Future designing

Future designing

By: Robert N. Josephine

On: 23/08/2009

Group: St. Johns Community centre volunteer staffs

Venue: Naivasha YMCA

Opening song: Ancient words by Mike W. Smith. (DISCUSS THE THEME OF THE SONG)

REFLECTION TIME

1.   Read a milestone story: power of habit (handout 2)

2.   God has a plan for me? Jeremiah 29:11

3.   Is God not a God of order? Gen 1-3

4.   What else can we do?

a.   Philippians 3: 12- 14- press toward your goal. Do you know your goal yet?

b.   Luke 14:18-28- Excuses makes you fail! do your planning well.

c.   Proverb 12: 11, 28:19- work hard, do not waste time!!

d.   Mark 13:32-37 – Be alert!

e.   Luke 21:34-36 – your dream should go beyond materials and worries of the future.

Introduction

A vision statement describes your own unique vision of what an ideal experience in each of your life areas would be like. It focuses on the distant future looking forward say, five to ten years and an ideal outcome.
A mission statement, on the other hand is based on your current situation and what you need to focus on so as to move you closer to your long-term vision. While vision statements are passive, focusing mostly what you want to experience, mission statements are active focusing on your actions, values behaviors, habits attitudes and character.
Mission and vision statements are complementary to each other. Vision statements show you an idealized description of your ultimate destination, while mission statements represent your chosen path to get you there.
A mission statement connects you with your own unique purpose as designated unto by God and the profound satisfaction that comes from fulfilling it.

In normal situation there is a gap between your goals and vision in life and the God’s purpose in your life. However it is best if one is able to link whatever they are working for in their lives with the ultimate divine goal designated to then by God. In such a situation, explore what God has given unto you and place it into a mission statement to make intersection between the two circles and hence be achieving your goal in life in linkage with God’s plan for your life.

 

Steps toward Personal Mission Statement Development

Step 1: Identify Past Successes. Spend some time identifying four or five examples where you have had personal success in recent years. These successes could be at work, in your community, at home, etc. Write them down.

Challenge: what is common in all these?

Successes all relate to creative problem solving and execution of a solution.

Step 2: Identify Core Values. Develop a list of attributes that you believe identify who you are and what your priorities are. The list can be as long as you need.

Challenge: what 5 major core values are most important in life? Arrange in order of preference.

Step 3: Identify Contributions. Make a list of the ways you could make a difference. In an ideal situation, how could you contribute best to:'

• the world in general
• your family
• your employer or future employers
• your friends
• your community

Challenge: what of the contribution makes you feel sweetest?

Step 4: Identify Goals. Spend some time thinking about your priorities in life and the goals you have for yourself.

Challenge: of all the listed goals what are most urgent? (short-terms)What are not urgent? (long time)

In trying to differentiate the two, classify the listed goals on the degree of urgency and importance.

Urgent	Not urgent
Important	Not important

Step 5: Write Mission Statement. Based on the first four steps and a better understanding of yourself, begin writing your personal mission statement.

To live life completely, honestly, and compassionately, with a healthy dose of realism mixed with the imagination and dreams that all things are possible if one sets their mind to finding an answer.

Final Thoughts
A personal mission statement, is of course personal… but if you want to truly see whether you have been honest in developing your personal mission statement, I suggest sharing the results of this process with one or more people who are close to you. Ask for their feedback.

Finally, remember that a mission statement is not meant to be written once and blasted into stone. You should set aside some time annually to review your career, job, goals, and mission statement -- and make adjustments as necessary.