My Mission Statement

Earlier this year, I received an email from a colleague of whom I’d really only had a working relationship with. We had spoken very little and I did not know much about her. She is always very sweet and professional when we speak but I was a little surprised to receive a very random email from her on January 9, 2009 addressed to me and about 20 other people. It explained that she was working on a personal project and had two important questions. They were:

1. What does “success” mean to you?
2. What is your life “mission statement”?

It closed by explaining that “You all have my respect and represent great significance in my life for one reason or another.” Really? This person that I felt hardly knew me at all respected me enough to want my deep answers on such a personal questions along with 20 of her closest friends? I was determined not to blow her off.

I responded immediately. I didn’t want to put it off. I deemed it important enough, not only for her benefit, but for my own. I addressed the first question right away:

“Success to me means happiness. I feel successful and rewarded everyday because I get to live my life doing exactly what I want (most of the time) and that means a lot to me. I always say, “I’ll never be rich, but at least I’ll be happy.” We both know there’s no money in this industry but I still keep chippin’ away at it. I’m healthy, I have my family (including my loyal doggy), and I get to do the thing I love most, play pool. What else do I need?”

As I thought about her second question, I was at a loss. My life mission statement??? Well, I have one for pool but I’d never thought about the master one for my life. Wow, that’s heavy… This will take some time.

In my pool sponsorship packet, I state my mission as:

“To continue to advance technically, intellectually, and professionally as a World Class Pool Player in every respect of the term.

I am very aware that through strong values, discipline, and a positive self-image, my goal of representing myself as an ambassador in the sport of billiards, as well as YOU my sponsor, will continue to grow.

I consider myself, above all else, a happy and gracious person, whose main mission in life is to make a positive impact on the world around me, one pool hall at a time.”

Well, okay, that works for pool, but in life??? I responded that I would need more time to ponder that second question as I didn’t want to give her a flagrant answer. The next time we spoke, the topic came up again. In her words to me (paraphrased) she said,” You know what I would say is your mission?” “No idea. What?” I said. And in her gentle, unassuming manner, she replied, “To inspire others.”

Her response inspired me. Not only did it inspire me, but it inspired me to inspire others, something I’d like to feel that I sometimes do already but had never really been so aware of it until now.

In my final response to her mission statement question, I replied with the above including the final line:

“And yes, you were right. My mission is to inspire. Thank you.”

Her email sparked a new sense of awareness for me. It made me more conscious of my choices and actions and how they may affect myself and others. Inspiration is a beautiful thing, to inspire others and to feel inspired. Make it your mission to inspire others in our beautiful sport and in life.

This article is the second of a series of posts written in coordination with other pool bloggers entitled "PoolSynergy" .
This first month's theme is BILLIARD TALES. To see others, go to: http://www.pooltipjar.com/2009/12/poolsynergy-volume-ii/

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