Crafting your personal mission and vision statements: These principles aren't only for businesses.

• Author: Miller, Derek

A GUIDING SET OF PRINCIPLES or core values are important for every organization, but they're also important for individuals. Creating a mission and vision statement for yourself gives you stability and direction to create the life you want to live. When new opportunities arise, you'll be able to see how they fit in with what you hope to become, helping to ease any guesswork in long-term planning. While discipline to principle is critical to a life well lived, tactical plans can and should change over time. In terms of what principles to include, each individual must decide what is important to them. Here are five core concepts to consider:

COMMITMENT

Deepening your level of commitment comes through practice and is often in the service of others, whether for a cause, organization, or set of core beliefs. One of the best ways to do this is by simply getting involved with your local community, like volunteering to sit on a board, participating in a campaign, or attending an event. By making definitive choices and actively engaging, you are setting yourself up for success. There is no shortcut, and this principle will compound to your benefit as you stick with it.

DECISION-MAKING

Making and keeping commitments is accelerated by having solid decision-making skills and making these decisions without second-guessing. Strong decision-making skills become increasingly important when developing into a position of influence. The power to choose with clarity and decisiveness can become a superpower. Unfortunately, many people struggle to choose due to "analysis paralysis" or not liking the trade-offs, but we all must remember that no decision is still a decision. Individuals can offset the uncertainty by developing a rubric to follow, such as not spending more than five minutes on a decision that will not matter in five years.

STRATEGIC MOVEMENT

The ability to commit to and process decisions are clear indicators of directional progress. Strategic movement gets you closer to your desired...