by Karen Daniels
The world recently lost one of its most powerful innovators – Steve Jobs. There are a lot of awesome tributes to him. One of my favorites, though, was this simple image and phrase by BBM&D Strategic Branding (who does awesome work btw):
Many of us would not be doing what we are doing today if Steve Jobs had not arrived on the scene. And certainly when we get to the end of our lives, not all of us will be able to say we made the same level of impact on the world that Steve Jobs did. But that does not mean you should not be working toward your own creative legacy – creating your own personal brand of high level impact.
Yes, it’s true that we often feel our daily living interferes with the ultimate potential of our creative legacy. But, it does not have to be that way. If you know what you want to do, and how you’re going to use what you do to develop your personal legacy, then you can make decisions with these goals in mind and step by step you will get there.
Use these 3 steps toward creating your powerful personal legacy – beginning today.
1. Make a Personal Vision Statement
In essence this addresses what you want to become. Having a personal vision statement will allow you to aim in the desired direction both personally and professionally. Your vision should get you excited, make you proud, and illuminate where you are part of something bigger than yourself. To get you started, begin by creating a list of things that you enjoy most. Now, write up your short list, the 2 or 3 things that really rock your boat – the things that fulfill you, the things which you would like to do every single day in order to feel complete. As you consider what to include on your lists, keep life balance in mind. For instance, you might want to include physical, spiritual, work, personal, financial, or other important areas. What would you regret not doing?
An important step for your vision statement is to actually write all this down. You can have a vision statement of just a few words, to fully developed pages. Do what suits you best.
Here are some examples for you from (humanresources.about.com). Short vision example:
“To inspire, motivate, and empower people to discover their life purpose and to reach their full potential.”
Longer vision example:
My vision is to be remembered when I’m gone from this life for enjoying every day I was blessed with; impacting every person that I had the pleasure of meeting in a positive way; inspiring all to dare to make their life’s work be something that is truly enjoyable and meaningful to them; motivating people to be innovative and to use the power of their creative minds; providing entertaining “stories” through daily interactions with others to help people to remember each day they had with me; helping people come to know and understand who they are and how easy it is to become who they’d like to be. I want to be loved – especially by my family – but by as many as possible, and to be able to come to love them as well. I’d like for people to tell tales of the times that we spent together for many years after I’ve gone; that will be the true measure of value of my time on this earth, or whether I was just successful at avoiding death for a long time.
2. Make Your Personal Mission Statement
Your mission statement helps define what you do and helps to explain your purpose. It’s the “why” of you. If you always select work, whether you work for yourself or for someone else, that aligns with your personal mission you will undoubtedly be happier than if you don’t. To create your personal mission statement, ask yourself when you are at your best, and when you are at your worst. Here is a nifty, easy to use Mission Statement builder (free) from Franklin Covey that will walk you through the steps to develop your starting mission statement. You can either utilize the statement as is, or take the statement and refine it in ways that satisfy you.
Short mission statement example:
I want to be the best writer in the world.
Longer mission statement example:
To realize my vision, I must exceed the expectations of my friends, family, and readers. I will accomplish this by committing to my values and creativity, and by aiming for, and offering to others, the highest levels of creativity, spirituality, and information of which I am capable. I will maintain a focus on the value of creative freedom and the expression of that freedom which is most appropriate for each person. In this way I will help ensure that I honor my values, that what I offer is creatively innovative, and that my own growth goals are met along with the growth goals of those I come in contact with.
3. Define Your Personal Values and Strategies
What do you cherish? What do you think and believe? Your personal strategies include the most important talents and personal traits that you can, and will, use to accomplish your mission and get ever closer to your personal vision. You are your own personal company; think about your strategies as the main values you will use to propel yourself forward. Here are 374 value words (from Steve Pavlina’s personal development for smart people) you can use as starting points. Select the ones that are important to you, put them in order of importance; look for the ones that are “part” of you.
- Abundance
- Acceptance
- Accessibility
- Accomplishment
- Accuracy
- Achievement
- Acknowledgement
- Activeness
- Adaptability
- Adoration
- Adroitness
- Adventure
- Affection
- Affluence
- Aggressiveness
- Agility
- Alertness
- Altruism
- Ambition
- Amusement
- Anticipation
- Appreciation
- Approachability
- Articulacy
- Assertiveness
- Assurance
- Attentiveness
- Attractiveness
- Audacity
- Availability
- Awareness
- Awe
- Balance
- Beauty
- Being the best
- Belonging
- Benevolence
- Bliss
- Boldness
- Bravery
- Brilliance
- Buoyancy
- Calmness
- Camaraderie
- Candor
- Capability
- Care
- Carefulness
- Celebrity
- Certainty
- Challenge
- Charity
- Charm
- Chastity
- Cheerfulness
- Clarity
- Cleanliness
- Clear-mindedness
- Cleverness
- Closeness
- Comfort
- Commitment
- Compassion
- Completion
- Composure
- Concentration
- Confidence
- Conformity
- Congruency
- Connection
- Consciousness
- Consistency
- Contentment
- Continuity
- Contribution
- Control
- Conviction
- Conviviality
- Coolness
- Cooperation
- Cordiality
- Correctness
- Courage
- Courtesy
- Craftiness
- Creativity
- Credibility
- Cunning
- Curiosity
- Daring
- Decisiveness
- Decorum
- Deference
- Delight
- Dependability
- Depth
- Desire
- Determination
- Devotion
- Devoutness
- Dexterity
- Dignity
- Diligence
- Direction
- Directness
- Discipline
- Discovery
- Discretion
- Diversity
- Dominance
- Dreaming
- Drive
- Duty
- Dynamism
- Eagerness
- Economy
- Ecstasy
- Education
- Effectiveness
- Efficiency
- Elation
- Elegance
- Empathy
- Encouragement
- Endurance
- Energy
- Enjoyment
- Entertainment
- Enthusiasm
- Excellence
- Excitement
- Exhilaration
- Expectancy
- Expediency
- Experience
- Expertise
- Exploration
- Expressiveness
- Extravagance
- Extroversion
- Exuberance
- Fairness
- Faith
- Fame
- Family
- Fascination
- Fashion
- Fearlessness
- Ferocity
- Fidelity
- Fierceness
- Financial independence
- Firmness
- Fitness
- Flexibility
- Flow
- Fluency
- Focus
- Fortitude
- Frankness
- Freedom
- Friendliness
- Frugality
- Fun
- Gallantry
- Generosity
- Gentility
- Giving
- Grace
- Gratitude
- Gregariousness
- Growth
- Guidance
- Happiness
- Harmony
- Health
- Heart
- Helpfulness
- Heroism
- Holiness
- Honesty
- Honor
- Hopefulness
- Hospitality
- Humility
- Humor
- Hygiene
- Imagination
- Impact
- Impartiality
- Independence
- Industry
- Ingenuity
- Inquisitiveness
- Insightfulness
- Inspiration
- Integrity
- Intelligence
- Intensity
- Intimacy
- Intrepidness
- Introversion
- Intuition
- Intuitiveness
- Inventiveness
- Investing
- Joy
- Judiciousness
- Justice
- Keenness
- Kindness
- Knowledge
- Leadership
- Learning
- Liberation
- Liberty
- Liveliness
- Logic
- Longevity
- Love
- Loyalty
- Majesty
- Making a difference
- Mastery
- Maturity
- Meekness
- Mellowness
- Meticulousness
- Mindfulness
- Modesty
- Motivation
- Mysteriousness
- Neatness
- Nerve
- Obedience
- Open-mindedness
- Openness
- Optimism
- Order
- Organization
- Originality
- Outlandishness
- Outrageousness
- Passion
- Peace
- Perceptiveness
- Perfection
- Perkiness
- Perseverance
- Persistence
- Persuasiveness
- Philanthropy
- Piety
- Playfulness
- Pleasantness
- Pleasure
- Poise
- Polish
- Popularity
- Potency
- Power
- Practicality
- Pragmatism
- Precision
- Preparedness
- Presence
- Privacy
- Proactivity
- Professionalism
- Prosperity
- Prudence
- Punctuality
- Purity
- Realism
- Reason
- Reasonableness
- Recognition
- Recreation
- Refinement
- Reflection
- Relaxation
- Reliability
- Religiousness
- Resilience
- Resolution
- Resolve
- Resourcefulness
- Respect
- Rest
- Restraint
- Reverence
- Richness
- Rigor
- Sacredness
- Sacrifice
- Sagacity
- Saintliness
- Sanguinity
- Satisfaction
- Security
- Self-control
- Selflessness
- Self-reliance
- Sensitivity
- Sensuality
- Serenity
- Service
- Sexuality
- Sharing
- Shrewdness
- Significance
- Silence
- Silliness
- Simplicity
- Sincerity
- Skillfulness
- Solidarity
- Solitude
- Soundness
- Speed
- Spirit
- Spirituality
- Spontaneity
- Spunk
- Stability
- Stealth
- Stillness
- Strength
- Structure
- Success
- Support
- Supremacy
- Surprise
- Sympathy
- Synergy
- Teamwork
- Temperance
- Thankfulness
- Thoroughness
- Thoughtfulness
- Thrift
- Tidiness
- Timeliness
- Traditionalism
- Tranquility
- Transcendence
- Trust
- Trustworthiness
- Truth
- Understanding
- Unflappability
- Uniqueness
- Unity
- Usefulness
- Utility
- Valor
- Variety
- Victory
- Vigor
- Virtue
- Vision
- Vitality
- Vivacity
- Warmth
- Watchfulness
- Wealth
- Willfulness
- Willingness
- Winning
- Wisdom
- Wittiness
- Wonder
- Youthfulness
- Zeal
We are all working off the limited time and resources we have each day and every minute you use is a minute you will never get back. That’s why:It’s important to choose what you do wisely; you are the only one who can define wise for yourself.
When you understand your vision, your mission, and your values, then your daily choices will lead you ever closer to your legacy. Invest in yourself now, by giving yourself the gift of consistent direction to keep you on track, more fulfilled and true to your values, and living your vision.
Only then will you fully be offering the world your most powerful personal legacy.
Just like Steve Jobs did. Steve may be gone from this world, but his amazing legacy; a legacy that changed all our lives forever, lives forever. Steve, you will be missed.
What will your legacy be?
time image some rights reserved by Nicole.
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