A mission statement should clarify what your business is all about and what it stands for. The definition in the small business encyclopedia states that “A mission statement defines what an organization is, why it exists and it’s reason for being.”
It may sound like a simple thing to come up with, but often times it is not. You must have a strong sense of what your business or personal brand stands for; otherwise, you may try to emulate someone else’s mission, but then you may find that it doesn’t work for you. So having an effective mission statementwill not only help you build the right customer base, it will help you keep your brand on track as it becomes a guide used to decide which opportunities are the right ones for you.
So to help get you started, here are my 6 Steps To Writing An Effective Mission Statement
Step 1 Brainstorm
To start the brainstorming process, write down relevant keywords and think about them for a few days. Sometimes great ideas just come to you while driving or in the shower! Be sure to write your ideas down when you have those ‘lightbulb’ moments so you can refer back to them. It helps to carry a notebook with you or use a digital notepad so you can quickly jot down ideas on the go. (Check out my 5 Ways to Keep Your Business Organized for more on that stuff.)
Step 2 Define Your Character
Think of your business as a person (you) and define your character. You are your business and your philosophy is what you feel you would like to become in your life. How would you describe your perfect self? Perky? Soft spoken? Professorial? Witty? Decide what the personality of your business is and write it down.
Step 3 Define Your Nouns
Write down the nouns that best describe you. Examples are coach, photographer, event planner, maker — any word that describes what you are. Who the heck are you? Write that down.
Step 4 Define Your Verbs
Next, think of the verb or verbs that describe what you would like to do. For example, maybe you would like to educate, inspire or sell. What is it that you do?
Step 5 Find Inspiration
Find pictures that inspire you and that would best visually describe your brand’s couture and save them on a Pinterest board. Examples would be pictures of a beautiful wedding, elegant office decor, fashion sense, style or designs you are drawn to. After selecting a number of photos, you should be able to describe the overall look and feel of your brand’s aesthetic. For example are you drawn to light, airy black and white pictures? Gold, bold and elegant? Hot pink and chic? What best describes your overall all look?
Step 6 Put It All Together
Next, combine the above elements into a statement. Once you go through the basic steps (15) you should have an idea of what your mission is, what you offer, who you are and what you do. Write your mission out like a story or blog post. Not the best writer you say? Well try, and then have a friend or colleague edit it for you. Then before you know it, ta da! You have your mission statement and powerful message to deliver to your potential customers.
Get Started Writing An Effective Mission Statement Now
So let me know if you already have a mission statement and if so, is it effective? Did you find it hard to write? Do you feel it helps attract your ideal client?
I’ve created a simple worksheet for you to jot down those ideas and get started writing your mission statement so don’t forget to grab that along with all my free business and blogging resources HERE!
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