“A Manifesto: Defined. The word manifestotraces its roots to the Latin manifestum, which means clear or conspicuous. A manifesto is defined as a declaration of one’s beliefs, opinions, motives, and intentions. It is simply a document that an organization or person writes that declares what is important to them.”
I remember when I re-branded my company, I created my own personal manifesto for my website. My reason in doing so was to let people know what is important to me, what I stand for and the type of person I am. From a business perspective, this helps me to stay on track and connected to my values. I remember taking just a few minutes to create my manifesto as once I started, the words and intentions just flowed easily. Here’s what I wrote.
We believe that Actions speak louder than Words.
We believe in being Courageous, in Facing our Fears and in taking Risks in order to grow.
We believe in Life Long Learning and Asking for Help when needed.
We believe wholeheartedly in acting from a place of Integrity and Honesty.
We believe in Excellence, in being Organized and Professional and treating others with Respect.
We believe in Nurturing, being Compassionate & Caring, even if it means being Vulnerable.
We believe in Freedom on living full-out, in living and leading with Passion and in being surrounded by a Community of like-minded individuals to help us grow and succeed.
In the last couple of years however, I have to admit, I have floundered. I have had many changes in my life which in some ways, created a disconnect to what was once very important to me. Life seemed to stand still and rather than living my manifesto, I have let other feelings and emotions drive me. But my manifesto is a personal commitment and declaration to my core values. It’s my personal operating system and describes how I want to live my life, connect and interact with others.
What I wrote a few years ago is still very relative to me now even though other things have changed in my life.
So, I’m glad I had the opportunity to reconnect with my manifesto. It’s given me a renewed sense of commitment and motivation and it serves as a strong reminder of what truly is important to me.
What about you? Do you need to reconnect with yourself? Asking yourself “who you are?” and “what goals you want?” are important, deep questions that can help to define what’s important to you. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness will help you to create your own personal manifesto. Uncover your core values and spend a considerable amount of time asking yourself the hard questions like, “What am I passionate about?” “What are my greatest strengths?” “Who am I and what do I stand for?”