Habit 2

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Habit 2 (Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) is: Begin With the End in Mind. It is the habit of purpose and vision.

Habit 2 has to do with creating a Personal Mission Statement (a personal constitution, credo, oath, manifesto or standard).

“A carefully considered plan gives you the mental blueprint you need to create the desired outcome.”

A mission statement is supposed to act as a governing constitution by which you evaluate your decisions and choose your behavior.

Having a mission statement gives you a clear definition of your desired results (how will you know when you get there if you don’t know where you are going?). It gives you a greater sense of meaning and purpose. It gives you the criteria for deciding what is or is not important. A mission statement clarifies what is important to you. It provides focus. It helps you design your life instead of having it designed for you. It guides your day to day decisions.

For the longest time my mission statement has been:


I have a life filled with creativity, writing, learning, teaching and making an impact wherever I am; a life filled with love, laughter and wellness; with plenty of time for solitude and plenty of time for friends and family.

But in reviewing the tapes and chapters in the workbooks I felt it was time to give it an update. It is still a work in progress and I may modify it as the year goes on but for now here is my standard of living:


I am courageous, making an impact wherever I go, always leaving the right impression. I look for adventure and express myself through creative outlets. I have fun wherever I am and will continue to do so until I am at least 103.

It is kind of the same, but with a new twist. I feel like that is how I am too: kind of the same with a new twist.

Try your hand at a mission statement or whatever you want to call it. It can (and should) be a work in progress for however long it takes. It is not something that should be rushed. Give it some thought and let me know how it is coming.


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