“If you don’t know where you’re going,
it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
~Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland
What is your passion? Your purpose? Your calling? What gets you up in the morning and makes your heart pound with anticipation? For me, it's my writing. From pen and paper to the keyboard, my days are filled with the process of bringing stories to life and working towards publication.
How do you focus and make the most of your vocation? How do you accomplish your goals? The answer starts with writing a personal mission statement. Your mission statement gives a spotlight on what is important to you, the direction you will take to accomplish it, and who will benefit. A mission statement can help you remember why you do what you do! Your mission statement can grow and change with you.
These are the steps I followed.
1. I read personal mission statements.
“To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and apply ethical principles to make a significant difference.” Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup Company
“To live each day with courage, compassion, and curiosity; to become a better version of myself each day, and to inspire others in my path to do the same.” Kara Benz
2. Brainstorm and make a word bank.
nurture, compassion, kindness, empathy, creative process, playfulness, motivation, positive
energy, writing, imagination, community, contributor, voice, magic of words, readers,
heart/mind connection, universal truths, emergent writers, workshops.
3. Keep it brief. (30 words or less.)
4. Play with the words. Rewrite your statement.
My mission is to ignite imagination and nurture empathy through writing stories, to engage emergent writers in finding their voice, and to be a positive motivator in the kid-lit community.
Live your passion. Know where you are going. Accomplish your goals. Share your personal mission statements with us in the comments.
Such a great example of omission statement and how to write one. Janie, you do live yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy.
DeleteLove this post! Here's mine: My mission is to write stories that help children understand the world and their place in it, exemplify a supportive, professional perspective, and provide leadership and connection within the children’s literature community.
ReplyDeleteFabulous. Thanks for sharing Carrie.
DeleteThat's a terrific mission statement!
DeleteAwesome post, Janie! I love your mission statement. I'll have to sit down and do this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina. i enjoyed working on mine.
DeleteThanks, Janie. Words are whirling in my head. I think I can roll out a mission statement soon! Love this post.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Mona, Please share when you have the chance.
DeleteThanks! This is a great way to make us think about our creative endeavours.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Sue.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Janie! I've needed this kick in the pants for a while, so am glad to have found it today. ;) I'll be writing mine later today!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Please share when you are finished.
DeleteThank you, Janie, for giving these examples and tips for writing a mission statement! I needed this :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Charlotte!
DeleteGreat post, Janie! I need to write a mission statement. I think it will help me navigate the rocky waters of this business. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. It will be good to find an anchor!
DeleteWowza! That magical ink & pen image got my attention.
ReplyDeleteAppreciations for engaging our neurons, Janie.
Thank you, Jan!
DeleteLove you mission statement, Janie! Now I've got to put some thought into my own. As someone with a touch of ADD who spends much time helping others achieve their missions, and who often blows in the direction of today's breeze, this will be a challenge for me. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeletePlease share and enjoy creating your statement.
DeleteMy writing/illustrating mission is to help children engage their minds through words and visuals that will open them to new thoughts and possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWhen that's accomplished, then their imaginations will soar with new thoughts and ideas of how they could apply this to themselves for the betterment of all.
Thank you for sharing Virginia.
DeleteWonderful! I'm going to go work on my mission statement; I really like this approach. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, Christy.
DeleteHere's my Mission Statement:
ReplyDeleteMy desire to write picture books for children is to celebrate literacy, honor young readers, and to plant a seed of creativity & knowledge in their minds, as the listeners request to hear and read the book again and again.
Thank you, Janie.
Perhaps the followers of the GROG would like some additional information about Mission Statements. Check out this post from 2015:
https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2015/08/create-mission-statement-by-suzy-leopold.html
Thank you, Suzy. Love plant a seed of creativity!
DeleteThis helped me to revise my own mission statement: My passion is to make Scripture and History Come Alive for my Readers. Then I added: “to spark curiosity and introduce little known young people who made a difference in their world. You can, too!” Thanks for the encouragement, Janie!
ReplyDeleteThat is exciting Jarm! Great job!
ReplyDeleteWriting a mission statement can be confusing and difficult, but your steps and examples made the process easier, Janie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea. That’s what I was going for😊
DeleteGreat ideas, Janie! Mission statements are important guides for us all, and your suggestions make it easy-peasy!
ReplyDeleteLemon-squeasy. Thank you.
DeleteThis is such a helpful article with excellent info links. Thank you! I'm working on building a website right now and this has had me stumped.
ReplyDeleteSusan, so happy to help. Good luck on your website. Metaphors be with you.❤️
ReplyDeleteI Love this post and am now inspired to write my own mission statement.
ReplyDeleteDarlene, Fabulous. Glad the post was useful. Please share when you have yours written. 😊
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