Your Personal Mission Statement (pg. 106-116)

Chapter 6 completes the foundational triad of the “What Matters Most” process by guiding readers to create a Personal Mission Statement—the concise expression of overall life purpose that ties roles and governing values together.

Smith begins with a vivid analogy: driving on a foggy highway. Without clear vision, progress feels dangerous and exhausting—emotions run low, motivation fades, and the day becomes something merely to endure. The moment vision returns, energy surges, urgency appears, and anticipation replaces sluggishness. A Personal Mission Statement functions exactly like a car’s fog lights: it cuts through daily confusion, providing direction and renewed vitality.

The mission statement is not an elaborate or lofty document reserved for famous leaders. It is a brief, written summation—often just a sentence or two—that captures what a person wants to be and accomplish. It emerges directly from the earlier work: the roles already identified and the governing values attached to them. When these three elements (roles, values, and mission) are synthesized, they form the preamble to a personal constitution—the written foundation of who one truly is.

Creating the statement is presented as the third logical step in the process. With roles and governing values already clarified, the task is to distill them into a unifying declaration. Smith emphasizes that missions are not invented; they are detected. The discovery process involves several reflective practices:

– Reviewing roles where one feels strong connection, enjoyment, or a deep desire to excel.  

– Identifying governing values that appear across multiple roles—themes that consistently surface.  

– Grouping related roles and values to look for common threads.  

– Returning to the earlier “Why Drill” questions and adding two new ones: “What single thing do I want to be remembered for?” and “What is the most important legacy I can leave to family, friends, and associates?”

The goal is to uncover the single idea or principle that ties everything together. The resulting statement can be any length, as long as it clearly defines the mission. There are no right or wrong versions—only the one that belongs uniquely to the individual. It must carry personal passion and commitment, not merely reflect what one “should” or “ought” to value.

Smith notes that mission statements are not limited to individuals. Families can also create a shared mission based on collective values and roles. Whether personal or familial, the statement becomes a practical standard against which all competing demands, opportunities, and decisions can be measured.

Once written, the Personal Mission Statement serves as a powerful inner compass. It restores vision, generates energy and urgency, and provides the clarity needed to set meaningful long-range goals and daily actions. Knowing who one is and why one is here unlocks the inner power that flows from alignment.

Questions for Reflection

1. When you review your list of roles and governing values, what common themes or threads begin to emerge?  

2. If you were to answer the two added questions—“What single thing do I want to be remembered for?” and “What legacy do I most want to leave?”—what initial thoughts come to mind?  

3. Have you ever had even a rough sense of personal mission before? How does the idea of distilling roles and values into one guiding statement feel different from past attempts at goal-setting?  

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We hope that if you haven’t already, you’ll take the time to craft your Personal Mission Statement as it will serve as a steady guide through the chapters ahead. In the next entry, we’ll finish Part Two of the book, covering Chapter 7 (pg. 117-121), reviewing the tri-quation and its power in your life.