Your Personal Impact Statement

What is your personal mission in life? What is your purpose? What is your Why?

One of the most powerful things we can do on our personal leadership journey is to create a personal mission or impact statement. Like our values, our personal impact statements encapsulate the core of who we are and who we want to be. Our impact statements are both authentic and aspirational. They serve as the core of who we are, what we stand for, and help us to align our lives to the impact we want to have on the world.

Think back on the values exercise we did together. What are your top 5 core values? What do you notice when you think about your values? What emotion comes up for you when you think about each of your values?

Now, consider an impact statement in a form like this. I love this version of the personal impact statement, from Co-Active Coaching Institute. It’s powerful, yet simple and creative.

I am __________________ (metaphor or individual) who ___________________ (impact).

Close your eyes. Take several deep breaths. And begin to visualize -- What metaphor, image or individual stirs up inspiration and emotion for you, and most embodies you? What is it about this metaphor or individual that inspires you? What is the energy behind this image? Does it have a color, shape, warmth, or coolness? What does this image bring up for you? What do you sense in yourself?

Another example could be,

I am the wise sage, who opens the door of possibility for others.

Now write down your personal impact statement. Read it aloud. On a personal inspiration level from 1 – 10 (with 1 the lowest, and 10 the highest), what number do you give your statement? What would take it to a 9 or 10 inspiration level for you?

Now imagine, what is the impact you want to have? Whether this is on you, on others, on your community, or on the world? When you think about coming to the end of your life, what will your life have been all about? What will have mattered most to you about this life? What do you want to be remembered for?

As an example, my own personal impact statement is:

I am the trail guide who inspires others to be their most joyful, bold and authentic selves, and in turn inspire others.

Practice saying your personal impact statement out loud, 10 times each day. Stand up and say it to the room. How do you feel when you say it? Write it out and put it on your wall.

It can take weeks or months to finally land on a personal impact statement that feels just right. And this is completely ok. You may also find that you may want to adjust or change your statement every so often. As you grow, so does your personal impact statement. Our statements are a work in progress, just as we all are.

Key Points and Action Steps:

Each day, think about your personal impact statement. Together with your core values, say your personal impact statement aloud. Your core values and personal impact statement are both your internal GPS and Compass, helping you to follow your own North Star as a woman and as a leader. What kind of leader do you want to be? Who do you long to be led by? What kind of impact do you want to have as a leader? Your personal impact statement is essential to leading by example, and in alignment with who you truly are.

Email me at info@tammiechangmd.com with questions, any time. Iam here for you friend…!

Tammie