How to Write an Effective Mission Statement - ISSUE 22 - 2/2/12

Believe it or not, people are looking at your from all angles when trying to decide whether they would like to spend their hard-earned money with you or not. I've said this many times - In today's world, there is an enormous lack of trust and whether you like it or not, you have to work very hard to build the trust of your current and future clients.

A simple, yet effective tweak to your business model is found in your Mission Statement because it can tell an entire story about where you come from and where you are going.  It can also tell your prospective customers what to expect when conducting business with your company.

According to Wikipedia, a mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making. It provides "the framework or context within which the company's strategies are formulated." ^[1]

My Mission Statement

Following is our Business Statement/Mission Statement. It's the code of conduct we live by every day.

We are a company of honesty, trust, commitment, 

 loyalty, empathy, and compassion. 

We will always ensure every order is done quickly and accurately. 

 We can be reached at anytime to address questions and concerns. 

 Our goal is to be the best in the industry. 

 We will always strive to be the best service, client,

and outward-focusing company in the industry. 

 We will bend over backward to make certain our clients are always happy. 

Our clients will always be our number one priority.

Next, you should also look to write a personal mission statement which is based on habit 2 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey called "Begin with the end in mind."  In ones life, the most effective way to begin with the end in mind is to develop a mission statement; one that focuses what you want to be in terms of character and what you want to do in reference to contribution of achievements. Writing a mission statement can be the most important activity an individual can take to truly lead ones life, (Covey, Stephen).

If you haven't already, now may be the time to sit down and begin writing your Mission Statement(s).  Here's some more great resources to help you create a mission statement.

Business Mission Statement Examples & Resources

How to Write a Mission Statement.pdf - Janel M. Radtke
How to Write Your Mission Statement - Entrepreneur
How to Write a Mission Statement That Isn't Dumb - Fast Company
How to Write Nonprofit Mission Statements - About.com
How to Write a Mission Statement - wikiHow
Mission Statement Examples - MissionStatements.com
Fortune 500 Mission Statements - MissionStatements.com
Examples of Good Mission Statements - The Elements of Success