Follow Your “True North”

November 19, 2015

by Mark David

Make Your Vision, Mission and Values Your Guiding Stars

Our time on earth is limited. We can choose to do anything, but none of us gets to do everything. That’s why I encourage my clients to be very clear and specific about their values and priorities. The clearer you are about what really matters to you, the easier it becomes for you to focus your precious time on what’s most important in every day, week, month or year.

The good news is, we get to choose. When a waiter asks you what you would like to order for dinner, you don’t just say, “Oh, I don’t care, just bring me some food.” Instead, you are more specific and thoughtful in your choices: “Bring me the wild salmon, please, with broccoli spears, pear salad with the dressing on the side, and artisan bread.”

The same principle applies to life in general. We often hear people sigh and say, “I just want to be happy.” They don’t realize that their odds of attaining happiness are vastly increased if they simply identify and choose the specific people, things, experiences and pursuits that actually make them happy.

And, of course, the same holds true for your business. The primary act of leadership is for the leader to mobilize everyone’s attention and enthusiasm around the organization’s highest priorities—its Vision, Mission and Values.

The Vision, Mission and Values are the supreme choices made by a business. They become the guiding stars of any great organization. And, like a needle in a compass, they will guide you faithfully through the darkest nights and biggest storms.

In our next blog, we’ll explore the difference between Vision, Mission and Core Values.