Surefire Ways to Live Out Your Mission Statement

Mike St. Pierre is a sought-after speaker and author. He hosts The Daily Saint, a productivity blog focusing on work-life balance. Visit www.thedailysaint.com for more information.

As I'm writing this, my wife and I are about to celebrate our 9^th wedding anniversary and we both laugh whenever I mention the phrase "mission statement??. There we were, newly married and steeped in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People methodology and of course I wanted to create a family mission statement. The only problem was that I wrote it by myself and hadn't a clue as to how one lives out a mission statement. Cary sort of tagged along, supporting my personal improvement kick. Now, a few years older and hopefully wiser, I can say that I have a better understanding of how to create and then follow through on a mission statement. What follow are my surefire ways for living out one's mission statement:

Start with your gut. As you begin to draft a mission statement (or edit if you already have one) it's important to listen to your gut. Where are you at right now in life? For example, if you're at a low point, your mission might be written with a hint of recapturing balance or control. On the other hand, if you're a top-flight performer, your mission might be more about getting to the next level or sustaining high levels of success. Start with your gut.

Write and then write again. No mission statement can take place solely through internal dialogue. Get it out of your head and onto paper. Be bold, putting down words and phrases that capture who you want to be. Write "me?? in the middle of the page and then write down every blessed adjective that describes who you are and who you want to be. Now, draw lines from "me?? to each adjective, forming a web of descriptors. Next, highlight or circle those words that really resonate with who you want to be. Let it flow as you continue in the discernment phase. I generally take about 5-10 pages of paper when I go through a major overhaul of my mission so grab a notebook and get right to it! Write and then write again.

Keep it simple. Can there be any better advice? It was Thoreau who said, in the 19^th century "Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.?? I believe that a good mission statement is simple to the core. It must be if it is to be clear and focused on results. While most organizational mission statements are complex and lengthy, we can learn from such success stories as Eddie Bauer who've managed to keep things rather brief, "To give you such outstanding quality, value, service, and guarantee that we may be worthy of your high esteem.?? Your mission statement should reflect the way that you think and should sound the way that you speak. Keep it simple.

Make it universal. Great mission statements apply to both work and life. Let your mission be one of universal application- work, home, community, etc. Rather than having one mission for work and one for my role as a husband and dad, I've whittled it down to one seamless mission statement that works for me and you can easily do the same. Make it universal.

Memorize and recite daily. Of course you'll want to memorize your mission and then recite it daily. You may want to order some free business cards from www.vistaprint.com and put one in your purse or breast pocket as you start the day. This will remind you of who you want to be and what you're all about. Create a recitation ritual where you say your mission in the same place and at the same time. I generally recite my mission at the end of my morning quiet time and before the day gets crazy. Memorize and recite daily.

Evaluate annually. The hard work is done and now all you have to do is evaluate on an annual basis. Why not take a day off to get away, by yourself and put down on paper the ways that you've found success (and maybe some failure too!) with your mission statement. Consider it a "missional retreat?? where you can be alone with your thoughts. This can be done around New Year's or at some other time of year that works for you. Your mission statement may last for five years or for only one but stepping back and evaluating keeps your perspective fresh and your mind clear. Evaluate annually.

Mission statements work as long as they are created with thoughtfulness and simplicity. Following through by daily recitation and evaluation then makes your statement concrete and gives it the space to guide you to higher levels of success. Go for it!

Want to know my mission? Send me an email or post a comment and I'll be glad to share my statement with you. You can email me at mike@mikestpierre.com

Timeless Advice for the Aspiring Individual

Brett Farmiloe travels the country to interview people who are passionate about their work. Read about his 2007 tour at http://www.pursuethepassion.com

I've always been told that if you don't know how to figure something out, then you need to go to the source. You have to ask someone who has figured it out.

Two days after graduation I was trying to figure out life. I decided to go to the source, which I concluded to be successful professionals that had figured life out.

