.”
• Seek to understand and respect differing perspectives: “I pledge to understand and respect differing perspectives. I believe that diversity of thought enriches our society, and I strive to promote inclusivity and mutual respect in all my interactions.”
• Foster creativity in myself and others: “My mission is to cultivate creativity in myself and others. I will continually explore new ideas, foster an environment that encourages innovation, and inspire those around me to express their unique perspectives and talents.”
• Commit to the pursuit of knowledge: “I commit to the continuous pursuit of knowledge. By maintaining a curious and open mind, I strive to learn from every experience, deepen my understanding, and contribute to my personal and professional growth.”
• Seek to find joy in the everyday : “My mission is to find joy in everyday moments. I commit to practicing mindfulness, expressing gratitude for the simple things, and cherishing each day as a unique gift.”
• Be a source of encouragement and positivity: “I strive to be a source of encouragement and positivity for those around me. By uplifting others, celebrating their achievements, and offering supportive words, I aim to foster a more compassionate and optimistic community.”
• Pursue a path of continuous learning and development: “I am dedicated to pursuing a path of continuous learning and development. By always seeking to improve, learn, and grow, I aim to better myself and contribute more effectively to my community and the world at large.”
• Prioritize balance in all aspects of life: “I commit to prioritizing balance in all aspects of life. This includes fostering harmony between work and personal time, mental and physical health, and personal desires and community responsibilities, to cultivate a peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle.”
• Strive to be a good listener and communicator: “I aim to be a good listener and communicator. By practicing active listening and clear, empathetic communication, I will strengthen my relationships and foster mutual understanding and respect.”
• Cultivate and express artistic talents: “My mission is to cultivate and express my artistic talents. Through this creative exploration, I aim to express my unique perspectives, contribute to the cultural richness of my community, and inspire others to express their creativity.”
• Strive to make a positive impact on the environment: “I am committed to making a positive impact on the environment. By living sustainably, advocating for environmental consciousness, and influencing positive change, I hope to leave a meaningful environmental legacy.”
• Seek simplicity and contentment: “My mission is to seek simplicity and contentment in life. By valuing the essential, expressing gratitude for what I have, and finding joy in simple pleasures, I aim to cultivate a lifestyle of peace and fulfillment.”
• Develop and foster a spirit of entrepreneurship: “I am dedicated to fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship. By embracing innovation, taking informed risks, and learning from both success and failure, I aim to contribute to economic growth and social impact.”
• Strive for integrity in actions and communication: “I strive to uphold integrity in my actions and communication. By aligning my actions with my values, being transparent, and communicating honestly, I aim to build trust and respect in my personal and professional relationships.”
• Embrace new technologies and innovation: “My mission is to embrace new technologies and innovation. By staying informed about technological advances and integrating them into my work and life, I aim to enhance productivity, creativity, and the quality of life for myself and my community.”
• Cultivate and foster peace and harmony in relationships: “I am committed to fostering peace and harmony in my relationships. By promoting understanding, showing empathy, and resolving conflicts with grace, I aim to create strong, fulfilling, and respectful relationships.”
• Advocate for responsible consumerism: “I pledge to advocate for responsible consumerism. By making informed choices, promoting sustainability, and encouraging others to do the same, I aim to contribute to a healthier planet and a more equitable economy.”
• Care and provide for my family: “My mission is to care for and provide for my family. By being present, offering support, and ensuring their needs are met, I aim to create a nurturing and secure environment for my loved ones.”
• Cultivate self-discipline and good habits: “I commit to cultivating self-discipline and good habits . By maintaining focus, setting realistic goals, and consistently pursuing them, I aim to achieve personal and professional growth.”
• Influence others by my deeds: “I strive to influence others positively through my deeds. By acting with kindness, integrity, and respect, I aim to inspire others to do the same and contribute to a more compassionate and respectful community.”

See Also: How to Write a Values Statement

A personal mission statement for a resume needs to be personalized to you and your unique values and moral, goals, and life circumstances. You may also want to adjust it depending on the context in which you’re using it – i.e. if you’re asked to make a personal mission for work, then it’d likely incorporate elements of your job into it.

Also note that you’re always free to adjust your personal mission statement over time, so create one that’s true to you right now, but be willing to adjust it every few months.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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How to Write a Personal Mission Statement

Tips for writing a declaration of your unique direction or purpose..

Posted June 23, 2021 | Reviewed by Chloe Williams

• A personal mission statement makes clear what one wants to do and how to do it, which can provide clarity on how to live a fulfilling life.
• To gain clarity on their mission, people can ask themselves questions, such as what impact they want to have and what makes them feel alive.
• People can also reflect on the values that drive them and their goals in the shorter and longer term, which should align with their mission.

A personal mission statement is a written declaration of our unique direction or purpose. This statement makes it clear not just what you intend to do in this world, but how you intend to do it. It's sometimes just one sentence, but it can be as long as you want.

Each of us has our own unique core values , purpose, and desired direction, but often we don’t know exactly what they are. That’s why we can benefit from having a mission statement—something that gives us clarity about how we want to live our lives and ultimately achieve personal fulfillment and well-being. Writing a mission statement can help us get clear on our values and better understand whether we are spending our time in the best ways. It can also provide a sense of inner stability during times of change (Searight & Searight, 2011).

What’s Your Personal Mission?

Many of us have spent little time thinking about our personal mission in life. We're too busy dealing with immediate, urgent tasks to think about what we want to do in this life and where we want to end up. As a result, we might feel this low level of discontent—we know the way we are living our lives is not making us happy, but we’re not sure why. Thinking about our mission can be one way to begin to resolve this discontent.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to explore your mission:

• What impact do you want to have in the world?
• How do you want to make an impact?
• Who do you want to have an impact on?
• What makes you feel most happy and alive?

Answering these questions can help you gain more clarity on your life’s mission. ​

Tip: Think of the End and Work Backward

Another way to gain more clarity on what you want to do in life is to think about the end of your life and what you hope to have accomplished. Then, work backward. Some people have suggested that we could imagine attending our own funeral. Think about what would be said in the eulogy and whether it reflects your values and personal goals (Searight & Searight, 2011). If you find that the eulogy of today's version of you isn't what you really want, clarify for yourself what you do want and consider how your mission statement may guide you to that end goal.

What Are Your Values?

Next, ask yourself, what are your values? That is, what are the underlying personality traits , beliefs, or experiences that drive you and make you feel like you?

Some values might be love, freedom, creativity , kindness , adventure, loyalty, etc...

Make sure that your mission reflects these values so that you don’t end up pursuing a goal in ways that are not a good fit for your values. This way, you'll have a better chance of feeling more fulfilled as you strive to achieve your mission.

What Are Your Goals?

In addition to your values, it can be helpful to get even more clear on your goals. It can be easy to focus on short-term goals, but thinking about medium-term and long-term goals can help you make sure your short-term goals don’t lead you astray.

Ask yourself a few quick questions about your goals:

• What do you want to have accomplished in one year? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years?
• Where do you want to be in one year? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years?
• How do you want to be spending your time in one year? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

Take a moment to think about your short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals like a pathway. Ask yourself, how will your current goals lead to medium-term goals, and how will those lead to your longer-term goals?

Write Your Personal Mission Statement

Sometimes a personal mission statement is just one sentence. In that case, it could be:

To do [X Action] for [Y group of people] to [have Z impact] with [optional: other details].

It’s okay to revise, rewrite, or make it longer. For most of us, creating a personal mission statement takes some work. This process doesn't have to be a "one and done." In fact, it is quite common for personal mission statements to change and evolve over time, just as we do (Li, Frohna, & Bostwick, 2017).

Adapted from an article published by The Berkeley Well-Being Institute .

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. , is a consultant, writer, and expert on well-being technology.

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How to Write a Personal Mission Statement

6 Min Read | Jul 7, 2023

You’ve probably seen mission statements everywhere, like walls in company lobbies and inside promotional brochures.

Mission statements define a business or organization’s identity and purpose, and they can go a long way to help a company create a vision for the future.

But did you know you can have a mission statement too? This is called a  personal mission statement , and it could be exactly what you need to identify your goals and find the motivation to accomplish them.

If you don’t already have a personal mission statement, there’s no time like the present to write one. Let’s dive into learning why it’s important and how to write a personal mission statement.

What Is a Personal Mission Statement?

A personal mission statement defines who you are as a person (or as a team member where you work) and identifies your purpose—whether that’s on the job or simply in life. It explains where you see yourself in the future, how you plan to pursue that purpose , and why it matters so much to you.

People fail at what they hope to achieve because they lack clear goals and focus. They get distracted and lose sight of their purpose and who they were made to be. In other words, they ignore their personal mission statement. But a successful person will have a rock-solid vision spelled out in their personal mission statement.

Author and career coach Dan Miller says a good mission statement should include three things:

• Your skills and abilities (what you like to do)
• Your personality traits (how you operate)
• Your values, dreams and passions (why you want to excel)

That’s it! It should be just one or two sentences long and say—in simple terms—exactly what you’re all about without any lofty principles tacked on.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, store manager, college student, business executive or truck driver, crafting a personal mission statement will serve you well in life. Everyone should have one. 

Why a Personal Mission Statement Is Useful

A personal mission statement is important because it helps you focus on your character and figure out  how to meet your long-term goals . It’s like a guidepost for where you want to go in life and who you want to be.

A personal mission statement keeps you from wandering off track. For example, if a decision you’re considering doesn’t fit in the picture of your personal mission statement, you shouldn’t follow through with it. Something may be a cool idea or interesting opportunity, but that doesn’t mean you need to commit to it or even bring it into your life. On the other hand, having a personal mission statement can help you know when it’s time to make a change or take that leap.

