A Personal Guidance System
Submitted by Tina Smith, Life Coach, TT&J Associates LLC
713-819-4745 / TinaSmithLifeCoach@gmail.com / www.TinaSmithLifeCoach.com
As a Life Coach I believe that business strategies can be applied to individuals. How a company is managed and lead will determine if it is successful. The same can be applied to an individual. How a person manages and leads their life will determine if they are successful. Companies utilize Purpose, Mission, Vision and Values (P/M/V/V) statements to explain to shareholders, customers and employees what they do. Over all these statements are used as a guidance system.
Writing a personal P/M/V/V will clearly define where you are going and how you plan on “showing up” as you make steps to get there. They are a way to focus your energy, actions, behaviors and decisions towards the things that are most important to you. You are creating your own personal guidance system to navigate YOUR life. I don’t believe that you necessarily have to share these statements unless you want to. They are “personal” statements. Note that it can prove beneficial to share with your spouse and to even write a family P/M/V/V.
So, what are these statements exactly? How are they defined and how do you write one? First, please do not create these statements around the aspect of your work portion of your life. You are more than your career or job. Define the whole, integrated person you want to be. These are not statements that you write overnight. It will take internal, thoughtful discovery. Be comfortable with rewrites. Know that this is an expression of your inner directions. An annual or regular review for minor changes is important as you change and bring different insights into your life.
A Purpose Statement is a sentence that declares your specific goal. It provides a concrete understanding of why you exist. Its primary role is to inspire you and guide you. Usually it is an enduring statement, one that will last a lifetime. Start with a good understanding of what you enjoy. What you want to achieve in your life. What legacy will you leave? Why do you exist?
A Mission Statement answers the question, “What are you attempting to accomplish?” It is a brief description of what you want to focus on. Stephen Covey uses visualizing your 80th birthday or 50th wedding anniversary and imagining what all your friends and family would say about you. A somewhat more morbid approach is writing your own obituary. As with all of these statements I enjoy reviewing as many examples as possible on the internet.
The difference between a mission statement and a vision statement is that a mission statement focuses on a present state while a vision statement focuses on the future. The mission statement is the what and the vision statement is the why. Let your imagination go and dare to dream. It is important that your vision statement captures your passion and purpose.
Values refer to the guiding principles and behaviors that you embody and expect to operate by. If Mission is the What, Vision is the Why, then Values are the How. They reflect and reinforce the desired manner in which you will achieve your P/M/V. Bottom line, this is how you truly act in your day to day interactions. You will find these are very important to you and perhaps even begin to look for them in people you surround yourself with.
In closing, I encourage you to write these statements in language that works for you. They can be as long or as short as you want. Rewrite as many times as you need to get it right and adjust for changes in your life. These are YOUR statements. So YOU choose how they look. Regardless of the definitions above or found on the internet, they must be the right tool for YOUR life. Just writing a personal and/or family P/M/V/V does not work… you have to choose to live it and use it. So write these statements so that they are useful to you and use them as your Personal Guidance System!
About Our Show Advisor: Walk a discovering path with Tina Smith, Life Coach. Currently living in Houston, she is a Native Texan. A single mom with two fabulous children who is rediscovering life and herself. Most recently with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center as Associate Director of Performance Improvement, Tina has been on the Harmonic Wealth Journey with James Ray International since February 2008, let go of 60 pounds, stronger, healthier, and outrageously fantastic! Transitioned careers to Life Coaching and ignited the sparkle in her eyes every time a client steps into a new discovery. Life is meant to be lived! Tina Smith has facilitated both individuals and teams through the achievement of their defined game for over 20 years. Coaching personal, volunteer and professional contacts through individual sessions and education courses centering on leadership, change and performance improvement. She creates with an idealistic outlook while valuing the welfare of people. Facilitating committees and board meetings in formulating strategic goals and operational objectives with an innovative and fun slant. Tina coaches people who are ready to remove their blocks and move forward with their life. Life is abundant with opportunities. Are you ready to discover yours?
