Personal Mission Statement Examples (With Step-by-Step Guide)
By Jennifer Herrity
April 15, 2025
A personal mission statement helps you identify and clarify your values and goals, allowing you to define what matters most in your professional life. By focusing on core values that align with your long-term goals, a personal mission statement can guide your career decisions and have a positive impact on your professional growth.
In this article, we explain what a personal mission statement is, share examples to use for inspiration and offer guidance to help you write your own.
What is a personal mission statement?
A personal mission statement—similar to company mission statementsused by organization’s like Nike, Microsoft and Starbucks—defines your values, purpose and vision of success. The best mission statements effectively guide your decisions and help you stay focused on meeting your long-term goals.
A mission statement differs from a vision statement by focusing on the present and providing clear guidance for your current actions and decisions.
Personal mission statement examples
To help inspire you as you learn to write your own personal mission statement, here are several examples of good mission statements:
. ”To serve as a leader by encouraging innovative ideas and forward-thinking so that our team can create technology solutions that will improve the lives of others.”
.”To use my writing skills to inspire and educate others around the world to make a change.”
. ”To use my gifts as a speaker to improve the self-worth of people around the world.”
. ”To inspire children to be more than they thought they could be.”
. ”To be a leader to my team, live a balanced life, and make a difference.”
. ”To inspire others to achieve great things.”
. ”To thrive in my journey through life and learn life’s lessons along the way.”
. ”To be kind to others and myself.”
. ”To create innovative healthcare solutions that improve the lives of others.”
. ”To help as many people as possible.”
. ”To be a teacher and inspire my students to be the best version of themselves.”
. ”To help people find hope after loss.”
. ”To bring joy to others around the world.”
. ”To use my gifts to bring education to all those who seek it around the globe.”
. ”To positively impact the life of every person I encounter.”
. ”To inspire and encourage everyone I interact with on a daily basis.”
. ”To create new opportunities for today’s youth.”
. ”To encourage and equip others to live the lives they want to live.”
. ”To inspire change through teaching.”
. ”To equip others with the tools and resources to pursue the life they want to live.”
. ”To support and elevate those around me.”
. ”To give students the resources and attention they require to grow into confident, effective adults.”
. ”To improve the quality of life of my patients.”
. ”To create stories that educate, entertain, and inspire people around the world.”
. ”To pursue lifelong learning and inspire others to do the same.”
. ”To use my gifts to inspire others to achieve great things.”
. ”To improve the wellbeing of people and businesses throughout the world.”
. ”To treat everyone I encounter with love and compassion.”
. ”To use my gifts and talents to improve the lives of others.”
. ”To create innovative technology solutions that will improve the lives of people around the globe.”
. ”To use my gifts to improve the self-worth and wealth of people around the world.”
. ”To inspire others to live the life of their dreams.”
. “To create innovative healthcare technology for better patient outcomes in vulnerable communities.”
.“To offer support and inspiration to others through leadership and subject-matter expertise.”
. “To be a source of hope by offering humility, optimism and support to everyone I meet.”
. “To bring beauty into the world through graphic design.”
. “To help level the playing field, so everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.”
. “To educate young minds and create compassionate, empathetic and hard-working members of society.”
. “To do the best work I can to help the most people possible.”
“To leave the world a better place than I found it.”
Company mission statements examples
Knowing how company mission statements can bring focus to a company’s purpose and a company’s core values can also be valuable when crafting your own high quality mission statement. Here are examples from some familiar brands:
. Tesla: To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
. Disney: To entertain, inform, and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling.
. Amazon: To be Earth’s most customer-centric company.
. Red Cross: To prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found, focusing on disaster relief, health and safety, and humanitarian work.
. Warby Parker: To provide affordable, designer-quality eyewear while also making a positive impact on the world.
How to write a personal mission statement
Here are some steps you can follow to write your own personal mission statement and to ensure it’s the most effective mission statement possible:
- Write down what’s most important to you
Start by considering who you are and who you want to be. Write down what matters most to you, what you’re passionate about and how your life is connected to the people and things you value most.