I love a good sports visual, so think of it this way: A good mission statement marks what’s in bounds or out of bounds. If your passion is teaching, is it really in the bounds to work a job that doesn’t involve sharing information with people? Be realistic here, and don’t set yourself up for failure.

Writing a personal mission statement seems pretty straightforward. But to do it well, it actually requires a lot of effort and thoughtfulness to create. So take some time to think about and write down how each of Miller’s three areas apply to you. That lays a good foundation for crafting your mission statement.

Want to build a non-anxious life? Learn how in Dr. John Delony’s new book.

Think about your life principles and goals . Why did you set these goals? How do your goals make you a better person or help you improve your career ? The personal mission statement should answer these questions in 50 words or less, so try to get to the heart of who you are and leave out unnecessary details. Don’t worry if your statement doesn’t mirror someone else’s—every statement should be unique because no two people are the same.

Putting Your Personal Mission Statement to Use

Once you have a written mission statement, start using it. Frame it and put a copy in your home or office so you see it often. You want to surround yourself with your own positive attitude.

Not only should you live according to your personal mission statement, but it’s also important that others know about it. You want people to know you’ll live up to what you wrote, so spread the news. Accountability from those closest to you will help you stick to it.

Personal Mission Statement Examples

Speaking of letting people know, our mission statement here at Ramsey Solutions is posted throughout the building, and every team member is required to know it like the back of their hand. It’s why we exist. It goes like this:

“We provide biblically based, commonsense education and empowerment that give HOPE to everyone in every walk of life.”

But that’s a business mission statement. Personal mission statement examples will look a little bit different. Here are a few examples of personal mission statements from successful CEOs in business:

• “I want to be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “To have fun in [my] journey through life and learn from [my] mistakes.” — Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group
• “To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate the self-worth and net-worth of women around the world.” — Amanda Steinberg, founder of DailyWorth

And here are a few other mission statements from some well-known nonprofits:

• “Inspiring hope and promoting health through integrated clinical practice, education and research.” — Mayo Clinic
• “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” — Habitat for Humanity
• “PBS empowers individuals to achieve their potential and strengthen the social, democratic, and cultural health of the U.S.” — Public Broadcasting System (PBS)

Take the Next Step in Writing Your Personal Mission Statement

Ready to start working on your own personal mission statement? Having your purpose written down will add value and productivity to your life, so get started today.

Want to better understand your personal strengths so you can write a better mission statement?  Check out my Get Clear Career Assessment . It’s all done online, so you can take the test and get your results instantly. Then, let the mission statement writing begin.

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About the author

Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman is a career expert and author of the national bestselling book From Paycheck to Purpose and the #1 national bestseller The Proximity Principle. He hosts The Ken Coleman Show, a nationally syndicated, caller-driven show that helps listeners discover what they were born to do. Ken makes regular appearances on Fox News, and he co-hosts The Ramsey Show, the second-largest talk show in the nation. Through his speaking, broadcasting and syndicated columns, Ken gives people expert career advice, providing strategic steps to grow professionally, land their dream job, and get promoted.  Learn More.

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4.8 Developing Your Personal Mission and Vision

Learning objectives.

• Determine what mission and vision mean for you.
• Develop some guidelines for developing your mission and vision.

Mission and vision are concepts that can be applied to you, personally, well beyond their broader relevance to the P-O-L-C framework. Personal mission and vision communicate the direction in which you are headed, as well as providing some explanation for why you are choosing one direction or set of objectives over others. Thinking about and writing down mission and vision statements for your life can help provide you with a compass as you work toward your own goals and objectives.

Figure 4.12

Your mission and vision reflect your personal and professional purpose and direction.

Shawn Harquail – Kayak Tour of Mangroves, Lucayan National Park. – CC BY-NC 2.0.

Your Mission and Vision

Note that the development of a personal mission and vision, and then a strategy for achieving them, are exactly the opposite of what most people follow. Most people do not plan further ahead than their next job or activity (if they plan their career at all). They take a job because it looks attractive, and then they see what they can do with it. We advocate looking as far into the future as you can and deciding where you want to end up and what steps will lead you there. In that way, your life and your career fit into some intelligent plan, and you are in control of your own life.

The first step in planning a career is obviously a long-term goal. Where do you want to end up, ultimately? Do you really want to be a CEO or president of the United States, now that you know what it costs to be either one? There are a couple basic parts to this process.

First, set out a bold vision—Jim Collins, author of Good to Great , describes this as a BHAG a big, hairy, audacious goal.

Five guiding criteria for good BHAGs is that they:

• Are set with understanding, not bravado.
• Fit squarely in the three circles of (a) what you are deeply passionate about (including your core values and purpose), (b) what drives your economic logic, and (c) what differentiates you (what you can be the best in the world at).
• Have a long time frame—10 to 30 years.
• Are clear, compelling, and easy to grasp.
• Directly reflect your core values and core purpose.

Second, sketch out your personal values, or “Guiding Philosophy”—a set of core values and principles like your own Declaration of Independence.

Once the vision is set, you have to develop some long-term goal (or goals), then intermediate-term goals, and so on. If you want to be President, what jobs will you have to take first to get there and when do you have to get these jobs? Where should you live? What training do you need? What political connections do you need? Then you have to set up an orderly plan for obtaining the connections and training that you need and getting into these steppingstone jobs.

Finally, you need to establish short-term goals to fit clearly into a coherent plan for your entire career. Your next job (if you are now a fairly young person) should be picked not only for its salary or for its opportunities for advancement but for its chances to provide you with the training and connections you need to reach your long-term goals. The job that is superficially attractive to you because it has a high salary, offers the opportunity for immediate advancement, or is located in a desirable place may be a mistake from the standpoint of your long-term career.

Former business school professor, entrepreneur (founder of www.quintcareers.com), and colleague Randall S. Hansen, PhD, has done a masterful job of assembling resources that aim to help your career, including an excellent five-step plan for creating personal mission statements. With his generous permission, he has allowed us to reproduce his five-step plan—adapted by us to encompass both mission and vision—in this section.

The Five-Step Plan

A large percentage of companies, including most of the Fortune 500, have corporate mission and vision statements (Quint Careers, 2008). Mission and vision statements are designed to provide direction and thrust to an organization, an enduring statement of purpose. A mission and vision statement act as an invisible hand that guides the people in the organization. A mission and vision statement explains the organization’s reason for being and answers the question, “What business are we in?”

A personal mission and vision statement is a bit different from a company mission statement, but the fundamental principles are the same. Writing a personal mission and vision statement offers the opportunity to establish what’s important and perhaps make a decision to stick to it before we even start a career. Or it enables us to chart a new course when we’re at a career crossroads. Steven Covey (in First Things First ) refers to developing a mission and vision statement as “connecting with your own unique purpose and the profound satisfaction that comes from fulfilling it (Covey, 1994).”

A personal mission and vision statement helps job seekers identify their core values and beliefs. Michael Goodman (in The Potato Chip Difference: How to Apply Leading Edge Marketing Strategies to Landing the Job You Want ) states that a personal mission statement is “an articulation of what you’re all about and what success looks like to you (Goodman, 2001).” A personal mission and vision statement also allows job seekers to identify companies that have similar values and beliefs and helps them better assess the costs and benefits of any new career opportunity.

The biggest problem most job seekers face is not in wanting to have a personal mission and vision statement but actually writing it. So, to help you get started on your personal mission and vision statement, here is a five-step mission/vision-building process. Take as much time on each step as you need, and remember to dig deeply to develop a mission and vision statement that is both authentic and honest. To help you better see the process, Professor Hansen included an example of one friend’s process in developing her mission and vision statements.

Sample Personal Mission Statement Development

Past success :

• developed new product features for stagnant product
• part of team that developed new positioning statement for product
• helped child’s school with fundraiser that was wildly successful
• increased turnout for the opening of a new local theater company

Themes: Successes all relate to creative problem solving and execution of a solution.

Core values :

• Hard working
• Industrious
• Problem solving
• Decision maker
• Family-oriented
• Intelligent
• Compassionate
• Contemplative

Most important values:

Most important value:

Identify Contributions :

• the world in general: develop products and services that help people achieve what they want in life. To have a lasting effect on the way people live their lives.
• my family: to be a leader in terms of personal outlook, compassion for others, and maintaining an ethical code; to be a good mother and a loving wife; to leave the world a better place for my children and their children.
• my employer or future employers: to lead by example and demonstrate how innovative and problem-solving products can be both successful in terms of solving a problem and successful in terms of profitability and revenue generation for the organization.
• my friends: to always have a hand held out for my friends; for them to know they can always come to me with any problem.
• my community: to use my talents in such a way as to give back to my community.

Identify Goals :

Short term: To continue my career with a progressive employer that allows me to use my skills, talent, and values to achieve success for the firm.

Long term: To develop other outlets for my talents and develop a longer-term plan for diversifying my life and achieving both professional and personal success.

Mission Statement :

To live life completely, honestly, and compassionately, with a healthy dose of realism mixed with the imagination and dreams that all things are possible if one sets their mind to finding an answer.

Vision Statement :

To be the CEO of a firm that I start, that provides educational exercise experiences to K–6 schools. My company will improve children’s health and fitness, and create a lasting positive impact on their lives, and that of their children.

Step 1: Identify Past Successes. Spend some time identifying four or five examples where you have had personal success in recent years. These successes could be at work, in your community, or at home. Write them down. Try to identify whether there is a common theme—or themes—to these examples. Write them down.

