As I continue this series on “Doing What Matters the Most,” let’s explore how to create meaningful and achievable goals within the various roles that we play in each season of life.
Think of a high-level goal for a specific role as a “mission or vision statement” for that role. If you’ve been professionally involved with organizations in any capacity, you’ve probably helped to create, or at least been exposed to, the crafting and implementation of such statements. Almost every entity, be it corporate, civic, or spiritual, has some kind of lofty statement that describes what it’s trying to become or achieve.
Here’s a few examples:
Walt Disney World: “To be one of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information, using its portfolio of brands to differentiate its content, services and consumer products.”
The United Way: “To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.”
Amazon.com: “To be Earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.”
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: “Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.”
Few of us have likely created a similar description for our own personal or professional endeavors, and it’s even less likely that you’ve done so in the specific context of a hat that you wear such as manager, spouse, parent, volunteer, etc. Give this a legitimate shot, for it’s a powerful exercise that generates clarity; and clarity often fuels energy, motivation, and confidence, which leads to desired results.
Here’s some examples of goals, or mission/vision statements, I have for a few of my roles. They’re pretty simple, and I’m leaving specific implementation tactics to the next few blogs in this series:
Role: Spiritual Being
Goal: Embrace progressive mindfulness intentions and practices each day.
Roles: Aly’s Dad, Olivia’s Dad
Goal: Express unconditional love to each, while providing a relevant mix of support and direction.
Role: Writer
Goal: Produce, market, and sell quality books, complemented by regular blogging and freelance pieces.
Pause and ask yourself: Why do you do what you do within a specific role? What does a successful outcome look like for you?
These are questions we sometimes flirt with on the go, but seldom sit down and fully engage. Write them out, and chances are you’ll move closer toward birthing them into reality.
Growing Your Strengths
I’m a Nashville-based writer, talent strategist, and certified executive coach. On this website, I primarily write stories featuring a diverse group of professionals whose examples of applying mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling will help you love your career and enhance your quality of life.
These characters face familiar pain points: nonstop change, accelerating economic and technological disruption, and the collective “noise” that grows louder each day. The impact, for these professionals and for many of us, has been confusion, distraction, and stress.
Until, however, each of these individuals chooses to do something new: practicing mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling habits, and growing them into strengths…strengths that respond to change rather than just react.
Strengths that you can develop as well.
Don’t settle for the confusion, distraction, and stress. You’re stronger than that, and capable of much more.
Choose to do something new. Today. Start with this post, check out my books, and join our learning community to receive free, exclusive content via email each month with timely guidance on applying mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling.
