There are
many similarities between an ethical will and a personal mission statement.
The author of this document developed his personal mission statement over
more than 5 years. It serves the same purpose as an ethical will although
the style is less narrative than the previous examples.
My mission is to serve God by creating
a balance between family, friends, profession, and community.
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I will be guided by the teachings of
Judaism.
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I will act on situations and opportunities,
rather than be acted upon.
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I will not make assumptions of what people
need. I will ask.
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I will be a fair and honest evaluator
of situations.
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I will be positive. I will look for the
good.
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I will be courageous and persistent to
experience and accept differences.
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I will be sincere, yet decisive.
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I will remember that one person can make
a difference.
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I will share. In sharing, one learns,
experiences, and reaps the highest level of satisfaction.
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I will keep a sense of humor.
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I will not fear mistakes, for mistakes
are the springboard of future success.
With family and friends, I will seek
to understand first before being understood. I will be empathic, which
is sympathy with a solution. Sometimes that solution is just to listen.
I will be supportive and inspiring, attempting to assist those within my
circle of influence to become interdependent people. My wife and children
are my highest priority with regard to creating this positive interpersonal
relationship.
Professionally, I will help people
devise and implement financial and personal plans to afford these people
financial and emotional independence. I will be honest and always put a
client's best interest ahead of my financial reward. This is with the understanding
that I must make an income to be able to service clients. I will only ask
a client to do something that I do or hope to do once sufficient capital
is acquired. The best investment one can make is in oneself and other people.
I will run a profitable business with equal emphasis on providing a positive
work environment as well as profitability.
To my community, I will allocate a
minimum of 10% of my money and time. One area of focus will be in building
bridges between Jews and non-Jews. My other area of focus will be with
youth in 7th through 12th grade, helping to develop and implement programs
which will help them to acquire the leadership skills necessary to become
interdependent and effective adults.
My personal dreams today are:
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Have a meaningful and special relationship
with my wife.
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Raise responsible children.
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Help people who demonstrate a caring
for others, reach their goals.
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Become a philanthropist.
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Teach other financial planners this business.
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Enjoy the people and the process.
Additional notes:
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What is hateful to you
do not
do unto others.
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Act as if all your actions will be part
of a story published in the Wall Street Journal.
Being a parent:
The goal of being a parent is to guide
the child from ignorance to wisdom, from moral neutrality to virtue, from
dependency to interdependence, from infancy to maturity. My goal as a parent
is to prepare the child to function as an independent adult in an interdependent
society.
My obligation is to:
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Teach ethical and moral behavior
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To have you wed
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To teach you a craft (a means to make
your own income)
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Teach you to swim
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Practical citizenship so that you may
function as an upright and productive member of society
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