Step 2: Identify Core Values. Develop a list of attributes that you believe identify who you are and what your priorities are. The list can be as long as you need. Once your list is complete, see whether you can narrow your values to five or six most important values. Finally, see whether you can choose the one value that is most important to you. We’ve added “Generating Ideas for Your Mission and Vision” to help jog your memory and brainstorm about what you do well and really like to do.

Step 3: Identify Contributions. Make a list of the ways you could make a difference. In an ideal situation, how could you contribute best to:

• the world in general
• your family
• your employer or future employers
• your friends
• your community

Generating Ideas for Your Mission and Vision

A useful mission and vision statement should include two pieces: what you wish to accomplish and contribute and who you want to be, the character strengths and qualities you wish to develop. While this sounds simple, those pieces of information are not always obvious. Try these tools for generating valuable information about yourself.

• Describe your ideal day. This is not about being practical. It is designed to include as many sides of you and your enthusiasms as possible: creative, competent, artistic, introverted, extraverted, athletic, playful, nurturing, contemplative, and so on.
• Imagine yourself 132 years old and surrounded by your descendants 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 about what is important in life? This exercise is designed to access the values and principles that guide your life.
• Imagine that it is your 70th birthday (or another milestone in your life). You have been asked by national print media to write a press release about your achievements. Consider what you would want your family, friends, coworkers in your profession and in your community to say about you. What difference would you like to have made in their lives? How do you want to be remembered? This is designed to inventory your actions and accomplishments in all areas of your life.

Review your notes for these three exercises. With those responses in mind, reflect on questions 1, 2, and 3 above. Then write a rough draft (a page of any length) of your mission statement. Remember that it should describe what you want to do and who you want to be. This is not a job description. Carry it with you, post copies in visible places at home and work, and revise and evaluate. Be patient with yourself. The process is as important as the outcome. After a few weeks, write another draft. Ask yourself whether your statement was based on proven principles that you believe in, if you feel direction, motivation, and inspiration when you read it. Over time, reviewing and evaluating will keep you abreast of your own development.

Step 4: Identify Goals. Spend some time thinking about your priorities in life and the goals you have for yourself. Make a list of your personal goals, perhaps in the short term (up to three years) and the long term (beyond three years).

Step 5: Write Mission and Vision Statements. On the basis of the first four steps and a better understanding of yourself, begin writing your personal mission and vision statements.

Final thoughts: A personal mission and vision statement is, of course, personal. But if you want to see whether you have been honest in developing your personal mission and vision statement, we suggest sharing the results of this process with one or more people who are close to you. Ask for their feedback. Finally, remember that mission and vision statements are not meant to be written once and blasted into stone. You should set aside some time annually to review your career, job, goals, and mission and vision statements—and make adjustments as necessary.

Key Takeaway

In this section, you learned how to think of mission and vision in terms of your personal circumstances, whether it is your career or other aspects of your life. Just as you might do in developing an organization’s vision statement, you were encouraged to think of a big, hairy audacious goal as a starting point. You also learned a five-step process for developing a personal vision statement.

• How does a personal mission and vision statement differ from one created for an organization?
• What time period should a personal mission and vision statement cover?
• What are the five steps for creating a personal mission and vision statement?
• What type of goals should you start thinking about in creating a personal mission and vision?
• How are your strengths and weaknesses relevant to mission and vision?
• What stakeholders seem relevant to your personal mission and vision?

Covey, S. R. (1994). First Things First . New York: Simon & Schuster.

Goodman, M. (2001). The Potato Chip Difference . New York: Dialogue Press.

Quint Careers, retrieved October 29, 2008, from http://www.quintcareers.com/creating_personal_mission_statements.html . Reproduced and adapted with written permission from Randall S. Hansen. The content of this work is his, and any errors or omissions are our responsibility.

Principles of Management Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Personal Mission Statements

Defining your goals.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

One of the most important things that corporate leaders do is define their organization's purpose, and identify what they ultimately want it to accomplish. They communicate this information in corporate mission and vision statements . These set a clear course for the organization, tell employees how they should focus their efforts, and prevent people going "off mission."

If mission and vision statements are so important to organizations, why don't we spend any time creating them for ourselves?

In this article, we'll look at the benefits of creating personal mission and vision statements. We'll show you how to create them, and highlight how you can use them to bring clarity to your own objectives and goals.

Why Create Mission and Vision Statements?

All of us have very different ideas about success. What's important, however, is that you spend time defining your version of success. Otherwise, how will you understand what you should be working toward, and how will you know if your decisions are helping you move toward your goals?

Used as part of your personal approach to goal setting , mission and vision statements are useful for bringing sharp focus to your most important goal, and for helping you to quickly identify which opportunities you should pursue.

Shaping this goal into a mission statement helps you keep it at the front of your mind, and helps you focus your energy and resources upon it. Without this focus, you can be distracted, or you can spread your effort too thinly across multiple competing goals.

By creating a personal mission statement, you make one of your personal goals supremely important. This gives you the best possible chance of achieving it, which is essential for some types of goal. However, if you focus exclusively on one goal, you'll inevitably have to de-emphasize others. Make sure that you're happy to do this, and make sure that people who are important to you don't suffer as a consequence.

Mission Versus Vision

So, what's the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement?

• Mission statement – This defines your purpose. It's what you ultimately want to achieve in your life or career, expressed in a specific, measurable way.
• Vision statement – This is a bit more emotional. Here, you define your core values, and how you'll apply those values to your mission.

As your career develops, your goals and objectives are likely to change too. So make sure you revisit your mission and vision statements regularly, and update them as required.

Creating Mission Statements

Follow these steps to create your mission statement:

• Identify what you do best – Your unique strengths will likely point to what you would like to do most with your life and career. Our Bite-Sized Training session Finding Your Unique Strengths will help you discover your strengths.
• Think about what success means to you – If you get stuck, make a list of past accomplishments that really made you feel as if you did something worthwhile. Your aim is to create a short list of measurements to help you track your progress.
• Identify your personal goals – Take the time to explore what you might want to do with your life and career, and then narrow down to the goals you most want to pursue, across the full range of life areas. Our article on Goal Setting will help you do this.
• Combine the first three steps – Look at your goals, your unique strengths and your idea of success, and then identify the one goal that you most want to achieve. Make sure that the goal is expressed in SMART format, and that it's expressed in as powerful and motivating a way as possible.
• Keep refining – Edit and perfect the words until you have a clear, concise statement that identifies your ideas, and how you'll measure the results.

Mission Statement Example

Using her USP Analysis, Kara has identified several unique strengths. She's creative, a great problem solver, and always maintains a positive outlook that helps inspire her team, even on difficult projects. To her, success means working in a challenging, creative role, and receiving a salary that she feels is fair and based on her accomplishments. Her most important goal is to become a member of her company's senior management team within the next seven years.

Kara's mission statement is this:

My mission is to become a member of the company's senior executive team by December 31, 2018, by empowering internal teams, and helping them solve challenging problems in a creative and successful way. In this role, I want to feel that I'm valued, and my salary and benefits will show this.

Creating Vision Statements

Now that you've created your mission statement, move on to your vision statement:

• Identify the humanistic side of your mission – Look carefully at the mission statement that you just created. What is most fulfilling about what you're going to do? What really impacts your emotions? And what will help other people?
• Make a list of your core values – Our article What Are Your Values? will help with this.
• Visualize who you'd like to become – Picture your "best self." Are you a strong leader? A compassionate friend? A mentor? Make a list of words that describe how you would like others to see you.
• Combine the first three steps – Bring these steps together, and write your vision statement. This should be energizing and motivating, and it should fill you with energy and excitement when you read it.

Vision Statement Example

When Kara looks at writing her vision statement, she realizes that she loves solving problems because this helps people. She's very fulfilled and uplifted when she's able to solve a problem that no one else can. This isn't because she receives praise, but because she's able to help reduce stress and frustration for someone else.

She identifies her core values as integrity, compassion, creativity, and helping people.

When she defines her "best self," she pictures herself as a strong leader, who lifts her team and helps push them toward their own achievements.

Kara's vision statement is this:

I want to help others grow and succeed in their careers. I'll use my talent for problem solving to help my people grow as individuals and become more successful as a team. I'll set an example for my team by sticking to my values and maintaining my integrity, even under difficult circumstances.

There isn't a specific formula for writing your own mission and vision statements, and you can make them as specific, or as broad, as you want. Just ensure that they're punchy and motivational statements that describe what you want to achieve.

Spending time creating personal mission and vision statements is well worth the effort. These tools can help you make important career decisions, and remind you of the direction you want to take in life.

Make sure you allow yourself enough time to think deeply about each step in the process. Identify the right words, goals, and core values. Then create clear, concise statements that are motivational and fill you with purpose.

Keep refining the statements until they're exciting and meaningful, and remember to revisit your mission and vision statements as your career develops.

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70 Best Personal Mission Statement Examples

• Tom Clayton
• April 6, 2023

A personal mission statement is the most powerful tool that motivates you to accomplish your life goals.

It helps you identify, create, and conform to your values and goals. You get to broaden your perspectives, define the things that matter most to you, and base your everyday decisions on these things. It helps you to align your decisions with what you aspire to in life.

Although it may take a while to come up with a definitive mission statement , once you have one, you’ll be able to define your goals, values, beliefs, and eventual success. It will be there to guide your decisions and stay on course when meeting your goals.

In this post, we will take you through the benefits of having a personal mission statement, how to write it, and examples to use for inspiration.

Keep reading.