This e-book is a compilation of quotes and photos that I gathered from interviewing inspiring leaders about life's twists and turns. It offers timeless advice to any aspiring individual seeking to determine a direction, or those who wish to better themselves in their careers.

http://www.pursuethepassion.com/ebook/PTP_timeless_advice.pdf

So check it out! It is the end result of one glorious summer journey, and the culmination of approximately three thousand years of life experience (average interviewee age of 40, multiplied by 75 interviews).

It will be five minutes well spent.

What Not to Wear to Work

By Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston is a copywriter for a startup company by day and a freelance writer by night. Learn more on her website, or blog.

College taught me how to write a killer press release, how to survive on peanut butter and fat-free Snackwells, even how to rotate my collection of Gap sweaters between biweekly laundry sessions. But listen up, Class of 2007, because I doubt your class syllabus covered how to dress for work. My transition from college student to cubicle dweller was far from seamless, but I have a few words of advice to avoid a major wardrobe malfunction.

Before I started working full-time, my friend and I picked out a linen suit for my first day. We thought its subtle pinstripes and tailored cut made it a classic. "You'll be able to mix and match the jacket and pants well into fall," my friend assured me. I probably wore it a total of three times. After braving the sweaty subway on my first morning commute, I arrived looking (and feeling) like a rumpled piece of beige parchment paper. Lesson #1: linen suits only look good in the J. Crew catalog. The rest of world wears wool.

I quickly discovered coworkers only wore suits during my interview to make a professional first impression. A normal day at the office meant Ann Taylor twinsets and kitten heels. Unfortunately, after investing in my linen suit, Ann Taylor was out of my budget, so I made due with my Gap sweater collection and felt like I was there for Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Lesson #2: don't blow all your graduation money on a new work wardrobe. Wait until you've settled into your job, collected a paycheck or two, and observed what others are wearing.

My favorite pair of khakis from college had gotten so threadbare that I covered the holes on the back pockets with butterfly appliqués. I thought they looked unique, but I'm sure my colleagues thought they were way too cutesy for work. I had passed into a world where butterflies khakis and college t-shirts just didn't fit. Lesson #3: if you have to ask yourself "is this appropriate for my office?" then it probably isn't.

If dressing for a day at the office was fraught with potential faux pas, then finding an outfit for a night-time event was even harder. I spent several days planning the perfect evening ensemble, which I envisioned as high heels and a sophisticated black dress, ala Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. But as I bent over a wrinkled tablecloth, flashing a little too much leg, I felt more like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. From then on I wore dress pants and ballet flats. Lesson #4: ladies, please save the stilettos for Saturday nights.

Another time I arrived at my company's annual luncheon wearing a powder blue suit I had purchased after the infamous linen suit met an early retirement at Goodwill. I thought my new suit's conservative cut and stylish brooch was just what the occasion required. My coworkers, on the other hand, all chose sophisticated variations on black. Who knew salmon and mini-quiches were so somber? The planning committee seated me at a table in the corner as far away from the podium as possible, claiming they wanted staff members strategically placed around the room. I saw right through that: I'd been seated at the equivalent of the kiddie table at Thanksgiving. Lesson #5: if you're unsure of the dress code, then ask. No one wants you dressed like an Easter egg in front of a client.

More recently I found a new job with a startup company. The dress code is relatively lax, so I can wear sweat pants or a suit if I want. Fleece and flannel are tempting, but if I dress down, then I feel silly going to a last-minute meeting or delegating projects to my coworkers. And I know I'll get carded when I meet up with friends after work. Lesson #6: dressing like a professional makes you feel like a professional. And do you really want to get mistaken for an intern during happy hour? Dress accordingly. Long distance calling cards.

Finding Happiness, On the Other Side of the World

by Nitant Bhartia

It's not everyday that we meet a guy with such a great perspective on life. Nitant Bhartia lives in Bangalore, India and is just finishing up his Bachelor's in Information Science. He also works as an intern at a software firm called EDS. He really enjoys what he does, but is troubled by the people around him who don't share the same luxury. Here's a little insight to help you stay on the path toward happiness like Nitant.

