Every organization and company of repute has an established mission statement, vision and objectives to which it seeks to meet and exceed. Employees and stakeholders’ of these organizations must be in the know as pertaining to them or they will have a difficult time conforming and being accepted into this company’s circle of influence. Would-be potential employees take their time reading and striving to understand the mission, vision and objectives of any company so well that it they ‘own’ it and upon arriving for their interview they are able to synchronize their own individual set of objectives in tandem with that of the organization for which they are seeking to join.
So, my point in question is: if organizations spent so much time, resources and research in establishing a believable set of values that they stand for in their respective industries why don’t individuals do the same? Many individuals don’t make this effort to understand who they are, what they stand for and what they seek to become since it requires thought, time, analysis and getting out of our comfort zones. I know that for any individual to make their greatest impact on society they must understand what their individual mission, vision and set of objectives for existing ought to be. Think about Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Gandhi and Harriet Tubman…. what legacy have they left for you or our present world?
I remember having a chat with a respected Human Resource Manager of a particular organization and he challenged me with one question, “Andrew, if you were to have all the money that you required what you do with your time?” I paused, hesitated for a brief moment and he now responded by stating that my answer to his question would define my purpose in this life. We are are living in the fast lane with bills to pay, mouths to feed, tuition to pay, loans to service and relationships to satisfy. Unfortunately, because we are so busy striving to make it in this world and to climb the career or business ladder we forget once in a while to sit down, meditate and take stock of our own lives in relation to the legacy that we want to leave behind for the world and for future generations to follow.
Yes-presently we breathe, eat, walk and talk but a time will come when this shall cease and our family, friends and colleagues will attend our burial and some of them will be asked to describe how we lived and contributed to this passing world. What would you want said of you and of your legacy? What vision, mission or individual set of objectives did you strive to live by? Others of us are so busy gaining a following on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and seeking recognition at work, school and in our social circles. This is a noble endeavor but is it worth our time in the long run as part of fulfilling our future legacy? Will our tweets, posts or ‘selfies’ change our society or even our world?