Also Read : Vision vs Mission Statement – Difference & Examples

Benefits of a Personal Mission Statement

Source: RODNAE Productions from Pexels

While growing up, we carry the values and beliefs that were instilled upon us by our parents, guardians, or society.

At a certain point in life, we need to walk alone and forge our own values, goals, beliefs, and purposes based on what we deem important to use. The self-discovery process helps us realize who we are and the potential we can reach individually.

By creating a personal mission statement, you’ll realize your talents, skills, strengths, and other attributes you never knew you had. In this way, you’ll become mindful of what you’ve become or achieved.

Later on, as you move on in life, you’ll be able to refer to this statement whenever you want to make a significant life decision. It will be a reliable pointer that will help you know what to do, how to do it, and when to implement your decision.

It is the roadmap that will help you maneuver through life and you need it for direction and focus.

Explore : Goal vs Objective 

Steps to Writing a Personal Mission Statement

Jotting your personal mission statement solidifies your life purpose, goals, beliefs, and values.

So when working on it, you have to keep these things in mind.

Of course, there are templates you can use, but making it personal and authentic should come from deep within you. With our guidance, you’ll create your very own mission statement based on what you truly want.

Here are steps to get you started.

1. Identify Your Purpose and Value

Source: Magda Ehlers from Pexels

What is your purpose and what value do you want to create? Do you have a dream big enough to drive your purpose and value?

If you can write down the attributes that make you who you are and your priorities, you’ll be able to come up with powerful values that will power your main purpose.

2. Choose Your Target

Source: Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Is it you? Children? Women? The elderly, less fortunate, or everyone? What is your personal mission statement all about? Who will you focus on helping?

Note the target recipients you want to use your talents on. Doing this will help sharpen your personal focus even more.

Check Out : Inspirational Teamwork Quotes for the Workplace

3. Pinpoint Your Superpower

What are you good at? My superpower is detailing complex things with utmost clarity for people to understand better. Your strengths might be in doing compassionate work, designing, healing, exploring, problem-solving, or teaching.

Put together all your personal and professional skills, aptitudes, and talents. Include everything, even those attributes you often overlook, like being well organized or a good friend and confidant.

You should be able to note your strong points in order to set your goals and priorities straight.

4. What are Your Needs?

This is the most important step in your personal mission statement – what you really want for yourself. You should never skimp on your personal needs. Like Richard Branson, you may just want to explore, learn, and have some fun too.

So whether you’re focused on helping other people throughout your career or life, try to put aside some time for your self-fulfillment.

5. Don’t Forget Your Goals

Source: Anna Tarazevich from Pexels

After outlining your values, purpose, target, superpower, and needs, it’s time to link your goals. What do you want to achieve?

Remember, the goals should be super specific, results-focused, achievable, measurable, and time-bound.

As you reflect, think about what inspires you, your self-definition and aspirations, the aptitudes you expect to enjoy, the outcomes of your decisions, and the legacy you wish to leave behind.

You have to create goals for each aspect of your life – from your career, social life, relationships, family, to your interests and hobbies, and more.

Also Read : Motivational Sales Quotes

6. Put Your Mission Statement in Print

Source: Abdouj from Pixabay

With the five steps above, you’ll have a strong list of items to include in your mission statement. Your piece should be a healthy mixture of imagination, realism, and fulfillment. All this is possible as long as you focus on what inspires and fulfills you.

Take time to review your goals, values, beliefs, and life direction (including your career). Make the necessary adjustments to get a clear, realistic picture of what you really want.

That being said, let’s check out some of the best personal mission statement examples below.

Our Top 70 Best Personal Mission Statement Examples

Congratulations! Now you know how to craft an excellent mission statement for yourself.

Just to inspire you further, we’ve listed the best mission statement examples to borrow from.

Check this out:

Leadership Personal Mission Statement Examples

1. To encourage forward-thinking and innovative ideas that will help my teams create technology solutions that will help improve people’s lives.

2. To provide inspiration and support to colleagues through leadership and expertise.

3. To be a contributing team leader to my team and organization. I aim to become an indispensable employee who helps make the organization’s most important decisions.

Also Read : Best Executive Summary Examples

Source: fahribaabdullah14 from Pixabay

Professional And Social Mission Statement Examples

4. To implement ethical principles in my profession that will ensure total honesty and truthfulness among all employees. I will reform the industry and encourage everyone to do the same for the business’s success.

5. To offer the most outstanding customer service ever seen in my industry and build a list of loyal customers who will help me rise to the industry’s top. This will give me a chance to give back to those who held my hand as I ascended the ladder.

6. To discover a life-changing idea that will forever transform my career and the lives of other people.

7. To be the highest paid personal development coach globally with sophisticated programs that will bring in a stream of revenue while helping millions of people transform their lives.

8. To increase every woman’s net worth and help them achieve financial independence. This will prevent them from plunging deeper into debt by investing in profitable ventures that will turn them into millionaires.

9. To positively impact the lives of young girls by teaching them proper and efficient money management techniques.

10. To boost my knowledge in local business and become the most popular business consultant in the region, attracting valuable clients who want to benefit from my knowledge.

Explore : Weaknesses List & Examples

Source: StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay

11. To become the most successful vlogger and social media influencer with information/posts that attract a massive following.

12. To build the world’s most sustainable energy provider and play a significant role in fighting global warming and other effects of climate change. I want my company to be a beacon of hope that people can look up to.

13. To create a positive change as a recruitment consultant by helping my clients to improve their hiring processes.

14. To become the highest-paid SEO expert by developing an SEO tool that saves people a lot of time and money. I will be the one to build a next-generation SEO tool that will be used by many.

Individual Mission Statements Examples

15. To have my very own family and fulfill my obligations to the family I have. My goal is to do things right, invest in our future, and make time to spend with them. I will be a role model to my family.

16. To use my passion for animals to invest in a horse ranch that will help disabled children in my area.

17. To be an instrument of change at home, the workplace, and the community as a whole. I will use my God-given talents to raise a loving family, stay productive at work, and help grow a responsive community.

Explore : Strengths & Weaknesses Examples For Job Interview

Source: Alexas Fotos from Pixabay

18. To maintain positive relationships with commitment, integrity, and honesty, be it with family, friends, or colleagues. I will pursue knowledge that will help me balance my obligations in life and dedicate my time to pursuing each of my goals until I succeed.

19. To find value, fulfillment, and happiness in living by identifying, pursuing, and achieving my goals without any restraints or limitations.

20. To live a life free from resentment. I will focus my skills and talents to focus on love, forgiveness, and gratitude while helping those close to me do the same.

21. To bring joy to everyone around me through encouragement and help. I will focus my time on making someone’s life better, showing them how to move on through compassion.

22. To utilize my intelligence to improve and benefit others. To use my knowledge, logical thinking, and wisdom to do good and help other people overcome their burdens and reach their true potential.

23. To be able to balance my work, social life, and personal responsibilities and ensure a stress-free life. I’ll have ample time for relaxation while pursuing my personal goals and ensuring my overall well-being.

24. To improve my life by achieving personal success, including living a healthy lifestyle, enhancing my career, and building a family.

Also Read : Students’ Strengths & Weaknesses Examples

Source: Marily Torres from Pexels

25. To take charge of my life, decisions, career, and every other aspect of my life. I will live the life I choose for myself and be able to explore my capabilities.

26. To be a better version of myself by overcoming all the challenges that come my way.

27. To strive to make better decisions that will help me live a better life. I will learn how to make difficult choices without procrastinating.

28. To become courageous and outgoing by looking at the bright side of things. Optimism will help me anticipate the best in life.

Also Read : Best Impromptu Speech Tips

Students’ Personal Mission Statement Examples

29. To put my studies first, above everything else. It will help keep my grades in check, helping me advance and achieve my career goals .

30. To set my personal life aside and focus on achieving my goals regarding my education and building a solid career for myself.

31. To stay true to my values against peer pressure and the desire to fit in within the school environment amidst the challenges I may likely face.

32. To chase my personal dreams without relying on anyone. I will not stop to divert my attention to other people if it means ignoring my own dreams. I will learn to say no and instead focus on enhancing my self-confidence and esteem.

Source: The Lazy Artist Gallery from Pexels

33. To live life to the fullest based on my rights, honesty, and truthfulness. I will be different as I strive to make a difference in the world.

34. To emulate successful individuals so I can achieve my personal goals. I will implement lessons that successful people impart to achieve the best outcomes in life.

35. To adopt and practice learning behaviors that will ensure my success. I will instill in me values like self-discipline, goal setting, achievement, hard work, and more to be a better, purposeful person.

36. To work towards achieving my goals so I can do greater things with my life achievements. I will keep being ambitious and chase after my set goals until I am content.

37. To focus on doing right by making the right decisions, however difficult they may be. This will be my guide to a better life after completion of my studies.

38. To help people get what they want so I can also get what I want.

39. To achieve personal success by establishing habits that drive success. Through discipline, I will be able to achieve both long and short term goals.

Check Out : Best Thank You Messages For Boss

Teachers Personal Mission Statement Examples

Source: fauxels from Pexels

40. I will work harder and smarter to improve myself and receive recognition.

41. To make a difference in the children’s lives by enhancing their literacy levels. I aim to eradicate illiteracy in the community and help the kids become essential adults in the future.

42. To minimize burnout during working hours by managing my work-life balance. It will help me pursue my other goals besides teaching. I will work to eliminate stress from my life and reach a point of equilibrium.

43. To stop postponing major decisions and become proactive when making my career decisions. I will get done what needs to be done without relying on anyone to give me a push.

44. To find better ways to complete tasks faster by working efficiently towards achieving more. I will continuously improve my efficiency to earn recognition as the best teacher, which will help to get me promoted.

