Lesson 5 The mission statement

Below are lecture materials attached to the YouTube video The mission statement.

Exercise 4: Mission statement

Write your mission statement. Your goal is the concrete specific thing you want to accomplish. Your mission on the other hand is your deeper, more meaningful, subjective reason for doing what it is you do. It is why you will fight against long odds, why you will continue to struggle in the face of defeat, and why you will sacrifice and delay gratification to achieve your dreams and objectives. Your mission statement is the embodiment of your “why”. Why am I doing this, why is it important to me, and why am I putting myself through all this potential adversity, hardship, and disappointment. If we can get in touch with our “why” it is often the key determinant in whether we will continue to strive to reach our goal when “the going gets tough”, and is probably the most important psychological factor involved in the ultimate achievement of an individuals goals.

There are numerous templates and information online to assist you in writing your mission statement. Most organizations today have some sort of mission statement to assist them to stay true to their core values, and focus their efforts and resources. A mission statement also assists with giving others outside the organization an idea of what the organization is about. In most cases, organizations make these declarations public and they can be accessed at the organization’s website. This information can assist in giving you ideas and direction in writing your mission statement.

REFERENCES

Garfield, C. & Bennett, H. (1984). Peak performance: Mental Training techniques of the world’s greatest athletes. New York, NY: Warner Books, INC.