Why Every Business Owner Needs a Written Personal Mission and Values

Writing a personal mission statement sounds like the kind of exercise owners skip. There's payroll to make and a customer on hold, so who has time to wordsmith values?

I resisted it too. But it has turned out to be one of the most practical tools I use. I wrote mine years ago and have revised it more than once. When I face a hard decision, I reread it. It doesn't always give me the answer, but it reliably points me in the right direction.

What it actually does

Owners make dozens of decisions a week with no clear right answer. Should you take on this customer? Promote this person or hire from outside? Say yes to growth that means more nights and weekends? Without a filter, those decisions get made by whatever feels most urgent, or by whoever pushes hardest.

A written mission and values gives you that filter. It turns "what should I do?" into a faster question: "which option fits what I've already decided matters most?"

Mine, as an example

My personal mission is to enrich my life and the lives of others through mentorship, the creation of value and strong leadership, and to set an example for my children and peers through my own actions. My values are short on purpose:

• My family is the source of my happiness.
• I value financial security.
• Life is fun.
• My willingness to speak should be overshadowed by my ability to listen.
• Nothing great is accomplished alone. Build a trusted team and lead them to success.

None of these are clever, and that's the point. When a growth opportunity would cost me every weekend, the first value answers it. When I'm tempted to do everything myself, the last one does.

How to write yours in an hour

1. Start with the people. Who do you want your work to serve, both at home and at the business?
2. List what you won't trade away. Health, family time, financial security, integrity? Write down whatever is true for you.
3. Look back at your hardest decisions. What principle were you really protecting? That's usually a value.
4. Cut it to one page. Keep one short mission paragraph and four to six values in plain language. If you can't remember them, they're too long.
5. Put it where you'll see it. Reread it before big decisions and revise it once a year.

From personal values to company culture

Once your own values are clear, it gets much easier to define what your company stands for. Those company values become how your team makes decisions when you're not in the room, and that's exactly what you need before you can step back.

That's why Personal Mission & Values is step two of the Elevation Plan, right after taking an honest look at where you are today.