45. To make learning a freely available commodity to students, regardless of their economic background or living standards. I will be part of the team that will create a system to enable students to acquire knowledge freely and soar higher to reach their dreams.

Source: Kampus Production from Pexels

46. To search through various steps and break barriers that hold back students from achieving their full potential. I will find more innovative ways that will help them do things differently as they climb the learning ladder. I will also be the role model they look up to for inspiration.

47. To help students perceive learning as fun and they look forward to experiencing the joy of learning.

General Personal Mission Statements

48. To inspire and motivate people to live a mentally, spiritually, and physically healthy life with more peace and contentment.

49. To develop functional technology that will help improve the quality of life of many people across the world.

50. To instill confidence and self-love into people around me and give them self-efficacy that will help them excel in life by making their dreams come true.

51. To work on behalf of the children while providing the much-needed resources to help them stay healthy and prosperous.

52. To personify my values, including compassion, hard work, empathy, forgiveness, and kindness, so that I can lead by example.

53. To use my music to inspire and bring joy to many who are oppressed or unhappy.

Also Read : Best Short & Sweet Follow-up Email Samples After Interview

Source: ELEVATE from Pexels

54. To appreciate my family every chance I get by making decisions while prioritizing their best interests.

55. To be part of creating a company culture that appreciates all workers to make them feel inclusive and part of its success. This will not only increase productivity but will also motivate them to work as a family.

56. To live each day as if it were the last by appreciating, learning, and growing with every experience I gain.

57. To put in more effort, discipline, and hard work in order to excel and become the best at what I do.

58. To create technologically enhanced communication devices that will do all the work while allowing users to spend quality time with their loved ones one-on-one.

59. To provide legal services to people to help reduce any social injustices and many other disparities that exist in the community.

60. To teach people in society the importance of nutrition and the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and show them ways to achieve and maintain this lifestyle.

61. To provide affordable healthcare and hope for a better, healthier life to those who are suffering from lack of money and resources within society.

Also Read : Best Short Professional Bio Examples

Source: Edward Jenner

62. To develop/produce products, materials, or services that will help women and girls achieve and maintain high and healthy self-esteem.

63. To empower the young men in society by providing resources that will help them overcome educational, socioeconomic, racial, and political injustices and barriers.

64. To participate in creating and enacting laws that will help reduce cases of domestic violence in children and women.

65. To help make life better for individuals with special needs by taking part in initiatives that foster strength, recognition, and inclusivity.

66. To be a caring parent who provides for their children, teaching and showing them that success is being the best at what you do while treating everyone the way you desire to be treated. Doing what pleases you and those around you is what matters most.

67. To join other like-minded people in making sure the world has infrastructure that improves the quality of life of everyone in the community.

68. To ensure the transportation system around the region is reliable, accessible, and safe for everyone, including those who are abled differently. This will also help to provide the right products to consumers on time.

Explore : Professional Twitter Bio Examples

Source: Elena Saharova

69. To share my art across the world and let it become an outlet for other artists to express their true feelings and vulnerabilities. With my art, I will be able to entertain, teach, and inspire people and make them feel heard, understood, and supported.

70. To serve in a role that will help me identify people who are vulnerable and help them acquire resources that will fulfill their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

In Conclusion

Writing your personal mission statement is like creating a guide that will help you streamline your decision-making. It keeps you focused on the most important aspects of your life, including your career, family, and general life goals.

When torn between options, you’ll be able to choose one that inspires success just by searching deeper into your mission statement.

From these examples, we are sure you’ll find the inspiration you need to create a tailored personal mission statement to get you going. Craft the most inspiring piece and place it somewhere accessible so you can refer to it frequently as you assess yourself and your goals.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

Here's How to Write an Impressive Personal Mission Statement [Examples & Template]

Updated: January 25, 2021

Published: January 03, 2019

Companies often need mission statements to define their values, and ensure they're remaining focused on reaching their goals without getting side-tracked.

At its core, a good mission statement helps a company demonstrate who they are, and how they're different from other businesses.

For instance, consider JetBlue's mission statement -- "To inspire humanity -- both in the air and on the ground."

Alternatively, take a look at IKEA's mission statement -- "To create a better everyday life for the many people."

It's obvious from these examples that a good mission statement doesn't just state what a company does -- it also represents what a company hopes to do, on a large scale.

An individual can reap similar benefits from creating a personal mission statement. A personal mission statement allows you to define your values and what success looks like to you, and articulate what matters most to you professionally. Additionally, a mission statement will help guide your professional decisions to ensure your career path aligns with your personal goals.

To ensure you're able to create a truly inspiring and accurate personal mission statement, we've created templates and cultivated examples to help get you started. 

What is a personal mission statement?

A personal mission statement is your chance to articulate your values, who you are, and how you define success. You can use a personal mission statement to guide your decisions, and ensure your professional career path remains aligned with your personal goals.

Personal Mission Statement Examples

Take a look at the following examples to help inspire your own personal mission statement. 

1. "To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and apply ethical principles to make a significant difference" -- Denise Morrison, Campbell Soup Company

2. "If something is important enough you should try, even if the probable outcome is failure" -- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla

3. "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" -- Maya Angelou

4. "To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate the self-worth and net-worth of women around the world" -- Amanda Steinberg, Dailyworth.com

5. "To make people happy" -- Walt Disney, Founder of Walt Disney Productions

6. "To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be" -- Oprah Winfrey, Founder of OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network

7. "I want to serve the people. And I want every girl, every child to be educated" -- Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate and activist

How to write a personal mission statement

• Begin by considering both who you are, and who you want to become
• Write down what is most important to you, what you want your legacy to be, and what you are most passionate about. If this is difficult, visualize what you hope your life will look like at the end of your career path
• Dream big and take time to articulate your biggest goals, rather than writing down restricting and short-term plans
• Ask peers or mentors what they consider your biggest strengths to be, and consider what makes you exceptional compared to others of similar expertise
• Consider what kind of mark you want to leave on the world, and how your skills can help you achieve that
• Keep it short. If necessary, try a writing exercise in which you write down only five words that describe you and your purpose, then two, then one. Use these words as inspiration for your mission statement
• Be true to yourself -- make sure your mission statement accurately reflects your biggest passion and what you truly believe your long-term purpose to be

Personal Mission Statement Template

Your personal mission statement will be unique to you, and doesn't need to follow any traditional format. However, the task can seem daunting, so we've created a few templates to inspire you and get you started.

Featured Resource: 5 Cover Letter Templates

1. To [what you want to do] by [how you'll do it] so that [what impact you hope to make].

Example -- "To serve as a leader by encouraging innovation and forward-thinking so that my employees can create technology that will improve the lives of those in developing countries."

2. I value [one or multiple things you value] because [why it matters to you]. To do this, I will [how your professional path will align with these values].

Example -- "I value education because I believe it can help women get involved in politics and become world leaders. To do this, I will teach women's studies on policy and law."

3. To use my [skills or expertise] to inspire/lead [group of people] so that [ultimate goal].

Example -- "To use my skills as a journalist to inspire people, so that they are educated about the world around them and are energized to make change."

Ultimately, it's critical you take time to self-reflect and truly consider what energizes you, and what type of long-term legacy you hope to leave behind. If done correctly, a personal mission statement can ensure each decision you make leads you closer to a role in which you find both fulfillment and meaning. 

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How To Write A Personal Mission Statement (And 28 Mission Statement Examples)

Do you have a personal mission statement ?

If not, you should.

Early in my career, I was inspired to create one when I worked in public relations for the JCPenney Company.

James Cash Penney, the founder of the once giant retailer, based his business philosophy on one simple personal mission statement: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” — the Golden Rule.

In fact, his first store was called The Golden Rule.

This mission statement permeated every aspect of how Mr. Penney ran his business.

He asked for a “fair remuneration and not all the profits the traffic will bear,” and was the first to call employees “associates,” and he treated them like family.

During the stock market crash in the 1920’s, Mr. Penney lost his personal fortune and took a loan against his life insurance in order to pay the associates’ salaries.

What Is a Personal Mission Statement?

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One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Penney is this:

“Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals, and I’ll give you a stock clerk.”

Mr. Penney understood the value of having goals that reflect your mission and how they can change the course of your life.

His goals for himself and his company were grounded in his personal mission statement of the Golden Rule.

Knowing his mission statement, it was much easier to build his business and remain focused.

Businesses create mission statements to provide purpose and direction for the organization.

But it’s as vital for individuals to have a personal mission and a vision for themselves as it is for any business.

A personal mission statement is:

• A tool for making difficult decisions.
• A framework for how you want to live your life and express your life mission.
• A beacon to those around you about the kind of person you are.
• A declaration that motivates and inspires you to stay the course.
• A statement of your values and life priorities.

Creating a personal mission statement forces clarity, helps you define a plan of action, and serves as the foundation for your life goals.

It also helps you identify the underlying reasons for your choices and behaviors and what truly motivates you to make positive change.

As the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Stephen Covey, says your mission statement is about “defining the personal, moral and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself.”

Writing down your mission statement on paper makes it real.

Your personal mission statement becomes your own personalized constitution — the basis for life-directing decisions, as well as making daily choices that impact you and those around you.

We put together a mission statement template (pdf) for you to download and print. 

Use the personal mission statement template to write your own clear and concise personal vision for yourself .

Click here to download the template now.

How To Write a Personal Mission Statement

Think of a person in history or in your life whom you admire.

What are the qualities of that person that you would like to emulate?

These qualities can relate to their character , values, achievements, personality , or simply the way they live their lives. 

Consider the specific reasons you admire the person and list those qualities in detail.

