How to Become the Person You Want to Be, Step by Step
We all have accomplishments we want to reach and traits we want to embody.
To become the person you want to be, you must live like the person you want to be. You must act through your values and work towards your goals. Like habit expert Stephen Covey writes, you must live in accordance with your mission in life. But how do you get there? How do you change yourself and your life in an effective way?
The solution is simple.
Make a mission statement.
A mission statement is a collection of your own innermost values. It is the description of the person you want to be. It is what Stephen Covey calls the “changeless core” inside you — the self that stays true no matter what happens in your life.
Your personal mission statement is the image of the future you want. You use this as a compass to guide you towards correct behavior. If you commit to it, every decision you make will be a product of your inner values.
By following your mission statement, you get closer to becoming your dream self every day.
This is how you make one.
The information provided in this article is inspired by Stephen Covey’s first and second chapter in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This is a shortened, more instructional version of those chapters. Everything in this article apart from the examples below should be credited to him.
How to Make A Mission Statement
The process of making a mission statement is arduous and should not be done hastily. Your future self is literally hanging on the line. Therefore, I recommend working on it for at least two weeks before you finalize it.
Note that mission statements look different for everyone. Yours can take the form of a list, a drawing, a video, or even a poster. In my opinion, the following steps show the most straightforward way to use Stephen Covey’s successful method.
Step 0: Internalize the proactivity principle
Before you start your mission statement, you must acknowledge one thing.
You are not in control of the things around you, but you are in control of your own reactions to these external things. Whatever happens, you must stay true to that changeless core and act in accordance to the values and goals of your mission statement. It is your choice and your responsibility — no one else’s — to keep external events from influencing your behavior.
Accepting this is the only way that the mission statement will work.
Step 1: Define your roles in life
Write down the roles you have in life.
These can be anything from student to spouse to homeowner. Remember to keep it encompassing but short. Your mission statement needs to be as easy to keep track of as possible whilst also touching on all the aspects of your life.
Then, organize these in a useful order.
Step 2: Define your goals within each role
What are things you want to accomplish?
Write down two or three things per role, like “To be a healthy person” or “To receive my PhD”. These goals will be your frame of reference for when you are in situations pertaining to the roles in question. By looking at these goals, you will know how far you have come and what you need to work towards in the present, in each of the aspects of your life.
Know what you are striving for and strive for that image in every decision you make.
Step 3: Transform your values into statements
Find your innermost values — the qualities you seek to embody.
Make these values and principles into laws for yourself. For instance, make Empathy into “Listen more than you talk” and Discipline into “Follow your schedule”. Write these laws under the particular roles they belong to.
Write as many as you can. This is just the first draft.
Step 4: Do a quality check
Before you finish your first draft, do the following:
One, make sure all the laws and principles are feasible and applicable in all situations. You should not come back tomorrow to remove a point because it was too ambiguous or ambitious. Two, make the mission statement as short as possible without losing the most important sentences.
Finally, read through your finalized first draft to catch anything excessive or missing.
Step 5: Make your mission statement portable
Choose whatever format works for you.
Print it out and wedge it inside your wallet. Keep it written in a small notebook that you carry with you. Type down the words on a note-taking app on your phone.
Make your mission statement accessible, so that you never forget your mission when you are out and about.
Step 6: Follow these principles every day
Use your freedom to respond proactively, to respond with the values written in your mission statement.
Without your constant choice to persevere, your mission statement will be worth nothing. So, trust that inner compass to guide you towards your desired destination. Be consistent and stay committed to your dream self.
Be proactive.
Step 7: Revise twice a year
Keep your mission statement updated.
Make sure it reflects your inner self and desired self. Do not edit your mission statement at random points in time — because then, its central tenets become less enduring and more situational. If you find inspiration for future updates before then, write it down in a separate document.
When it is time, work to make your mission statement even better.
Examples of Mission Statements
Here are some examples of mission statements.
Summary
Use a personal mission statement as a compass to correct, unconditional behavior no matter the situation you are in. Become the person you want to be by staying committed to it.
Step 0: Be proactive
Step 1: Define your roles
Step 2: Define your goals
Step 3: Define your principles
Step 4: Finish your draft
Step 5: Keep your mission statement on you
Step 6: Stay committed
Step 7: Revise twice a year
