Courtesy of Wordle

Quick – what is your mission statement?

I’m hoping that you were able to proudly state the exact mission of your business.  If not, we’ve got some work to do!  (If you do have a mission statement, follow along so that you can analyze it’s effectiveness.)

The SOUL of your business

The purpose of a mission statement is to define the core philosophy of your business.  Namely, why are you in business?  What is the purpose of your business?  It is usually a sentence (or a few) that describes THE SOUL of your business.

Let’s revisit some of these characteristics of a strong mission statementSpend 20 minutes today working on the following questions:

  • Why are you in business?
  • Who are your customers?
  • What is the nature of your products and services?
  • How will you serve the people of your business (employees, customers, stakeholders)?
  • How do you differ from others?
  • How will you reach your goals?
  • What underlying philosophies or values guide your business?

When you’ve worked on those questions, write 1-3 sentences to define the mission of your company.

Need inspiration?

I always get inspired by learning from other businesses, particularly those outside of the wedding industry.  Here are a few of my favorite mission statements.  They truly define what these companies are doing:

Nike: To Bring Inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.
Harley-Davidson Motors: We fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling, by providing to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and services in selected market segments.
Microsoft: At Microsoft, we work to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. This is our mission. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible.
Bristol-Meyers: To help all people live healthy lives.

Dig around missionstatements.com for inspiration.  They have some great resources!

Living Your Mission Statement

Your mission statement should be the guiding force in your business.  It should be the statement that drives every decision you make.  It should dictate how you market yourself, how your operate, and how you make money.  You should know it by heart.  You should share it with your employees and your contracted labor.  They need to know what is the heart and soul of your business.  Share it with your clients (on your website and/or promotional materials).  Let people know what you are all about.

Your mission statement shouldn’t change often.  But, if you have a major shift in your business, you should reassess it.  Tweak and change until it fits just right.

Live your mission… every day.

Now… share with us… post a comment below with YOUR business mission statement below.