Define the type of person you want to become, not just what you want to have or achieve.

This ideal should reflect your core values and your definition of living with integrity.

Consider all areas of your life, as a spouse, friend, employee, parent, etc. and who you want to be in each of those roles.

I find it helpful to write down the phrase, “As an ideal spouse (or friend, parent, etc.), I want to . . . .” Then fill in the end of the sentence with as many outcomes as you wish to become.

For example, you might write: As an ideal spouse, I want to:

• Express my love daily in words, affection, and action;
• Be supportive and attentive to my spouse’s needs;
• Work through conflict calmly and in the spirit of compromise;
• Be fully present and emotionally intimate.

This exercise may take some time, but it is well worth the effort beyond its usefulness for your mission statement.

It helps you clarify your personal operating system and reminds you of what you are capable of becoming.

Determine all of your life roles (career, family, community, etc.), and write down a short statement of how you would like to be described in each of those roles.

Think about how you would like the important people in your life to remember you and talk about you.

For example, you might want your boss to say, “He was a man of character and integrity who was a compassionate and inspiring leader and a visionary for our organization.”

This exercise may feel awkward, but no one else has to see it.

It is to help you decide how you want to step into each of the roles in your life and to clarify in concise words how you want others to perceive you.

Write down a personal mission statement for the four fundamental elements of who you are: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

In each of these areas, what is the most important way you want to express yourself?

This may seem confusing, but it’s really simple. We tend to go about our lives without considering our goals for our essential being and how we want to direct that ambition.

So with this exercise, see yourself as CEO of each of these four areas. As CEO of your physical life, your purpose might be to treat your body as sacred by practicing fitness, healthy eating, daily affection, and pleasurable physical experiences.

Your plan for your mental life might be to become a life-long learner by expanding your skills, problem-solving, and challenging yourself.

What are the talents and skills you possess that are most important to you and that you actually enjoy?

Part of your personal mission statement should reflect your best aptitudes and strengths, these are what create joy and energy in our lives.

When we spend our time on what we do well and enjoy, our lives not only have meaning but also it has vibrancy.

Make a list of all of your personal and professional talents, aptitudes, and skills — even those you may take for granted, like being a good friend or having the ability to organize well.

Then circle the skills you enjoy or find fulfilling. Focus on these.

Based on everything you outlined above, what are some related goals you want to achieve in your life? Goals are specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound.

As you look at the people who inspired you, the ideal self you’ve defined, the legacy you want to leave, the aspirations you have for the elements of your life, and the aptitudes you want to enjoy, what are the outcomes you want to achieve for your life?

You might want to create goals for various areas of your life — from your relationships to your hobbies.

Taking into account steps 1-6, begin to write a personal mission statement.

Keep it simple, clear and relatively brief — from a few sentences to a couple of paragraphs.

You can write it as a statement that flows or with bullet points. How you craft it is less important than what you want to express.

The point is you want a statement that will guide you in your day to day actions and decisions, as well as your long-term goals. Try to keep your words positive and affirmative . Focus on what you want rather than what you don’t want.

Creating a mission statement is not something you do in a day. It does require introspection, self-analysis, clarity of mind, and often several drafts before you produce it in a final form.

It might take several weeks or even months before you feel really comfortable with your life mission statement. Feeling like your personal mission statement is complete and a concise expression of your innermost values and directions may take a few iterations.

Once you complete it, put it where you can review it daily so it motivates you to honor it in all of your actions and decisions.

You might need to revise it every few years as your life priorities change.

Personal Mission Statement Examples

Here are some personal mission statement examples from around the web. (Sources:  www.d.umn.edu , missionstatements.com , and  msb.franklincovey.com )

My mission is to act as an instrument of positive change in my family, my work and my community. I will utilize all of the talents that God has given me and will participate in all aspects of my life with energy, purpose and gratitude. I will utilize my talents in strategy and administration to ensure that my home is loving and calm, my workplace is productive and positive and my community is responsive and growing. Through this focus I will give more than I take and will provide a positive role model for my children.

My mission in life is to have my own family. I need to remember that what I do now in my life will affect them. Because of this, I try my best to do the right things that will benefit my future. I would someday like to have a large farm with horses where I can help handicapped children. I’d like to work with animals, perhaps even be a veterinarian. Most of all, I want to have time for my family. So today, I will study hard and stay away from things that may hinder my dream from happening .

To find happiness, fulfillment, and value in living, I will seek out and experience all of the pleasures and joys that life has to offer. My core values are not limitations restraining me on this hedonistic quest for fun. Rather, they provide a framework for identifying, pursuing, and achieving those pleasures that last the longest and are the most satisfying. The greatest joy of all is being worthy of the respect and admiration of family, friends, and business associates. 

To remember where I have been and where I will go through maintaining positive relationships with family and friends. To choose the ethical way by making a personal commitment to honesty and integrity. To find peacefulness within myself by looking inward while using my heart to guide my dreams and desires, and my mind to pursue knowledge, creating balance among all of my obligations. To content myself in my surroundings so I will always know where security lies within my life. To build a reputation of being dedicated to every goal I choose to pursue while having successes in both my personal and professional life. To enjoy every moment along this journey finding laughter, love, and happiness with each day that passes. 

To be humble. To say thanks to God in some way, every day. To never react to abuse by passing it on. To find the self within that does and can look at all sides without loss. I believe in treating all people with kindness and respect. I believe by knowing what I value, I truly know what I want. To be driven by values and beliefs. I want to experience life’s passions with the newness of a child’s love, the sweetness and joy of young love, and the respect and reverence of mature love. Finally, to go through life with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye.

Here are some additional mission statement examples we’ve crafted for you:

My mission is to live a life without resentment. I will use my mind and all my talents and skills to keep my life focused on gratitude, love, and forgiveness — to live my best life and to help others do the same. I have no room in my life for negative self-talk, grudges, or for pointless regret. Every morning, my goal is to take another step forward, keeping my mind and heart trained on the present and on the words, “Thank you,” I want everyone in my life to know exactly how they’ve made it better.

My mission in life is to exercise my freedom to think as I choose to think. I choose to see the good in every person and every situation, however painful. No one makes me think or feel anything; I am responsible for my thoughts and feelings, and I choose to remain free, no matter what happens to me. I choose gratitude over resentment and compassion over criticism. I choose hope over despair. I choose to make my life count for something far greater than the space and time it occupies.

My mission in life is to bring joy to others, whether by word or action. I’ll do whatever it takes to make my place in the world better for those I share it with. My life will continue a chain reaction that someone else started and that somehow (for some reason) reached me. I won’t be where it stops, and I’ll show others how to keep it going. From me, the chain reaction will reach even more people, who will make it their mission to bring joy and compassion to as many souls as possible.

Here are some examples of short mission statements from famous people and organizations.

9. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Maya Angelou

10. “To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” — Oprah Winfrey, Founder of OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network

11. “I want to serve the people. And I want every girl, every child to be educated.” — Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate and activist

12. “Improve lives. The concept of improving lives runs through the center of everything I do.” — Wil Smith, actor 

13. “To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate the self-worth and net-worth of women around the world.” — Amanda Steinberg, Dailyworth.com

14. “Our mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” — Google

15. “Build the best product. Cause no unnecessary harm. Use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” — Patagonia

16. “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” — Tesla

17. “Help people perform better, think faster, and live better.” — Bulletproof

18. “Be the world’s favorite destination for discovering great value and unique selection.” — eBay

Here are some additional short mission statement examples we’ve created:

19. To create music that helps people struggling with mental illness to feel calm, loved, and in control. I will use my talent and skills to create medicine people can hear and feel. 

20. To write books that help others struggling with the same challenges to know they’re not alone and to know what actions to take to change their lives for the better. 

21. To open a shop that encourages every patron to bring more magic into their lives and to share it with others, with thoughtful and spirit-loving gift ideas.

22. To work as an inspired chef and to prepare meals that help the people in my community explore new flavors, new cultural recipes, and new perspectives.

23. To plant as many new, healthy trees as I can with the time I have and to inspire everyone to be responsible and loving stewards of the earth’s resources. 

24. To create a place where unwanted cats and dogs will be loved and cared for and where they can bring love to patrons who come in for a soothing drink or comfort food. 

25. To create a social media platform that runs on gratitude and compassion — with no room for negative attitudes , narrow mindedness, and self-centered criticism.

26. To be a therapist who makes my clients feel safe and strong enough to say anything, to dig deeper into their own thinking, and to love themselves just as they are.

27. To be a parent who helps my children love themselves, ask for help when they need it, and know what actions and words will help them reach their goals. 

28. To build a legacy that will benefit my children, grandchildren, and beyond and give each of them something good to build on when creating their own. 

Personal Mission Statement Generators

If you’re a fan of online quizzes, you might enjoy using a personal mission statement generator. Answer key questions and the generator uses them to create a clear and cohesive statement that reflects your highest values and goals. 

It’s similar to a mission statement template but is automated and available as either an internet-based tool (or mobile app) or a software download. 

Templates can be overwhelming because you see all the fields you need to fill out. And the thought of then gathering up your answers and distilling them into a powerful sentence or two is daunting enough without considering the time it’ll take to fill in all the blanks. 

A mission statement generator uses a gentler, more interactive approach to engage the user and get them through all the questions as painlessly as possible. 

• The FranklinCovey Mission Statement Builder can help you create the following types — personal, family, team, and values-focused — with its free online tool. 
• LifeCoachesToolbox.com has a Mission Statement & Elevator Speech Generator to help you establish your brand identity and clarify your goals. Choose between the free online version (with ads) or the ad-free download for $39. 

