For Small Business Spoken Here, we define a Mission Statement as the role of the organization in society. It tells what your organization is all about. It is the fundamental drive of the organization and concentrates on the present. While it defines the customer and the critical processes, it also informs you of the desired level of performance. Said another way, the mission explains why the organization exists.
The mission captures your organization’s goals and your overarching philosophies. It also documents what your organization is about to your customers, employees, suppliers, and the community. A mission statement tells you and everyone that encounters your business what you are doing right now!
There is also something else a Mission Statement does, it demonstrates Passion! It is not enough to be in the present. Anyone can write something in the present. That statement must come alive and your passion must resonate through each word. This would seem to be a tall order. After all, this is a business not a work of art.
The truth is our emotions, our passion is what drove us to start the business. So why wouldn’t a Mission Statement reflect that emotional drive? Maybe it is not such a difficult thing to write especially if it comes from the truth we know as our God-given talents and our passion to build that business.
Think about that for a minute. It all begins with God and his gifts to us. Take a moment, right now, and think about your talents and directions from God. List them out as they come to you.
What is this list telling you? Does your business reflect these talents? Does it showcase them to their fullest extent or are you hiding your talents under a basket, as the song goes? Perhaps it is time for a new direction?
Small Business Spoken Here 