Personal vision statements are a great way to identify your long-term career goals, help you achieve short-term goals, and support you as you pursue professional experiences. Regularly referring to your personal vision statement can keep you on track and is a great tool when making big decisions in your life.
What is a personal vision statement?
A personal vision statement is a statement of what you want to accomplish in your life, both personally and professionally. It can be used as a guide when determining the career to pursue, making important life decisions, planning how you’ll accomplish goals, and realizing your life dreams.
Identifying and creating a statement that encompasses your career goals will give you motivation when facing career challenges and deciding whether to switch careers to further your professional success.
Why is a personal vision statement important?
Establishing a personal vision statement is important for many reasons. A vision statement can:
- Help you identify the aspirations that are most important to you
- Keep you on track toward reaching your professional goals
- Inspire you to keep workings towards your long-term goals, even when the going gets tough
- Give you a feeling of direction and commitment in your professional life
- Provide you with concrete and actionable steps that help you move forward with your goals
What to include in your personal vision statement
Each personal vision statement will vary depending on the goals, values, and priorities of the individual writing it. There are several components to consider including in your personal vision statement:
- Short- and long-term goals: Your personal vision statement should include both short- and long-term professional goals. For example, a short-term professional goal could be to find a career that aligns with your passion, while a long-term professional goal could be to own a company that aligns with that same passion.
- Principles and values you want to stand for: When working towards your goals, you’ll want to be clear on the principles and values you wish to uphold. If honesty and integrity are values you want to stand for, you likely won’t cheat your way to the top of your organization.
- The difference you want to make: Do you want to contribute to a certain area in your life? Maybe you want to contribute to your community or your organization. This should be included in your personal vision statement.
- Your passions: Your personal vision statement should also include or at least reference what you are most passionate about. For example, maybe your long-term career goal is to become a veterinarian because you are passionate about the welfare of animals. Including your passion will help keep you motivated.