More Related Articles:

Positive Affirmations: 101 Life-Changing Thoughts To Practice Daily

9 Keystone Habits To Get Big Results

List Of 100 Life Goals To Achieve Before You Die

I hope this article motivates you to get started on your own mission statement.

Crafting this essential document can truly change your life, as it gives you self-defined boundaries and goals that set you on a course for success as you see it to be.

A personal mission statement is something everyone needs but only a few take the time to create — mostly because they don’t know how.

Please take a moment to share this post on your preferred social media platform with family and friends who will definitely benefit from this information.

Your good deed can impact thousands of people around the world!

5 thoughts on “How To Write A Personal Mission Statement (And 28 Mission Statement Examples)”

How do I get a copy of Eight Steps to creating You Mission Statement?

Hello Barrie I wonder if you could help me. My daughter is a qaulified doctor, and the most gorgeous girl who has wonderful relationships with friends and family however since she met her boyfriend 4 years ago she has become a shadow of herself. Questioning who she is and deciding that she is the problem in their relationship and she is constantly changing to suit him however it doesn;t seem to be getting any better. She blames her past, not having a significant male figure in her life ; The problem is that her boyfriend is pushing her buttons and making her believe that he loves her and is reasonable and she is ending up the wreck. any advice on what I can do to help her. She says that he cried the other day and said he cant take her outbursts any longer. She got angry cause he stayed out all night and returned home in the morning. his excuse was that he didnt want to disturb her. Please help

Hi Deirdre, I’m so sorry your daughter is in such a difficult relationship. I know you are suffering for her as well. The problem isn’t her past, it’s her current decision to stay with someone who is emotionally abusive. You might suggest she read this post: https://liveboldandbloom.com/11/relationships/signs-of-emotional-abuse She also needs to meet with a counselor to discuss why she is staying in this relationship when it isn’t happy or healthy and how she can get strong again.

This is such a neat idea, and so very helpful. The one that truly got my attention is Consider Your Legacy. That really helps to re-frame our life’s picture, no? Thank you for this!

This is very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

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As life constantly changes, how do you keep your focus on your values and goals? How do you make sure every small action you make is moving you closer to your destination?

You can create a personal mission statement. A 7 Habits mission statement is a document you create that identifies the big picture — the life you want to lead, the character traits you want to embody, the impact you want to have on those around you.

This document serves as a reminder of your ultimate goals and helps you ensure each short-term pursuit and daily action is in line with what’s most important to you.

What Is a Personal Mission Statement?

Wondering how to create a personal mission statement? Your 7 habits mission statement should focus on three things:

• Character: Who do you want to be?
• Contribution: What do you want to do?
• Achievements: What are the core values and principles that govern your character and contributions?

Think of it like the U.S. Constitution: Your 7 Habits mission statement is the standard by which everything is measured and directed. Except for a handful of amendments, the Constitution has been virtually unchanged for more than two centuries, despite dramatic environmental, social, cultural, industrial, and political changes. The Constitution is so stable because it’s based on such basic, timeless principles that its essence has been applicable across centuries in very different environments.

If you create a 7 Habits mission statement that centers around your values at the core of who you are and who you want to be, it will guide you through the many phases and changes in your life. In fact, crystallizing the changeless core of who you are actually helps you adapt to change, because it reinforces such a secure sense of self that you won’t be threatened by changes around you . 

Developing Your Personal Mission Statement According to the 7 Habits

When you sit down and think about how to create a 7 Habits mission statement, start by looking at the most basic paradigms that dictate how you see the world. As you examine these paradigms, they’ll reveal your innermost values and principles. Stephen Covey’s mission statements are meant to reflect these paradigms.

Each person’s 7 Habits mission statement will be distinct because everyone is unique and has individual experiences; rather than inventing your mission or emulating someone else’s, try to find your mission through self-examination, reflection, and honest assessment of your unique strengths and values.

The process of writing your 7 Habits mission statement requires deep introspection and careful thought. Allow ample time for this — it may take weeks or months to take an honest and thorough look at your paradigms and driving forces. The process itself is just as important as the final result, because it makes you think through how you want to live your life and what actions reinforce that.  

As you develop your 7 Habits mission statement, it helps to identify the many roles you have — spouse, son/daughter, brother/sister, father/mother, friend, professional, individual — and create goals for each role. If you don’t parse out your vision and goals to address each of your roles, it’s easy to focus your mission statement too heavily on one area of your life and neglect others; you may accidentally make a mission statement too centered on work accomplishments and lose the balance in your goals that reflects a balanced life. 

Effective goals should focus on the end result you want, your destination, rather than the route to get there. Once you’ve identified your destination, then you can figure out a path to reach it — and your personal mission statement will help you know when you’ve arrived — but you must begin with the end in mind.  

Identifying Your Center: Step 1 in Your 7 Habits Personal Mission Statement

Creating your personal mission statement requires a process of deep reflection and self-evaluation as you examine your paradigms and discover the values that guide your decisions and actions. 

Your paradigms determine four essential aspects of your life:

• Security: Your identity and self-worth, which grounds you and gives you strength. 
• Guidance: The source of your direction in life, the factors that are influencing your choices and actions. 
• Wisdom: How well you understand how different life principles interrelate and how you interpret how life works.
• Power: Your strength and capacity to act, including — and especially — when it entails being proactive and rewriting your habits.

Each of these factors falls on a continuum; it isn’t a matter of whether or not you have them, but where you fall on the spectrum. For instance, you could be highly insecure with a low self-worth and a shaky sense of identity, or you could have high self-esteem and a firm sense of who you are. 

These factors are also interdependent, collectively strengthening the others. If you have a strong sense of security and clear guidance, this heightens your wisdom, which helps you access your power. 

Your core paradigms reveal your center; you can be centered on your marriage, friendships, family, work, money, possessions, pleasure, or, ideally, principles. Whatever is at your center determines your security, guidance, wisdom, and power. Knowing these things will help you form your 7 Habits mission statement.

Here’s a discussion of the most common centers, along with the problems they cause:

• If you’re marriage-centered , your sense of identity and self-worth is determined by the health of your relationship at that moment. Although marriage is an important relationship to nurture, making it your center creates emotional dependence. Your emotional security becomes subject to the natural ups and downs in the relationship and changes in your partner’s moods and behaviors, and anything in life that impacts your relationship or your spouse then threatens to shake your own security. 
• If you’re family-centered , you derive your security from the strength of your family traditions and reputation. Again, this makes your self-worth vulnerable to other people’s actions and external forces that are out of your control.
• Surprisingly, being friend- or enemy-centered is largely the same; in both contexts, your interactions with other people, their opinions of you, and their treatment of you determine your sense of self-worth. Your guiding force is how you think others will respond to your decisions, and you have no individual power because other people are determining your actions.
• If you’re money-centered , your self-worth changes with the rise and fall of your net worth. You’re inclined to be anxious and protective of your money as the source of your identity, and any outside factors that could impact your money become a threat. 
• If you’re work-centered , you base your identity in your profession and your position at work; work-centered people are likely to be “workaholics” who sacrifice their relationships, health, and hobbies in the name of work. Their wisdom and power are confined to the context of their jobs, so they become powerless in other areas of their lives. 
• If you’re possession-centered , your focus and self-worth are tied up in material possessions (e.g. cars, homes, and nice clothes) or intangible possessions (e.g. social status, authority, and recognition). Not only does your self-worth depend on maintaining these possessions, but it also rises and falls depending on whether you’re around someone who has more than you, making you feel inferior, or less than you, making you feel superior. 
• If you’re pleasure-centered , your main priority is on having fun and maximizing your pleasure in life, to the neglect of work, relationships, and self-discipline. You are quickly bored and become narcissistic in your constant pursuit of how life can provide you the most pleasure. Your security, guidance, wisdom, and power exist only in brief moments of pleasure. 
• Being church-centered is distinct from being spiritually or religiously centered. Whereas being spiritually centered can guide you through inner examination and discovery, being church centered emphasizes the appearance of being involved in the community, meeting social standards, and clearly displaying your membership in the group. You’re guided by social conscience rather than religious principles, and threatened by anything that jeopardizes your image or membership in the church. 
• If you’re self-centered , you’re driven more by selfishness than by an earnest attempt to develop and improve yourself. Many popular methods for self-fulfillment and personal growth are rooted in self-centeredness. 

Many people have multiple centers; sometimes one takes precedence until it is momentarily satisfied (e.g. if you’re marriage-centered, your relationship with your spouse is in a happy place), and then another focus rises as the primary center for a period of time. For a consistent, reliable source of security, guidance, wisdom, and power, it’s best to have one center; this creates a clear focus of your values and priorities. 

All of the centers above seem to have issues. So what’s the ideal center to have? Covey argues it’s a center based around your principles.

Unlike the centers described above, a principle-centered life does not subject your identity, perspective, and power to uncontrollable external forces; principles are timeless and unchanging, superseding people and circumstances. Stephen Covey says a mission statement involves paradigms that are created around these indisputable principles help you to see the world more accurately, as opposed to money-centered, pleasure-centered, or other paradigms that distort your lens.

Granted, you may have limited awareness and understanding of certain principles until you have a life experience that illustrates that principle, and be unable to follow Stephen Covey’s missions statement advice. For example, you might not understand the importance of human dignity until you see someone being treated without dignity. As you move through life and gain experiences and knowledge that expand your understanding of fundamental principles, you’ll be better able to incorporate them into your paradigms, and learn how to create a personal mission statement.

