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

The New Recruiting Psychographic Persona

By Danielle Ouellette 

This was a piece I put together as part of a presentation to my company’s HR department as background for redesigning their recruiting materials. Although some of it seems pretty obvious to a twentysomething, some of the people that it was presented to were absolutely amazed. 

“I” statements that reflect what recent graduates are looking for: 

The most important things to me are my coworkers and the company’s culture. I want to work with people who are enthusiastic, stimulating, friendly, competent, and fun. I like to be able to form friendships with my coworkers and also want to have a good relationship with my boss. I think coworkers and management should be approachable, especially if I need help. 

A competitive salary is also important to me. With college loans looming, I’m very concerned about money. As it becomes the norm to have an undergrad degree I would like to maintain a competitive edge by pursuing a graduate degree. I am very interested in finding an employer who will help finance my MBA. 

I would like to be appreciated for my accomplishments. It’s important for me to receive actionable and detailed feedback, so that I can improve and exceed your expectations.  

I am aggressive and constantly seeking to improve myself. I want to be challenged. I am looking for a job that allows me to participate fully in the projects I am working on. I am comfortable working on teams, in a supportive or leadership role.  

I want the work I do to mean something. I would like to work with a product that correlates with my ideals and may be important to society.

Location is important as well. I’m thinking about: How far will I be from friends and family? How long will my commute be in the morning? What kind of activities in the area can I participate in?  

I think volunteering is important. I am concerned about politics, socio-economic impact, and the environment. I’m looking for opportunities to give back and the ways that your company will support me in these endeavors.  

I want to be able to make connections with those in and beyond my peer group. It’s in my nature to network. 

I may view this job as temporary, a stepping stone in my still-as-yet-undecided career path. Give me a reason to stay. Give me a reason to tell my friends why they should work here, too. 

I am constantly connected to the Internet , to my friends. My cellphone is on 24/7. I am on Facebook daily and might even have a Myspace, too, but don’t check it often.  

When I look for a job I check my college’s career search engine, the local paper’s classifieds online, craigslist.com, and maybe Monster.com. I will also try to find someone who worked for the company to get the inside scoop about the corporate culture.  

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.

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.

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.

Guest Post: How Much is the Perfect Resume Worth to You?

Today’s post is by Potres.  We met him through Employee Evolution a few months ago and have had some great conversations about work and life since.  Potres is 28-years-old and has a background in non-profit, journalism and business.

While in college, I saw my classmates putting a lot of work into participating in student organizations, voluntary research activities, workshops and conferences, mainly because “it looks good on a resume”. In our final year of school, most of them were not so much into finding jobs they’d find fulfilling, but rather, jobs with big name firms, whose culture, organizational structure and policies they didn’t care much about. “I need to put something really good on my resume and then I’ll be able to find a job that I really like,” was their rationale. 

I can understand the importance of a resume for the hiring process, but I cannot understand how building a resume can almost become a profession in itself. 

It is understandable that in the early stages of their career, people have to make sacrifices and investments so they can move forward.  Some people might know exactly what they are doing; the results of their research and networking, specific internships, or leadership experiences, will largely help someone land that particular job with the company they admire.  

On the other hand, there are people who were told by their parents, career counselors, and authors of outdated books, that building a good resume is the way to land a good job. And in the early stages of your career you have to work hard to build a resume so you can enjoy the many “perks” of it later. The major problem with this way of thinking is that a lot of these people get to learn about how important a good resume is for their career before their career even starts. 

Here is what I am struggling to understand: Is taking a lame job and spending hours handing out flyers for your student organization really worth the time, effort, and energy? Are people who are trying to improve their careers by doing what “some day will look good” really better off than all the others? And finally, if you can buy a right to add any single sentence on your resume, how much would you be willing to pay for it? What would you be willing to do to earn that right?  

I remember buying ridiculously expensive “things” just because I convinced myself they were worth the price. They were really cool and I’d be able to use them for years. Now, my storage unit is full of stuff that I COULD use forever.  I just don’t care enough about them any more. Changes in my interests, technology and the market have made all of them obsolete. 

Think of that one “wild card sentence” that would look really good on your resume.  Think about what it is that you would be willing to give up so you could have it there. Whatever price you pay for it, make sure you save the receipt.

Guest Post: Making My First Post-College Career Decision

Today’s post is by Devin Reams.  We met Devin after he left some great comments on our site.  Devin is a college senior.  In his post, he discusses his decision to go corporate rather than diving straight into entrepreneurship.  Enjoy.

I sometimes suffer from an identity crisis. Am I an entrepreneur? Do I want to be my own boss? Would I like to climb the ranks? Can I grab for power and get what I want in life? The decision I’ve made right now, coming out of college, is my attempt to answer those questions.

Last October, over a half-year ago, I saw job postings for all the public accounting firms. I shrugged it off “knowing” these jobs were for the December graduates. Haha. Apparently not. I panicked. “It’s time to job search already?!” I had already missed deadlines. So, I scrambled, contacted professors, talked to the companies and within a week landed a job. Phew. I felt relieved. I had taken care of my future. It was November and I wouldn’t even start until the following July.

But why did I feel the need to grab onto a job so quickly and so easily?

Cubicle Hell?

I went with one of the Big Four because I’ve already seen the corporate world and want to see more. I’ve been interning at a large telecommunications company for a year now. I’ve seen what the cubicle world is like and I don’t always enjoy it. But, I’m glad I’ve been there and experienced it. I’ve learned what I do and do not like, I’ve learned about people, communicating, working with others, office politics, and so on. I liken it to a romantic relationship: my first girlfriend taught me a lot about myself, but I’m sure there’s something better out there.

Learning is Key

In the last few years I’ve become interested in accounting (and always interested in technology). All the firms have groups that are a bit smaller, more specialized and end up working less hours with more pay. I figure, out of college this is the perfect job for me! I want to see new companies, new industries, different people and of course, learn a lot about what I already enjoy.

But, once I stop learning, the job is no fun. The firm is no longer doing for me what I, as a millennial, demand. Out of college my motivation to learn is intrinsic. If I’m no longer motivated and my needs are no longer fulfilled there’s no reason to stay put. Right? Therefore, I picked a career in public accounting because I want to learn. I’ve talked to the companies, I’ve heard from employees: I know I’ll learn.

Creating Opportunities

I see myself doing one of two things in life: becoming an executive somewhere or starting something successful on my own. Do I have lofty goals? Sure. Do I know how, when, or where I will achieve them? Hardly. But I know new opportunities can come with this job.

Additionally, since I have no ideas and little experience I’d rather go to work, learn on someone elses’ dime and see where it leads me. I have time, right? I will either come up with something on my own or continue to learn, do well, and fit into a position which I enjoy. It’s win-win because if I don’t I can simply move on to a new opportunity.

With all that said, I’m only 20. I’m young, I have time to make decisions. I’m far from my quarterlife crisis. I’m ready to go get my feet wet and see what this Employee Evolution is all about…

Guest Post Series

Today we are introducing the first post in our Guest Post series.  Since creating the Write Your Own Post section, we have received multiple requests to be featured.  Currently we are working with five people to be featured in the upcoming weeks.  The more interest we receive, the more frequently we will publish these guest posts.  Anyone interested in discussing their career decisions, office culture or anything remotely similar to the topic of Millennials at Work, please send an Email to Employee.Evolution@gmail.com.