Why invest time in a personal career mission statement?

The thing is, before I had a personal mission statement I was going nowhere. I was being blown about by the wind – meaning; others opinions and expectations of me were running my career choices. But when I finally read about and sat down to write my mission statement my whole career trajectory changed.

I want to share with you the importance of having a career mission statement. You might be at the stage where you are only just starting out or interested in taking your career to the next level – whatever stage you are at, investing time in creating a clear mission statement can be a career-changer. My mission statement helps me to stay focused, motivated, and aligned with my true passions, values and goals.

When you create a personal career mission statement the focus needs to be about reflecting on what truly matters to you. Asking questions like:

• What do I want?
• What are my top values?
• What gets me up in the morning?

By starting to look into and answering these kinds of questions, you can start to craft a mission statement that serves as your North Star, guiding your decisions and actions. 

Benefits of a career mission statement

More engagement

It's amazing how you can revive the sense of purpose in your life by writing your career mission statement down. When you have a well-defined mission, you feel motivated and driven to achieve your goals. It highlights the reasons why you do what you do, placing you in a powerful position (even if employed) to be in charge of your destiny.

People who know what they want and love what they do are a great asset to any employer as they, many times, are far more engaged than those who find their purpose in a paycheck. 

Realigning with who you are

Especially during difficult times, having a written down mission statement, or even cutouts of images that speak to you on a vision board, will realign you with who you are and what it is you are willing or not willing to go for. It's a powerful tool that not only boosts your confidence but also makes you firmly stand in your own power.

Making the best possible decisions

This also helps you make those all-important decisions – when to say yes to something and when to step back and produce a no. It ensures that your decisions are aligned with your true aspirations, preventing you from getting sidetracked by short-term gains or external pressures.

Knowing what you do and don’t want helps you navigate the career landscape and make the best possible choices and decisions that will take you that one step closer to generating a life and career that you love.

Make the time

Make time to reflect on these questions, write it down or cut it out of paper. Put on your favourite tunes, close the door and just do a bit of dreaming. Nothing is more important than your alignment with yourself. When you do align everyone around you will benefit from it. Guaranteed.

Revisit it often, and let it inspire you to achieve the things you came to do in this lifetime. Remember, your career is a journey, and having a clear mission will make it come true.