Get a Life! The Power of a Personal Mission (part 2)

Get a Life! The Power of a Personal Mission

Previously, I wrote about why a personal mission is important. At the most basic level, having clarity on our own mission empowers us to lead from the heart, reminds us of what matters most, and allows us to create powerful goals that are grounded in who we are becoming.

How to create your personal mission

As leaders, we know the art of being specific enough to drive a stake in the ground to represent our school’s values and beliefs, while being broad enough to stand the test of time and weather unforeseen challenges and opportunities. Our personal mission is no different. It must be a clear statement about who we are and what we believe, while recognizing that we are always learning and evolving.

Creating your own mission statement is straightforward. But it is not an easy or quick process. It requires a commitment to dig deep and take the necessary time to get thoughts on paper, step away, reflect, and adjust. So, how to begin?

Name your core values and beliefs.

What beliefs, qualities, or perspectives describe you? Which values keep you grounded? Get those adjectives written down, and don’t over-think or edit at this stage. This is one of those times when more is better. Let it all out! Step away and then come back as often as you need. This may mean taking several days, weeks, or even months. You need time to marinate. Only then should you start pruning. Let go of the ones that are generic and don’t light you up. Think about which ones that seem sticky – which values do you come back to over and over?  Which seem to represent core beliefs? Chances are that these have been guiding your life and leadership work for quite some time and have significance to you.  Perhaps integrity shows up on your list. Perseverance? What about kindness?

Find your heritage story.

My first teaching gig was in a ski resort town in Colorado. The school’s humble beginnings were in the basement of a parent’s house. Those early pioneer parents wanted an alternative to the public school, which was unable to meet their children’s academic needs, while being flexible enough to accommodate highly competitive ski racers. Over time, the school moved to the deli in the village, then into the fire department, and eventually into a wing of the hospital.  By the time I arrived as a new teacher, the school had built a beautiful campus a few miles outside of town. Even as the school grew, every teacher skied with her or her students every Wednesday and Friday.

Today, while the program, enrollment, and campus have expanded and evolved, the school retains its original ski school roots. The story of the school’s founding is deeply embedded in its current ethos and culture. All our schools have these stories. And so do we! But we often fail to articulate our own heritage stories or appreciate how they shape who we are today.

Think back to your own humble beginnings. On a white board or paper draw a horizonal midline. Starting on the left, pick a starting point. Perhaps when you were in college or the moment you chose a degree. Or landed your first teaching job. As you move to the right along timeline, begin to note significant events and dates. Above the midline, jot down memories, moments, decisions, or events that were positive or celebratory – those moments that felt like forward momentum. Below the line, write those that felt particularly challenging or felt like obstacles in some way. Don’t over think this. It’s not about which moments were good or bad, but rather the impact they had on you and how one moment led to another. Ultimately, you are looking for threads along the way. Decisions you made or circumstances that brought you to where you are today. How do your decision points, opportunities, and forks in the road connect?

I can still recall my high school counselor meeting with me in the fall of my senior year. I imagine he had hundreds of students to meet, and I was just one of many obligatory conversations. He asked what I planned to do when I graduated. Filled with optimism and conviction, I said I planned to go to college and become a teacher. He knew my GPA (but didn’t know me!) and said, “I don’t think you are college material. You should pick another career.”  That is part of my heritage story. He was right that my grades weren’t going to get me into university. What he didn’t know was that I had a vision and a determination that would drive me to community college, then on to complete my bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees.

Own your defining moment.

So often it is the unexpected that transforms us. We wander onto an uncertain path. We hit a roadblock that knocks us off course.  We face an unanticipated challenge. Consider those moments that ultimately transformed you. Often these are moments of personal or professional crisis or challenge. A pandemic. A new job (or the loss of one). A major move. A promotion. A relationship (professional or personal). Get it all on paper (or add it to the timeline) and then step back and examine what transpired and how you managed through. How did the experience impact you? What did you learn about yourself? How are you different today as a result?

I have had several pivotal moments in my career and in my life. Each one has profoundly shaped who I am, both as a person and as a leader. My decision to come out as gay – as a father and school leader – was a defining moment. I sometimes feel I shouldn’t tell that story anymore. After all, it was nearly nine years ago. But as a defining moment, it is a part of who I am. And it powerfully shaped how I see myself and how I show up in life and in work. I may not always need to share that story, but I need to own my defining moment and understand how it inspires me to lead more courageously and authentically.

Articulate your big idea.

You are a thought leader. You may not see yourself that way, but if you are in a position of leadership, I can guarantee that you have big ideas that you have been honing and sharing along the way. Sometimes, our thought leadership shows up in small ways rather than with some big reveal. Look back on any articles, blogs, presentations, or workshops. Check out your meeting notes and conversations. What big idea has been percolating? What patterns emerge? Thought leadership doesn’t always appear as a headline. Sometimes, it is a thread that we have been weaving into our work all along.

My big idea is Edgework. At the beginning I didn’t even call it that. Decades ago, I noticed that my most profound learning took place when I was out of my comfort zone. Sometimes, I moved myself to the edge intentionally. At other times, I found myself on the edge due to unforeseen and unexpected circumstances.  Over the years, I honed my idea, named it Edgework, and began to weave the concept into my personal and professional lives. Edgework has a certain “stickiness” to it. You know when you are on to something when others begin to use your words and ideas. I love it when a student leans over to me and says, “Dr. Wheeler, that was edgework for me!”

Create a one-pager.

Now that you have jotted down words that describe your core mission (What is punchy and uniquely yours?), found your heritage story (How did you get to where you are today?), owned your defining moments (What challenges and decisions transformed you?), and articulated your big idea (In what ways are you a thought leader?) the time has come to get it all down on a one-pager.

I love a one-pager! It forces me to express my ideas and thoughts with precision. Your one pager should have four sections: mission, heritage story, defining moments, and the big idea. By limiting the landscape, you will hone your language and make choices about what really matters.

A major benefit of a one-pager is that you can easily refer to it as you get ready for a meeting, prepare for a presentation, or write a blog. I use mine to set the stage for my day. Its touchstones remind me who I am, what matters most, and what ideas I am driving forward. With this in hand, This is you can begin to live your mission and your story with greater intention.  

Coming next: Tell Your Story