A friend of mine who’s thinking about retirement told me over lunch that they recently read a book titled, “How To Retire and Not Die.” Intrigued, I purchased a copy and read it. Excellent. The book’s theme was that work provides people with much more than just money, and that it’s important to have a plan to replace the human connections and meaning that work provides in order to retire successfully. That concept strongly correlates with what we hear from retirees who volunteer at the Foodbank. They are people motivated by a sense of mission, and they often report having experienced loneliness, boredom and a lack of purpose in retirement. Interestingly, many people who are still in their careers report the very same things.
Most candidates we interview for jobs at the Foodbank tell us they are seeking a job with purpose. That resonates with us, because most everyone working here came in search of purpose, too. During the honeymoon phase of their employment, the mission of the organization can have a euphoric effect on people who join our staff. Those who last, however, are those who can connect the organization’s purpose to something within themselves — something that goes deeper than their worst, most frustrating days. Like our volunteers, employees who last are motivated by a clear sense of personal mission. They see the work of the organization as a way of living out their purpose for being in the world. In that, we gain an insight into how personal mission statements are a guiding and sustaining force in life.
When I was in my early 20s, my dad gave me a copy of Steve Covey’s masterpiece, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” That book got me thinking about adopting a personal mission statement. After some thought, I adopted “being a positive influence in the lives of other people” as my life mission statement. That statement has served me equally in any job I have ever had, because there is never a place I can go where I fail to see an opportunity to live into that mission. I might not always succeed at it, but if there are people around me, I know my mission.
The sustaining power of people-centered personal mission statements can help us in our personal lives, careers and retirement. If you have not already adopted an enduring, people-based personal mission statement, consider giving it some thought. I believe you will find, as I have, that although the concentration of opportunities to apply that mission may vary, every day is a chance to live into it.
If you are lonely and looking for connections, consider pairing the development of a personal mission statement with volunteerism at an organization that gives you chances to see your mission fulfilled. You will make friends and find your purpose at the same time. Most importantly, remember your mission and do what you can to fulfill it every day. ●
Daniel Flowers is President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
