If you were to write a Passion Statement for yourself or your organization, what would it say? What are you passionate about? What drives you to jump out of bed in the morning; eager to create something wonderful, something that matters? How would you answer the questions, “Why does my organization exist?” “Why did I launch this personal or professional enterprise?” “What’s my gift to the world?”
These sound like heavy, ponderous questions. But we already have the answers! We just haven’t taken the time recently to focus on them. A Passion Statement is not something we write with our head, but from our heart. It isn’t based on a percentage increase over our last accomplishment, but based on a clear view of what’s possible. It is the essence of what that Passion brings to our lives and our organizations.
It’s easy to feel great about our lives or businesses when things are going just the way we want, cash is flowing in, customers are calling, and our goals are being surpassed. But what keeps us going on those days when we wonder why we ever went into business or started this personal venture? A simple, relevant Passion Statement reminds us of why we do what we do.
The first thing I do in working with a new client is to clarify and write down that Passion Statement. The second step is a Values Statement, which I define as a statement of what we value as an individual or an organization. How do we operate in the world? How do we treat each other and our customers? What can we be counted on to deliver? These values might include such words as “service”, “integrity” “prosperity” “caring”. If a Passion Statement is what gets you out of bed and into work in the morning, the Values are what keep you there, drive your decisions, and inspire cooperation and loyalty from your employees and customers.
In their book, Built To Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies authors J.C. Collins and J. I. Porras say that there is growing evidence that companies with core beliefs and values that transcend the bottom line are more profitable over time than companies that focus only on making money.
The Passion Statement and Values Statement are vital tools in the decision making process. When you are looking at a new market, an expansion, expenditure, creating a new position, you can always ask: “Will this lead the company toward the vision?”
If you are dealing with a “human” issue such as customer service, building a new team or resolving an employee problem, you can ask, “What approach aligns with our values?”
An ancient philosopher and mystic, Patanjali, said “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
Some suggested action steps:
1. Take a personal retreat of a half to full day away from office and home distractions and ask the questions listed above.
2. Write out a draft of your vision and values statements and share them with personal or business partners.
3. Look at your long-range strategies, goals and objectives and weigh them against what you say you value to see if there are any inconsistencies or incongruence. If there is anything out of alignment, give serious consideration to changing the goal or the vision so that they are in synch. This will avoid stress and upset and keep you focused on what really matters.
4. Now that you’re clear what is important, make sure you make time for what matters most!
Guest Blogger Marla Riegal. For a complimentary consultation on creating a Passion Statement call Marla Riegel at 303-456-0388 or email: mriegel@indra.com.
