Define your personal mission, life objectives, and values - A process

PLAN AND MANIFEST

For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a kind of self-reckoning, a critical evaluation of our lives, and the past several months has been a good time for such given the limits imposed on our normal activities. During my downtime, I attempted to take an honest look at where I am today and compare it with where I want to be tomorrow, before defining what I must do to get there. Importantly, I had to ask myself, "am I leading the life I set out to lead so many years ago?"

The answer to the preceding question lay in the "personal mission statement" and "life objectives" I had written for myself nearly three decades ago. As it turns out, I've done ok, and I still have many years to go, so, so far so good. The whole process - it doesn't take that long - was helpful and refreshing, and motivating with regard to my future. I suggest all of you, who haven't already, give it a whirl.

To help with the process, I have appended my mission statement, life objectives, and personal evaluation below. Feel free to duplicate the process I used, which is self-explanatory and easy to follow. But if you do, ensure you dig deep within yourself so your result reflects your life and person. Enjoy and please comment with your own ideas and suggestions.

“Greatness is a life mission, being the best is not about being better than anyone else but striving to be the best that you can and bringing out the best in others.”

Dominick Cruz, American MMA Fighter

MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

I will lead an enriching life full of many experiences. I will continually strive to improve myself and my position in life and I will attempt to better the lives of those persons that cross my path. I will be a good global citizen as I do my part, small as it may be, to help improve my country and the world.  I will unconditionally love my family and devote myself to their physical and emotional well-being. I will avoid overindulgence and unethical activities. I will maintain faith in a Higher Power, the future, and the world after.  I will preserve my health by following a regimented workout schedule and a healthy diet until I die.

SPECIFIC PERSONAL "LIFE" OBJECTIVES

• To become financially independent and enjoy the personal freedoms it brings by the time I am XX years of age.
•  To work for a successful marriage.
• To be an involved father who raises confident and highly adept children.
• To be an entrepreneur. To create and build a unique business that makes others say “wow”.
• To take calculated risks so that I can enjoy the rewards and the rush from doing so.
• To live a long healthy life and continuously enjoy life's fruits (i.e., good people, good food, adventure, action sports)
• To set-up a lifestyle that allows us to live part-time in the U.S., part-time in China and/or, for that matter, anywhere I choose.

GOVERNING VALUES FOR MY LIFE

FREEDOM: A life without freedom is not much of a life at all. I’d rather be dead and free of others' dictates than not have freedom and the dignity that comes with it.  

HEALTH: Much like freedom, a life without health is not much of a life. Life is about stimulating the senses and requires one to be up and doing. This is not possible if one is not healthy.

 ADVENTURE: Adventure in life is like the icing on a cake. Without icing, a cake lacks richness and glory. For me a life without adventure lacks energy and meaning.

INNOVATION: Combining different elements of knowledge, or wisdom, whether earthly or “cosmic”, into something humanly unique and of value is one of life's art forms.

LEADERSHIP: Mobilizing a collection of people into a credible force and then driving them to manifest a vision not achievable by the individual is noble.

PERSEVERANCE: If you can't make it through difficult times, you will never realize the glory of success. It is the struggle through difficulties that gives meaning to life’s successes.

COMMITMENT: Failure to fulfill one's promises to oneself and to others is unacceptable and a reflection of weak character.

PROFESSIONALISM: Do it right the first time, do it right always, stupid!

FAITH: Undying faith in a Higher Power, faith that all will work out as it should cleanses the mind thereby allowing one to move peacefully, gracefully and confidently into the future.

HUMOR: All other attributes of a worthy life lack meaning if we can't laugh a little.  Laughing, like faith, cleanses the mind and the soul of debilitating “negative,” and helps one envision and act correctly.

FAIRNESS: The world is filled with people who are unfair to others. If we could all strive to empathize and then act fairly, many of our world’s ills would vanish.

HONESTY: One cannot build a good “anything” on a foundation of mistruths. Whether building a life or a nation, one must act on reality, even if current reality is unwelcome. Bullshit yourself and others, and you will surround yourself with bullshit.

MY PERSONAL STRENGTHS, COMPETENCIES, AND WEAKNESSES

Personal Strengths

Per personal evaluation in book “Discover Your Strengths Now,” my top five “strength themes” are:

Strategic – Able to sort through clutter and find the best route.  A skill that cannot be taught rather a distinct way of thinking and special perspective on the world at large.  Able to see patterns where others see complexity.  Mindful of patterns, play through alternative scenarios.  Able to evaluate accurately the potential of obstacles.

Relator – Relator theme pulls me toward people I already know.  Doesn’t mean I don’t like to meet new people, but I derive greatest pleasure from being around close friends.  Comfortable with intimacy.  Once initial connection has been made, encourage deepening of relationship.  Relationships only have value to me if they are genuine.

Learner – Love to learn.  Drawn to process of learning.  The process more than the content or result is especially exciting.  Am energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competences.  Thrive with excitement where expected to learn many new things.  Doesn’t necessarily mean must become expert, again it is the process of learning that is most exciting.

Competition – Rooted in comparison.  Looking at world am instinctively aware of other people’s performance.  Like to compete and win.  Preference is to compete where winning is likely and avoid areas where it is unlikely.  Discontent is performance is not best.

Achiever – Has a constant need for achievement.  By the end of the day must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about self.  Always have a whisper of discontent.  Brings energy needed to work long hours without burn out.  It is the jolt to get started on new tasks and challenges.  This theme keeps one moving.

Survey of Personal Competencies

• Strategic foresight and macro view
• Motivating and leading others
• Selling and persuading
• Evaluating, analyzing, defining and solving problems and issues
• Defining processes
• Team building
• Learning and teaching
• Market Strategy
• Financial analysis (macro/general)
• Communicating ideas for influence, verbally and in writing
• Presenting

Weaknesses

• Managing micro-details
• Analyzing micro-details
• Executing repeating/monotonous procedures
• Working through unnecessary red tape
• Proofreading
• Accounting
• Financial analysis (micro)
• Dealing with admin details
• Dealing with problems that shouldn’t be problems

Important Areas of Focus

• Developing China network and relationships
• China team building
• China side project execution
• Overall business direction and strategy
• High level selling to support business
• China-side marketing and selling

END

Be smart, stay safe, and good selling in China,

Chris Wingo, Managing Director

China Sage Consultants: Hands-on China sales and business operations support for western companies. Home to China Sales Incubator full-service sales outsourcing program — Since 2003, we have served up millions of dollars in China sales to client companies. Contact us for your China sales and business support needs.