1. The Path You Take: Developing a Mission Statement Seven Counties Services May 12, 2011 Shannon D. Staten University of Louisville sdstat01@louisville.edu

2. Why have a mission statement? ► Help you make decisions at work and at home ► Harness you to what is true ► Cut away what is false or less important ► Serve as career insurance, the job becomes the means rather than the end or side trip

3. “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to lead a life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau Pay It Forward In Pursuit of Happyness

4. Past Influences “Nothing affects the environment of a child so much as the unlived life of a parent.” Carl Jung

5. What did you do for fun when you were a child? What were your favorite toys or games? What did people think you would do when you grew up? What have your parents told you they wish they had done? Past Influences

6. Values Values: something of great importance. According to the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, 1996 Edition “the worth or desirability of a thing, or the qualities on which these depend”. “the worth or desirability of a thing, or the qualities on which these depend”.

7. Principles Differ from Values in that they are the guidelines for human conduct that reflect that value The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus defines principles as “a personal code of conduct”.

8. Present Gifts and Talents ► Skills or strengths that have been developed ► Skills or strengths that seem to come naturally

9. Values and Principles ► What excites you? ► What motivates you?

10. Take Action ► Do you prefer to: Lead or Follow? Perform or Complete? Create or Make?

11. Roadblocks What self habits slow you down?

12. Purpose or Projects ► What stories in the news tend to draw your attention? ► Where do you spend your voluntary time? ► What keeps you in the job?

13. What do you Stand for? To have a true mission that encompasses your life, your career, your dreams, and your talents, you must be able to identify the key word or phrase at the center of your soul. What is the one thing that you believe the strongest about?

14. Pulling it together ► Fulfilling life statement ► Mission statement My personal mission is to use my unique talents of __________ and __________ to ____________ and ___________ as I honor the importance of ____________ and ___________ for ____________ and ____________.