Why a Personal Vision and Mission Statement is Essential for Life and Leadership | Waypoint 33

At Waypoint 33, we believe clarity and alignment are just as important for individuals as they are for organizations. A personal vision and mission statement acts like a compass — helping you stay true to your values, make confident choices, and build a life that aligns with who you are. Just as companies rely on vision and mission to guide their strategy, you can use your own to stay focused, balanced, and fulfilled.

Why you should create your personal vision and mission statement

As we all know, throughout the world many companies, teams, organizations, institutions and clubs have, at some level, a vision and/or a mission statement. Often, they serve as a foundation, helping to keep them on track and accomplishing what they've set out to do. So what does a company vision and mission statement have to do with you? In my opinion - alignment.

Without a personal vision and mission statement, how do you know you're doing what you love, living where you should be, or working within your true vocation? How do you know if your personal values and guiding principles are not aligned with the organization, club, company or other place you choose to spend your time? If you do not have them, taking the time to create them will help you understand if you are unintentionally creating unhappiness in your life and will help serve as your compass.

Creation

So, how do you create a personal vision and mission statement? While there are many great books and guides on creating one, I believe the steps can be quite simple.

• Take the time to assess your guiding values and principles. What values or principles serve as stones in your foundation? What do you believe is your true calling? What is your limit? Where do you see yourself, your family, in the future?

• Take some time to sit quietly, close your eyes, and visualize your ideal life. Who are you? Where do you live? What does your family life look like?

• Write down the principles, values, themes that exist within your visualizations.

• Sit and write your personal vision and mission statement for your life.

• Breathe and relax.

  
  

Examples

I share with you my personal mission and vision statement, as well as my guiding principles and values, as an example and aide in creating your own.

Personal Mission Statement

Laugh with, teach, inspire, love and care for my family, friends and colleagues in the pursuit of their goals and in their time of need.

Personal Vision Statement

I am standing before a crowded room of people; I am laughing. Sharing my past experiences, joys, struggles, failures, hardships, idols and mentors, good times and bad. I am inspiring them to do their best, to take control and challenge themselves in their lives. I am motivating the room by being open and vulnerable. I am laughing with them, together we are happy.

I am a servant leader. I oversee and support teams at a national level. I spend my workdays collaborating with front-line employees and every team in between on process improvement. I work with our customer facing teams on customer satisfaction and actively work to improve the environment employees work within. I serve those I report to, my peers, and those I support below me equally.

I live in a warm place, where I visit the beach often to sit in the sun and swim in the surf. I spend my free time relaxing with my family and helping them grow. I love and play intensely, savoring every moment and sharing my experiences. In the evenings I write short stories and motivational fables.

I am loved, I am content, I am a family man, and I am more than my grandfather ever knew I could be.

My Guiding Principles and Values

• Give more than you take – I focus on giving of myself to others in need through mentoring, volunteering, coaching, sharing personal stories of my successes and missteps. I actively work to leave any place or situation better than I found it.

• Speak with a balance of humility and power – I work to actively listen to those around me and speak only when I feel I have value to add. I listen to their point of view and acknowledge I’ve heard them. When mentoring or coaching, speak so as to uplift the person through humble speech, meeting them at their level.

• Love and laugh like there’s no tomorrow – I share my feelings of appreciation for others, comfort them, and show my love for them genuinely and often. I work to bring positivity and humor to all and love the challenge of turning a sad or negative situation into a positive one.

• Loyalty – Have the back of those close to you, your team, your company, and God. Speak positively of each them. Never speak behind their back. If times are rough and it seems as though they have abandoned you, keep your head and work the relationship. Give your best to them, even if it scares you to be vulnerable. Never abandon them in their time of need.

• Creativity – This is the DNA which makes the world a magical, exciting and ever-changing place. Use this in a pinch or often, never sparingly. Challenge the status quo and find a new way. Gaze upon the stars, daydream, and linger in moments of fantastic thoughts of what could be, for if you’re willing to work for it you can often make it a reality.

• Honesty – Without it, love is not possible. Once one forgets the importance of honesty all credibility can be lost. Be honest, even when it is tough to do so. Demand it from others and work to give it more than you receive.

• Dedication – Give your focused efforts to the situation, person, task, team, and company. Don’t give anything less than one hundred percent of yourself. Never give up just because it’s getting hard. If you commit to doing something, do it.

• Courage – Be vulnerable by talking about your weaknesses and fears. Stand up for those who cannot do so themselves. Do what’s right, every single day. If your belief is honorable, educated and right, don’t succumb to peer pressure or groupthink even if it means losing friends. Do what needs to be done even when fear tries to paralyze you.

• Integrity – Keep your word, do what you commit to, be honest, provide quality feedback, be respectful of others’ views and beliefs. Be present and a foundation of support to those around you. Act on unethical behavior.

• Positivity – This can be jet fuel in dire situations and infectious to others, motivating and elevating them when applied correctly. Keep your head up, even in tough times. Focus on the good, even in a bad situation, as it can serve as a lighthouse in the storm.

• Inspire – Plant seeds of what could be in the minds of others. Don’t tell them how to do something, instead tell them the ideal place you want to be and let them take you there. Share personal stories of struggles or failures and how they were overcome so they can use them as a reference when needed. Push others to improve themselves by calling out small successes often.

  
  

In Conclusion

While personal vision and mission statements come in all sizes and shapes, they are all effective compasses in our lives. If you do not have them established already, or you simply have forgotten about them, take some time this new year and spend it on yourself. While some will find themselves continuing in the same direction, others may find themselves taking a new one.

Waypoint 33 Perspective

At Waypoint 33, we help leaders and organizations do the same — align vision with action, clarify purpose, and create strategies that inspire progress. Whether you’re building a personal mission or guiding a company through transformation, the journey begins with clarity and the confidence to move forward.

Every journey starts with a conversation. If you’d like to explore how these ideas could fit your strategy, I’d love to connect. You can reach me directly at randall@waypoint33.com.

— Randall RenéFounder & Principal Advisor, Waypoint 33