2. Articulate your most important goals
Next, take time to reflect and write down your biggest personal and professional goals. Ask yourself what the “best” version of your life looks like, including your relationships, achievements and career. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to get started:
. Where would I like to be in my career?
. What would I like to achieve professionally?
. What would I like to achieve personally or in my community?
3. Talk to your peers
Talk to your peers and mentors and ask what they consider to be your greatest strengths. Think about what makes you exceptional compared to others who have similar skills. Consider how you want people to describe you. Write down a few words that you want to come to someone’s mind when they think of you.
4. Identify the legacy you want to leave
Consider the mark you want to leave on the world and how maximizing your full potential can allow you to do that. Questions to ask yourself to get started include:
. What do I hope to create, change or maintain that will be lasting?
. Who do I want to support with my unique skills and abilities, and how?
. How do I want to impact other people’s lives?
. What do I consider to be my purpose?
. What unique qualities, abilities, talents and traits do I have to offer?
. What mission or vision makes me feel motivated?
Personal mission statement template
Here is a simple template to follow when crafting your personal mission statement:
“I will [action] for [audience] by [skills] to [desired result].”
The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.
Example:
I will create environmentally friendly kitchen products for anyone who cooks at home so they can skillfully prepare and enjoy delicious meals while lowering their carbon footprint.
Tips for writing a personal mission statement
Here are a few extra tips to help create a great mission statement:
Keep it short
It’s best to keep your personal mission statement concise, ideally just one sentence. Focus only on what matters the most. To help you identify that one thing, try writing five words that describe you and your purpose. Using that list of five words, write two words that describe you and your purpose. From there, choose one word and write that down.
Be true to yourself
Your mission statement is meant to reflect your unique value and purpose, providing a clear vision for your long-term goals. As you grow and continue to learn, remember that it’s okay for your mission statement to evolve too.
Get feedback
Share your personal mission statement with the most influential people in your life. They can provide important insights and share ideas that help improve your statement.
How to use a personal mission statement
After you’ve crafted your personal mission statement, it’s important to understand how you can apply it in your career. Here are some ways to use your personal mission statement:
During a job search
When searching for jobs, identifying roles and companies that align in some way with your personal mission will help you find more interesting, fulfilling work. Make sure to research the company to determine whether they’re a good fit for you. Knowing the company’s vision and their roadmap for moving forward can be useful for creating your cover letter and resume, and preparing for your interview.
In your resume and cover letter
It may be helpful to weave your personal mission statement into your resume header, whether as part of a resume summary, professional statement or objective statement. Doing so will help employers understand your motivations and whether you’d be a good fit for their culture and company mission. Additionally, weaving your mission statement into your LinkedIn profile, as well as other social media profiles, can be helpful.
In a job interview
In interviews, employers will likely ask questions such as, “Tell me about yourself” or “Why do you want to work for this company?” or “What motivates you?” Using your personal mission statement to guide your answers can help you prepare a thoughtful and impressive response free of cliches and buzzwords. Researching the company beforehand can help you identify the values you share, so be sure to include those in your answer as well.
Frequently asked questions
Can my personal mission statement change over time?
Personal mission statements are not always permanent. As you learn more about your values and goals as an individual, your priorities and aspirations may change. It’s natural for your personal mission statement to adapt accordingly. Embrace the idea that personal growth is a lifelong journey, and allow your statement to illustrate the values and purpose that resonate with you in the current moment.
Is it necessary to share my personal mission statement with others?
Sharing your mission statement is a personal choice. Some people find value in sharing their statements with close friends, family members or even colleagues or mentors as a way to gain support and accountability. Conversely, others prefer to keep it private.
Can a personal mission statement be focused solely on personal goals?
While personal mission statements often encompass your life goals, you can include other types of goals in this statement. For example, your mission statement could include items related to community involvement. It’s about aligning your actions and decisions with your values and purpose across various domains of your life.
Please note that, at the time of this article’s writing, the companies, institutions or organizations mentioned in this article may or may not be affiliated with Indeed, and their mention in this article does not imply a business relationship with Indeed.
Source: