12 Comments

What a great idea. I don't have a Mission Statement - yet - but this gives me food for thought!

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Thank you, Anne. Once you get into it, it can be really fun. Let me know how it goes! xo

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I have to edit my mission statement. It’s too long. Hehe. This piece is a great reminder. Thx. 🙏

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Writing is editing. LOL. Thanks, Carissa! xo

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I think the issue for me... is I've always had a very a strong sense of mission when it comes to The Empress... (making midlife & menopause less sucky for women one product/idea at a time) but it's just so easy to get pulled off course by life, health, family, kids, etc... and so how to reorient toward your north star? So, that's something I'd love to discuss with you during The Good Leap... b/c I find it's so tricky... And I'm such a lousy meditator 😂

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You are not and we totally will! xo

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'A mission statement isn’t meant to limit you. It’s to keep you from going, “Squirrel!”' I love this and wish I'd read it when I was working for a large non-profit that occasionally reworked its mission statement, at great cost of time and energy. But it was probably necessary work; there are a lot of squirrels out there. However, that experience has left me unwilling to create a mission statement for myself just now, despite its obvious utility for us squirrel chasers. I probably need another year or two to get all the traces of corporate machinery out of me, and then I can pick this up. At least I now know which Substack to come to for guidance!

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LOL. Thanks so much, Jeffrey. I also think they can be short-term. What's my mission for this month/week/today? For this project? If we break down the overwhelming parts into smaller bits, it's so much easier. Also, SQUIRREL! I'm guilty of that myself. xo

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I am the person going "Squirrel!" 😂 I hope that it's a charming attribute...but still, in those overly enthusiastic/unfocused moments, a mission statement can serve as the perfect, gentle reminder of our organizing principles.

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I think "Squirrel!" is a sign of a curious, creative, optimistic mind, seeing all the possibilities. Which is beautiful, and slightly problematic from time to time. I know I suffer from it. (So, yes, I think it's charming.) Cheers, Maddie. xo

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This is a great reminder for me to redo my personal mission statement. I also need to create one for Hello, Adversity. I really like how you outlined the process!

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Thanks so much, Chris. At the end of the day, I find them a fun little exercise to do. And, sometimes, it's easier to write one for a company or person you admire. Write what you'd think theirs would be and then it takes a little pressure off doing it for you/your projects. xo

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