The importance of a life purpose

What’s your purpose as a leader? What’s the mission of your life?

It may seem obvious, but having a clear purpose for your professional and personal life can drive growth and creativity and make you a more effective leader.

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has a simple life purpose: "to provide components for people to live longer, healthier, happier lives." He has the statement on a board he sees every day and uses it to guide his decisions. Chip’s purpose isn’t just for his work at the company, and it’s different from the company's mission statement. This statement is all about him and a guiding force for every aspect of his life.

Like all companies and groups should have a mission statement, all leaders should have a personal mission statement that acts as a code of conduct and defines your purpose, values, and what you stand for.

Why is it so important for leaders? When you understand your purpose and mission, you can focus your efforts on that area. You gain confidence in your actions and can set an example for your employees to find their own purpose and follow their passions and interests.

Stephen Covey put it this way: “How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply important to us, and keeping that picture in mind, we manage ourselves each day to be and to do what really matters most.”

Here’s how you can create your personal mission statement or life purpose in three steps:

1. What do you value?

When defining your values, it’s not a matter of choosing right or wrong but choosing what resonates most with you. Some people value honesty and authenticity while others value freedom and creativity. Think through what matters most about how you live your life or how society operates. Do you thrive on security, efficiency, or competition? There are severalworksheets online to help you get started. Your values can also include a mission or cause that is close to you, such as health, culture, or art. This cause isn’t just a hobby but something that is part of everything you do.

2. What are your goals and skills?

Next, consider what goals you want to achieve. These goals can be on a personal level or a community level. You may want to write a book, build a community organization, or help kids learn to read. These goals should be attainable but not easy or something you can achieve in the short term. As you consider your goals, honestly evaluate your skills and strengths. Consider how you can use these skills to help you reach your goals.

3. Who do you want to be?

Think of who you want to be and the characteristics you want to develop. This step may include thinking of an influential person in your life and the attributes that made them so impactful. You should also consider your current roles and how they will affect who you become. Who do you want to be as a spouse, parent, leader, or community member? Create the ideal image and consider what it will take to reach that goal.

After an honest evaluation, you can start drafting your purpose statement. It doesn’t have to come right away. Try a few different statements to find what resonates with you the most. Establishing your life purpose and mission statement can help you achieve success and become a more impactful leader.