Remember the last time you sat down peacefully and thought about what truly makes you happy? No? Well hopefully this will get you thinking…

Most of us are so busy with our daily routines that we tend to forget what we aim to achieve as an ultimate goal – what everything in life finally boils down to. No, it's not money…I'm referring to something far more superior, far more real and true.

Happiness! Come to think of it, that's ultimately what we all wish for in life. Everything we love provides us with it. If you observe closely enough, happiness comes in just one type, no matter where you find it. Whether through money, fame, success or even shopping, it has only one face to it – a happy face.

It takes some courage and effort to direct ones energy toward achieving happiness. My advice is to frequently self-assess the level of joy in your life. Don't wait for it to come tomorrow. Make it happen today. Get addicted to it.

Easier said than done, right? It may take a bit of an attitude adjustment before you're ready to maximize the pleasures of your life. Here are some points:

1. Set small realistic goals. More Positive Results = More happiness.
2. Do charity work. Spend time with those less fortunate than yourself. A smile on their face brings a bigger one on yours.
3. Don't look for material happiness. It will always be limited by the money you make.
4. Feel happy for others, genuinely. You will feel truer within.
5. Do something constructive that gives you pleasure, everyday. Be it cooking, dancing, blogging or anything else under the sun.
6. If you're stuck with a job that you don't like, find another one you do like. You can't spend half of your life doing something you don't enjoy. Phone cards.

Happiness is not expensive. It's not even for sale, but it's priceless. It sometimes comes in small doses, but there is no end to which it can grow. Nurture it, constantly. You deserve every bit of it.

The Traditional Workplace: A Survival Guide for Millennials

by Jacqui Buschor

Jacqui is a frequent visitor at Employee Evolution and always dishes out some great dialogue. We don't always see eye-to-eye on every issue, but I think that's why we like her so much. Check out her guide to surviving the traditional work environment…

Although many companies are putting forth a valiant effort to adjust to the needs of the new millennial workforce, most of us are still stuck in our typical entry-level jobs in a traditional work environment. I am, more or less, a member of the latter, but I'm not the type of person who can stomach prolonged boredom, so I've developed a short list of ways to survive the traditional workplace.

Volunteer for a new project

In every office I've ever worked in, there has always been a list of great ideas that no one has had the time implement. Oftentimes, these projects require creative capital to get them off the ground that will take more time that people further up the chain can spare.

While working at a small-business trade association, I heard people talking about wanting to get our members more involved in meeting directly with their legislators. They had the basics of the idea figured out, but no one had the time to sit down, hammer out the details, and make it happen. So I volunteered. The project gave me something of my own that I could be passionate about, increased lobbying credibility of the organization, and added a nice line to my resume.

Chances are your company has similar projects you could tackle. Keep your ears open for something that interests you and speak up. Not only will the higher-ups be impressed with your initiative, you could end up with a nice resume builder, and possibly even a little extra leverage the next time you negotiate salary.

Lend a hand outside your department

For many of us in entry-level positions, we're required to put in 40 hours, even though the job only takes about 25. The next time you can't stand another moment of mind-numbing web surfing, take a walk around the office and offer your assistance to another department.

I know it sounds simple, but there are several reasons why it's worth your time. First, it gives you a chance to make a new friend, and having friends at work is a vital part of feeling satisfied with your job. Second, you can explore a new area of your field you may not have otherwise considered, opening up new career possibilities. And, most selfishly, it never hurts to have someone you can ask for a favor later.

Find a mentor

This is, by far, the most difficult of my suggestions, but also the most rewarding. There are very few people who truly grasp the fine art of mentoring, and those who do are in high demand, so they likely won't fall into your lap. You'll have to prove that you're worth their time investment, so go in ready to explain your goals and how your new mentor could help you reach them.

Mentors can help build your career on many levels. The most important is that a good mentor will be anxious to get you to the right events and introduce you to the right people. They'll be proud of your work and willing to tell the big players all about it, and you'll inherit part of the network it may have otherwise taken you years to build.