"Creating my mission, vision, values has impacted my life in countless ways. Janae's methodology coupled with the user-friendly documents have propelled me into living my best life. Another remarkable effect is the joy and satisfaction that I feel after completing a goal in line with my mission, vision, values. Every year keeps getting better and better living life this way. Thank you, Janae."
- Julie Wylie
"I'm always searching for ways to enhance my life and am so glad I had the opportunity to hear Janae Bower present. After meeting Janae, I was inspired to act in so many areas of my life. The one action for which I am most excited to have acted upon - after many past attempts - is in creating amission statement for myself that clearly identifies who I am and my purpose. While I have gone through past exercises on roles, values and vision, I repeatedly stopped short of creating a mission statement. Janae brought forward to me the essential importance of the guiding light a mission statement can have in my life - I am so grateful for this."
- Kathy Lester
Kathy has over 20 years of business development and marketing experience, primarily inprofessional services marketing. She is currently a Practice Area Manager atFaegre & Benson, a law firm based in Minneapolis.
Notice the title of this E-Guide is Can’t Live Without IT. IT is the “one thing” I believe any person can’t live without: a one-page, written mission, vision and values (MVV) statement about yourself and what matters most to you. You will feel both empowered and powerful by officially documenting your own personal MVV. Since I believe so strongly in value of a personal MVV, it’s my gift to you and others! This E-guide is designed as a do-it-yourself and step-by-step format with fill-the-the blank formulas and personal samples of MVV statements.
Q. What Do You Mean By Mission, Vision and Values Statement?
While there is no right or wrong way to describe a MVV, my research and experience shows common threads that I’ve included in my definitions.
A mission represents who you are. It is an affirmative statement that expresses your purpose.
A vision represents what you dream about becoming or having in your life. It is a future-oriented, compelling action statement that expresses the ideal for what you want in all the areas of your life.
Your values define what you believe in and stand for - the ideals for how you want to conduct yourself. Knowing the beliefs or principles for guiding your life, you can tailor your behavior to match what you value.
Q. I Have Some Objections to Developing an MVV for Myself. How Can You Help Me Overcome These?
I hear many objections as to why people don’t create an MVV, the three most common being:
1. Lack of time. Many people put in tremendous hours every week just surviving their busy lives. Doing an MVV is the last thing that they feel they have time for.
Solution: Taking time to do your MVV in the short-term will actually save you time in the long run. Yes, it will initially take time to reflect, review and reassess your life in order to develop your MVV. Yet in the long-term you will save time because you’ve determined the right direction for your life.
2. Lack of interest. You may not see a reason for or have little interest in officially defining the purpose, dreams and standards for your life.
Solution: Doing this might not seem interesting to you at first. Yet if you knew that doing so would help you become more focused and successful in the long-term, I think this would become very interesting to you!
3. Lack of expertise. Writing a great MVV isn’t an area of expertise you have.
Solution: Great news – you don’t need it! YOU and only you are the expert for your life and that is all you need to create your MVV. There are experts, guides and tools available to help you with the process of creating your MVV. I became an expert in this process by reviewing everything out there when I created a MVV for myself. What I realized was lacking is a step-by-step guide and fill-in-the-blank template for those who want to quickly and easily create their MVV. So I developed this guide that has tremendously helped me and others along the way.
Q. Why should I have my own MVV?
Having a one-page statement that defines, sets goals and establishes standards for your life is the key foundation for having a successful and fulfilling life. Here are 7 compelling, must-have reasons why you want to get started now creating or revising your MVV.
1. Provides direction and focus for your life that you intentionally create
Focused direction that you intentionally create for your life is critical to succeeding. When you take time to go through the process of intentionally defining the purpose, goals and principles for your life the results are powerful. To create something with intention is to do so with a thoughtful and purposeful approach. It’s not about going through the motions and writing the buzz words that other successful people have as part of their MVV. It is about getting fully absorbed in the process of hand selecting the right words to convey the right meaning for your life. Your MVV should be an outer symbol of the inner expression it took to create it; and thus signify what’s important to you.
2. Documents the foundation to achieve your dreams and goals
It empowers you to put in writing the foundation for what you hope to achieve in your lifetime. Research shows over and over again the power of writing out your goals and dreams. This one-page, MVV document becomes a great tool to share the aspirations with others.
3. Ensures accountability to stay committed to what's most important.
Accountability is a challenge for many people because we don’t have a boss that will hold us accountable to our life goals and objectives. Since we don’t have this built-in accountability system, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s most important to us or get distracted with the mundane tasks within your life.
4. Acts as a "governing constitution" in which you evaluate decisions and choose behaviors.
In our personal lives we lack a governing constitution like a board of directors or a superior to help you evaluate decisions. Therefore, it’s really important to have written rules or principles that guide you where you want to go and how you’ll get there. Your MVV sets the standards and expectations for what you want your life to be. It expresses timeless beliefs that are both important and specific.
5. Enables you to visualize what you want for your future
When you can see your future in your heart and mind, the chances of being able to achieve it are increased. You should review your MVV yearly to update and plan for what you want to create for the upcoming year. You should also review it daily. Looking at your MVV before you start your day allows you to be aligned with your MVV and visualize a successful day.
6. Challenges, motivates and encourages you to go to the next level
Whom do you have in your life to push you to reach your full potential? Your MVV can act as your mentor and coach to take you to the next level.
7. Addresses all the areas you need to create a integrated, balanced perspective for your life
A good, solid MVV includes all the aspects you need to have a balanced perspective for your work and life. It should be a living, breathing document that you reassess simultaneously as you reassess your life. As you evolve, your MVV can symbolize your evolution. It includes the difference you want to make and legacy you want to leave for your life.
Do not wait any longer to put off what is one of the most important things you can take time for. Use this E-Guide now to go for IT!
- Janae Bower
Inspirational Speaker, Award-Winning Author & Training Consultant