How to define your mission statement
Perhaps your business is new, or maybe you’re changing course and rebranding. Maybe you’re even just feeling a little direction-less in your everyday life and want to know what gets you out of bed in the morning. I get it. Doing all of these things can be daunting anyway, but they might feel even more impossible if you don’t know what your vision or mission is.
That’s why we’re walking through some practical questions to help you define your mission, so you know where you’re going and how to lead others in the same direction. Because, how can people follow your vision if you don’t even know what it is?
WHO ARE YOU? What words do you think best describe you? This is a great opportunity to ask your best friend how they would describe you — you can keep it simple and ask for just three words, or get them to give you a full-blown description.
This is honestly one of the hardest parts for me, but - with a little help from my friends - I would describe myself as organized, reserved/thoughtful, someone who listens well, peacemaker, calm, and a problem solver.
WHAT DO YOU DO? Are you a farmer? A yoga instructor? A counselor? Break it down into its simplest terms and descriptions. “I’m an organic farmer with a local subscription and delivery service.”
I help people to be understood and convey their story better.
WHY DOES IT MATTER? Why does what you do actually matter? How does it make an impact? Who/what does it impact?
If we all understand each other a little more, we can all get along and see the value in each other.
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? This might seem like a silly question, but it’s actually harder than you think. Owning and running your own business is no joke — what made you start your business? Why do you keep going?
I do what I do so people feel understood. Being misunderstood or unrepresented is one of the worst feelings and is extremely isolating, and I firmly believe everyone deserves to be understood.
WHAT IS THE LONGTERM CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? (or for yourself, if you’re crafting a personal mission statement) Change and success look different for everyone, so what do they look like for you?
For me, this looks like flexibility, clients to feel cared for by the services I provide, my clients’ communities to therefore also feel cared for, and a community that’s excited about what I am/we are creating.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS’S PERSONALITY? Your brand/business is a reflection of you - or at least part of you - whether or not you know it. So, it’s only natural that your business would also have a personality of its own. Is it friendly and openminded, trendy and cool, or maybe sassy and chic? You can pick as many descriptors as you’d like to describe your business, but next you should pare it down to 3-5 core words.
I think this one is particularly fun because you get to imagine your business (or a certain facet of your life) as a person. I’d describe my business’s core personality as friendly, open minded and grounded. The wider personality range is also honest, reliable, resourceful and intellectual.
Now that you’ve gone through those questions, it’s time to put all of it together to craft your mission statement! Here’s what mine looks like:
empowering wellness entrepreneurs to authentically connect, flourish and inspire their community through tailored communication
I’d love to know how you answered these questions and what your final mission statement looks like. Share them in the comments below, and let’s get chatting!