MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business

community
December 28, 2009

DO YOUR PLANNING WITH PURPOSE

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Now that the stress, demands and brief frivolity of Christmas have ended, the time has come
to focus on the new year. This often involves planning, setting goals, perhaps making
resolutions. Some of these are intended to build on progress we made over the past year; in
other cases we are eager to leave the past and start fresh.

For some people, the current year
experience and hopefully the next
the year soon past brings sadness
professional. And others view the
hoping to apply important lessons
cannot end quickly enough. It has been a dreadful
year will be much better. For others, bidding farewell to
because of memorable, milestone events – personal or
struggles and failures of the year in a positive light,
they have learned in the coming year.

As we proceed with our plans and goals, it might be wise to borrow an important principle
from successful companies. Virtually all have clear-cut, carefully worded mission statements
– formal reminders to communicate their purpose to staff members, customers and suppliers. We
too should consider adopting mission or purpose statements, expressions that provide us
answers for questions such as “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” “How will I know when I
have arrived?”

Many of my friends have gone through this exercise and found it useful. Rather than being
restrictive, it provides freedom and direction. As the adage reminds us, “If you aim at
nothing, you will hit it every time.” A purpose statement (or personal mission statement)
helps to define who we think we are, what we would like to accomplish in our lives, and how
we intend to achieve it. Such statements can also provide a general timeline (the “when”) and
even express our motivation for what we intend to do and to become (our “why”).

Once an individual formulates and determines to live according to a purpose statement, then
his or her goals can be filtered through it. Goals that align with the stated purpose can be
retained; those that would conflict with that purpose can be discarded, or at least set aside
for later consideration.

A purpose statement can include values and beliefs, overriding personal and professional
objectives, even unique gifts and abilities you have to offer. Dr. Rick Warren, who
contributes to “Monday Manna” on a regular basis, wrote The Purpose Driven Life in which he
suggests we each should ask ourselves, “What on earth am I here for?” Conclusions in his
book, centered on the following statements, are worth considering:

• Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Worship)

• Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's Family (Fellowship)
• Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship)
• Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry)
• Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission (Mission)

Personally, I adopted a purpose statement years ago based on a verse written by the
apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi. In the Amplified Translation of
the Bible, he writes, “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him (Jesus Christ)
– that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him,
perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly
and more clearly” (Philippians 3:10). Whenever I review my goals, I find this
statement an excellent filter for evaluating what I am planning to do – and why.
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit
corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran of 38 years in professional
journalism, he is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for
Today’s Workplace and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10
Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential. For more information,
see www.leaderslegacy.com or www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

CBMC INTERNATIONAL: Robert Milligan, President

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TEL.: (402) 431-0002 ▪ FAX: (402) 431-1749 ▪ E-MAIL: info@cbmcint.org
Please direct any requests or change of address to: www.cbmcint.org

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you intend to do some specific planning and/or goal setting for the coming
year?

2. In doing any goal setting or long-term planning, what is the process that you
typically follow? How well has it worked for you?

3. Have you ever considered putting a personal purpose statement (or mission
statement) into written form? If someone were to ask you right now what you consider to be
your purpose, what might be your answer?

4. How do you think a personal purpose statement might be beneficial,

personally or professionally – or for both?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review some other passages that relate to
this topic, consider the following verses:

Psalm 37:4-5; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3, 21-2-3; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy
3:16-17