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Does Your Business Have a Mission Statement?

Written by: Jerre Blodgett

Article Overview: A Mission Statement gives your business focus . . . unified direction . . . and defines your culture. It's also a key part of the branding process.

Does Your Business Have a Mission Statement?

Most good businesses have adopted a Mission Statement, a one or two sentence or short paragraph that describes the firm's overarching purpose for being in business. I like establishing a Mission Statement, as it's also a vital step to branding. It usually defines not only what you plan to do with your business, but also it encompasses your attitude and company culture. Here's one that I've had for many years:

"As a Brand of One, I Share and Implement Meaningful Information that Builds Businesses, Enriches Lives and Benefits Humanity while giving me the opportunity to Make an Excellent Income Enjoying my Expression of My God-Guided Talent."

When you establish a written business Mission Statement, it becomes a filter for the activities and direction of your business. My statement is personal as well as universal. I "enjoy" as a result of doing good works that positively affect life here on earth. That's simply what I love to do. My Mission Statement leaves plenty of room to change the strategies I employ to accomplish my mission. I'm not a creature of habit; I love change. So I'm always looking for new ways to fill needs and deliver my services.

I have helped hundreds of individuals and businesses over the years make healthy progress toward realization of their personal and company goals. I have done this through the passionate application of my natural gifts supported by energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and experience. It has become such an integral part of who I am that I live my mission all of the time. I am my brand, my brand is me.

Here's a little exercise that will help you determine your Mission. First, do this:

Define the business you are launching or operating. Describe the markets you are targeting. How do you see your company, and yourself, when you are operating at full strength? How do you feel while you are doing this? Write it down as if had already been accomplished so that it is a present tense description of how you see yourself in the future.

It can also be quite interesting to look at other businesses and see what they've chosen as their mission. You'll find it enlightening to look at statements of your competitors. You may be able to find a company's mission statement on their website or in a brochure.

I generally don't broadcast my mission public; on the other hand, it pervades everything I do, say and am. I no longer feel a need to state it.

The best idea on mission statements is to keep writing them until you're quite clear that the statement embodies what you do, how you do it, what it means to you, and . . . it gives you a rush when you say it or think it!

Related Articles
  Small Business Marketing - Making Use of a Mission Statement
  5 Keys to Your Personal Mission Statement
  Do We Really Need a Mission Statement?
  How to Regain Your Mission Statement for Life
  Nonprofit Vision Statements, Core Values & Mission Statements

Article Tags: attitude, company culture, company goals, creature of habit, earth, energy enthusiasm, exercise, expression, full strength, inspiration, leaves, mission statement, natural gifts, new ways, paragraph, realization



Related Forum Posts
Mission Mantra - Why don't we call it a mission mantra? It depends on the business and how much emphasis they put on a Mission Statement or Mantra. Most of the business I've dealt with don't really care to much about a Mission Statement and only believe they need one because everyone else has one.
You can see my Bank statement......... - Hi there, Today we are bombarded with 'Business Opportunities' by the multitude. I believe it is possible to earn a lot through the internet, but it is hard work. Nobody gets it very easy on a long term basis. [b][b]How much notice do people take[/b], [/b]when the Bank Statements are shown as means of 'how credible' their business idea is? Are they always totally true? They look authentic. The whole industry is growing rapidly. What is your experience? Is there any regulation in presenting the 'Bank Statement' or other statements from 'Click Bank' etc ? Kindest Regards Beat "Unlock People's Potentials!"
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert
Do you believe in "Mantra" or "Mission Statem - In the Strategic Management course I'm currently taking, my group and I were supposed to come up with an improved mission statement for the organization we're analyzing or explain why the existing one doesn't need to be revised. However, business expert and author, Guy Kawasaki says "Forget mission statements; they're long, boring, and irrelevant. No one can ever remember them-much less implement them. Instead, take your meaning and make a mantra out of it. This will set your entire team on the right course" ("The Art of the Start" 3). Which do you use for your own businesses: Mantra, Mission Statements or neither? Thanks


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