Patty Stonesifer, one of the most respected leaders in the social sector, created a personal mission statement that is exactly that:
Patty Stonesifer, one of the most respected leaders in the social sector, created a personal mission statement that is exactly that:
She doesn't just aspire to those things. She uses them as a filter: every opportunity, every board seat, every ask on her time gets held up against those five phrases. If it doesn't fit, she says no.
This tool helps you find yours. You'll answer three questions, then craft phrases you can actually use.
Your answers to the above questions contain the raw material of a personal mission statement. For example, someone who answers "I never want to stop being curious about people and ideas" might land on keep learning as a core component. Or someone who answers "I want the people around me to feel lighter, not heavier" might find their way to laugh, or bring joy, or something else entirely that captures that intention.
There's no formula. A phrase in your mission statement might come from a single word you kept writing or a feeling you couldn't shake. The point isn't to reverse-engineer the right answer; it's to notice what's already true about you.
Write up to 5 short phrases — the words that feel most like you.
Last question to consider: is anything missing from this list that's important to you? If that reflection leads you to want to make a change to your personal mission statement, do so now.
| Phrase | Priorities | Notes |
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