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Mantras

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You’ve done some really important work so far in this course. Developing a Mission and Vision Statement takes time, energy, effort, thought, and certainly honesty. And now that you have them- if you skipped them saying you’ll do it later, go back NOW and complete them- it’s time to talk about your Mantra.

Where the mission and vision statements create an inclusive culture and environment in which you and your tribe will achieve goals and move forward, your mantra acts as a filter by which they will decide how to live. It is a succinct and memorable statement that each member can recite often to guide their daily operations.

Your mantra answers the following questions:

  1. What decision should I make? 
  2. How should I behave?
  3. If there is Choice A and Choice B, which do I choose? 
  4. How do I want to emotionally impact others?

Your mantra should:

  • Guide your people how to behave. 
  • Contain 3-5 words at the most.
  • Summarize the business purpose. 
  • Closed for interpretation.
  • Be repeatable by all working for the organization. 
  • Serve as the litmus test for all decisions and behaviors.

Examples – Business:

JB Partners: “Be that catalyst for change”

Google: “Don’t be evil”

Nike: “Authentic athletic performance” 

Facebook: “Move fast with stable infrastructure” 

Apple: “Think different”

eBay: “Democratize ecommerce”

Examples – Personal:

Personal mantras can be a bit more difficult to land on because there is so much you might want to create within yourself. Focus your mantra on your top core value(s) first and use that as the focal point. Here are some of our personal mantras:

“How you were raised is not how you have to live.”

“There are no problems, only opportunities.”

“Act as if.”

“Where there is laughter there is listening.”

“What you tolerate you give permission to.”

“I am more powerful than my pain.”

Examples – Family:

Family mantras are very similar to personal mantras as it guides how people behave in the world. The only difference is that it must be suitable for all people, at all times. More consideration needs to be given to the totality of the mantra so that each person believes it equally.

Here are some of our family mantras:

“There are no problems, only opportunities.”

“Failure is a checkpoint for learning.”

“Everyone has a story and we don’t know it.”

“Giving up is not giving in.”

“Kindness is a strength so wield it often.”

Now it’s your turn.

ACTIVITY: Making a Mantra

Click here to download “Making a Mantra” 

Instructions:

Step 1: Complete the chart according to the column headers. Fill in all four spaces for each column. If you need more spaces, feel free to keep writing.

Step 2: Go through each column and circle the answer that resonates the strongest for you.

Step 3: Write the words on another line. Wordsmith them into your mantra.

Step 4: Write your mantra.

Key Takeaways

Your mantra should answer the following questions:
1. What decision should I make? 
2. How should I behave?
3. If there is Choice A and Choice B, which do I choose? 
4. How do I want to emotionally impact others?

And, your mantra should:
- Guide your people how to behave. 
- Contain 3-5 words at the most.
- Summarize the business purpose. 
- Closed for interpretation.
- Be repeatable by all working for the organization. 
- Serve as the litmus test for all decisions and behaviors.

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