Group Mission Statements

7 Habits mission statements are also effective for groups — whether families, organizations, or businesses. Group mission statements help everyone in the group remain on the same page about the group’s values and goals, and create a sense of unity and investment in the well-being of the group.  

As with personal mission statements, the process of developing, writing, and fine-tuning a mission statement is as important as the finished product, so it’s critical that everyone in the group be involved in creating the mission statement. This process gets all the group members thinking and talking about what matters to them, and what they believe the group’s priorities should be. 

If group leaders write a 7 Habits mission statement without input from everyone else, the group members will be much less invested than if they’d contributed to the process; even if they agree with it initially, their commitment is likely to wane with time and in trying situations. On the other hand, if everyone is involved with creating the mission statement, they’re more likely to feel that it reflects their own values and to work harder to uphold it.

Developing your personal mission statement is an important part of tackling the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. With your 7 Habits personal mission statement, you’ll be able to see clearly who you are and what you want to achieve, which will allow for further self-improvement and awareness.

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Carrie Cabral

Carrie has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember, and has always been open to reading anything put in front of her. She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.

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Mission Self

Here’s a Template to Help You Write a Personal Mission Statement

Find here, not only the purpose of writing a good personal mission statement, but also template samples that you can use to draft positive and effective mission statements for yourself.

A personal mission statement is simply a promise that you make to yourself directed towards goal achievement. It gives you the necessary focus and guides you through your career path or any other aspect of your life, to attain those goals that you have always desired but never been able to achieve. You may call it a goal-setting tool that helps you develop a vision for your future. The only way you can appreciate the effects of a personal mission statement is by writing one and experiencing the advantages it gives you. Here, we give you guidelines to writing one by means of a template.

How to Write a Personal Mission Statement

Writing a good personal mission statement is going to take a little time. Though it is meant to be short, choosing the right words and drafting it in a concise yet impressive manner that actually proves effective and helps you achieve your goals, requires some time as well as the need to follow these tips:

• Determine your Passion and Abilities: Some of you may not be aware of it, but you’re sure to have some kind of passion; some driving force to get you where you want to be. First identify this driving force. Then point out things you are naturally good at, or things you like doing, or both. Some of you may be creative, socially active, or good managers. Whatever you think your abilities are, make a note of them.
• Determine your Principles and Values: Principles guide the manner in which you go about attaining your goals. When you make a note of these, you are promising yourself to follow these to give you a direction toward your final destination. These principles also help you decide the kind of impact you want to have on the people around you, the causes you are passionate about, and the virtues that you think are necessary to achieve your goal. An important note to make is that principles are simply guidelines and can be altered as the situation demands. However, your core values such as simplicity or respect will remain the same. So what are the principles and values you live by? Note them down.
• Determine Your Goals: Why are you writing a mission statement? What is your ultimate goal? What do you intend to achieve by utilizing your abilities and your values? Identify all these to complete your mission statement.

These are simply the underlying guidelines that will help you write a good personal mission statement. Once you have identified these and incorporated them in the template given below, your task will become much simpler.

Given here is a template using which you can use to draft a personal mission statement, followed by some examples that will help you understand how you can effectively write your mission statement.

Template Sample 1

My mission is to use my [passion/abilities/positive personality traits] to achieve [your goals], based on my [principles/values].

Template Sample 2

To be known by [passion/abilities/qualities you wish to develop], as someone who follows the right [principles/values] to achieve [your goal].

It is indeed as simple as that. A personal mission statement is meant to be simple, concise, yet depict all that you wish to achieve from your life. The examples given below will help you further in writing your own mission statement.

My mission is to use my love for clothing and fashion, and my unique personality to dress comfortably yet beautifully everyday, and inspire others to express themselves effortlessly and freely.

My mission is to create a profitable restaurant with a delightful ambiance, delicious food, and excellent service where people can genuinely relish their dining experience.

To be the most passionately referred interior designer in the industry, while aiming to provide my clients with the best of my talent as a designer, as well as optimum service.

To improve the lives of those I meet by helping them face trying times and situations with enthusiasm and courage.

As you evolve and achieve your goals, your personal mission statement is bound to change. Keep reviewing it on a regular basis to remind yourself of what you have set out to achieve. Some people believe that framing your mission statement and keeping it in a place you will see it everyday is a great way of ensuring you achieve your goals. Use the template above, so that you can draft your mission and maintain a positive attitude towards attaining your goals.

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9 Personal Mission Statement Templates & Worksheets for 2023

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Why is it important to create a personal mission statement?

If you’re serious about being successful, making a difference, and living the life you want , then having a personal mission statement is practically mandatory.

It gives you clarity, focus, and guidance as you work on your goals and reach your dreams.

A personal mission statement is a sentence or two that gives a precise description of who you are. It is the slogan that defines your core values, the contribution you want to make, and how you live your life.

Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and the person who popularized personal mission statements, described it this way:

“ A personal mission statement becomes the DNA for every other decision to make. ”

In today’s article, we’ve rounded up awesome examples of personal mission statement templates and worksheets that can help you craft a rock-solid personal mission statement.

To help you get started, here are some quick tips for crafting an impactful mission statement.

Table of Contents

Tips for Writing an Impactful Mission Statement

An in-depth guide for writing your personal mission statement and some examples are found in this post .

Meanwhile, here’s an overview of the process:

• Identify your personal core values. You can choose from a list of core values that resonate with you or take a core values quiz to discover what they are.
• Reflect on the ways you can contribute in the different areas of your life (e.g., your local community, family, workplace, or the world at large).
• Think about the short- and long-term goals you’ve set for yourself. Reflect on where you want to be in a few years’ time.
• Craft your personal mission statement.

The following templates and worksheets have enough space for you to write your reflections and arrive at an impactful mission statement that resonates with the core of your being.

1. My Personal Mission Statement

Download the PDF

Looking for an elegant template for your mission statement? Our very own black-and-white template was designed specifically to allow you to view the details of your personal mission at a glance. The first two blocks of space are designated for writing your answers to brief writing prompts, which include:

• My mission is to…
• I will achieve my mission by…

After reflecting on these prompts and answering them, you can then proceed to write down your specific personal mission statement. A space for this is allocated at the bottom of the page.

2. Discovering Your Personal Mission Statement Worksheets

We all play a number of other different roles in the various areas of our lives. We can be a parent, an employee or employer, a friend, a student, etc.

Creating personal mission statements for each of these roles helps maintain focus and a sense of purpose in your life.

This three-page template features reflection and writing prompts to help you figure out your main roles and craft mini-mission statements for them.

Based on these mini-mission statements, you can then create an encompassing personal mission statement for your entire life.

3. Vision + Mission Workbook

This workbook was designed for solo entrepreneurs as a step-by-step process to help them brainstorm the best mission and vision statements for their businesses.

The reflection questions can help them increase their level of self-awareness and arrive at a personal mission statement in their role as entrepreneurs.

The workbook features five pages to guide you in:

• Brainstorming your vision
• Brainstorming your mission
• Choosing your power words
• Organizing your reflections to create strong vision and mission statements

4. Mission Page Worksheet

You reap the maximum benefits from a personal mission statement when you take time in crafting it.

This next template example encourages you to reflect deeply on several key scenarios in life. In doing so, you’ll see a pattern emerge in how you deal with different situations.

The results of your reflections help you formulate the best mission statement that represents who you truly are and the unique contribution you can make to the world.

Scroll down to the bottom of the original article at the Destiny’s Odyssey website to access the printable PDF version of the worksheet.

5. Legacy Mission Statement

The best legacies are often born out of a well-crafted personal mission statement. This template features dedicated spaces to help you identify key life areas and your own purpose .

In doing so, you can begin writing your mission statement.

This template helps you gain clarity in what you want for your own future, as well as for the next generations to come.

6. A Walkthrough for Your Mission Statement

Initially designed for entrepreneurs, this example can also be used by individuals as a guide for creating crystal-clear personal mission statements.

You can take inspiration from the guide questions featured in this template to create your own worksheet.

After you’ve created your mission statement, you’ll have newfound confidence to go after your goals and turn your dreams into reality.

7. Mission Statement Builder

If you doubt that you have a unique purpose and contribution to make in this lifetime, here’s a template that will give you clarity and direction.

The writing prompts in this worksheet encourage you to look deeply within and discover the following:

• What you’re truly passionate about
• Who you want to serve
• Who your heroes and major influences are
• What your action words are (the words that galvanize you to act)

Writing down your answers will help you see the unique path you can take in order to best serve others.

8. Create Your Mission Statement – Action Words Printable

This printable accompanies the previous item to help you the find action words that resonate most with you.

This expansive list of words empowers, inspires, galvanizes, and energizes you to formulate your very own mission statement.

9. The “Dear Diary” Personal Mission Statement Worksheets

This set of personal mission statement printables was designed to give you inspiration and motivation to do things that are in keeping with your personal mission.

In the original post, you’ll find a download link to the PDF version in the section with the heading “ A Little Gift for You.”

The template features four pages of guided writing activities to help flesh out your mission statement so that it resonates with your life’s work.

Each page features generous spaces on which to write your reflections and other notes related to the guide questions/writing prompts.

Final Thoughts

A personal mission statement gives you clarity about the direction you want to go in life, how you’ll get there, and how to best help others along the way.

Hopefully these personal mission templates we’ve shared with you today will inspire you to craft a mission statement that paints the best picture of who you are and what you’re meant to do in life. If you need a little more help, check out these personal mission statement generators .

Another beneficial tool for success you can tap into is your life purpose, and this post provides in-depth information about writing a life purpose statement .

Finally, if you are still wondering what to do with your life, check out this simple guide for finding the right answer .