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YOUR Mission Statement

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Sample mission statement

Sample mission statement (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently my youngest son put out a rap entitled Mission Statement that got me thinking. When we hear the phrase mission statement usually what comes to mind is some big business with an impressive-sounding declaration about itself. It never fails that an entity’s mission statement wows the reader –when anyone bothers to read it– yet when random employees are asked about the mission statement of the company they work for, they are clueless.

A mission statement is defined as a summary of the aims and values of a company, on organization, or individual. Until I listened closely to my son’s piece of spoken art-work it honestly never occurred to me to formulate a personal mission statement as an individual. After considering it though, it seems most imperative that I am not just able to sense my vocation in life as some vague urges, promptings, and nudging in a given direction. It seems of primary importance that I be able to articulate clearly and succinctly what is my personal mission statement. Can you do that?

If someone asked you today, could you formulate your mission statement? Or do you live more passively, tending to react to whatever Life brings your way? Have you summarized and declared what are your personal aims and values? More importantly: DO YOU LIVE BY WHAT YOU CLAIM TO BE YOUR MISSION STATEMENT?

Having already crossed over into the land of middle age, I have begun the part of my journey where every step needs to be taken both with caution (after careful scrutiny), but also boldly in order to ensure that I arrive where I aim to. This means that life for me is now to be lived ON PURPOSE; or in other words, with a mission statement. And to my son, I say, “Thanks, little brother, for your contribution to our own self-awareness!”

 

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What’s in a Name?

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Grand Canyon Train at Depot - Williams Arizona

Grand Canyon Train at Depot – Williams Arizona (Photo credit: Al_HikesAZ)

What’s in a name? The name Missions Depot came to me in July 2012 as if by inspiration. I returned from a hugely successful mission to the Philippines where I accompanied Sheila Covington Austin to do a crusade. Later, as I gave time to it, the details and a business plan began to come to me.

What we want to do is to operate a store, or have a “station’ in which the purchase of goods is done for the purpose of missions and relief efforts around the world. And as unthinkable as it may sound I’d like for 100% of the proceeds to be disbursed to missions around the world. And of course if you’ve ever run a business, you know this is not even remotely possible. LOL.
So, why this particular name? First of all, a mission is any “important assignment to be carried out, typically involving travel.” But it can also be described as a strongly felt aim, ambition, or calling. There are other nuances to the definition as well, but this one serves our purposes just fine. We feel an acute ambition to do the most good possible in this lifetime.
What about the word “depot?” Well, it’s a plce for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or some other commodity. And get this, another meaning is the “headquarters of a regiment.” I LOVE that! For those of you who lack military background (like me), a regiment is a permanent, but operational unit of an army, divided into several companies, squadrons, or batteries.  Could there BE a more apt description of what we aim to be and to do throughout the US and abroad?

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